‘Udaipur Files’ releases in 4,500 cinemas across India

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025

Vijay Raaz-starrer “Udaipur Files” has finally got a green light and has been released in 4,500 cinemas across the country after receiving approval from the censor board.

Udaipur Files’ is based on the murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Kumar. Kanhaiya Kumar was killed for allegedly sharing a social media post in support of Indian politician and Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose comments led to the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy.

Upon the film’s release, Kanhaiya Lal’s son Yash Sahu said: “This movie, which is being released today, Udaipur Files, is based on the incident of my father, which happened on 28th June, 2022. How my father was killed under terrorist conspiracy. These people were connected to Pakistan.”

“This is also called NIA’s chart sheet. So, all that has been shown in this movie. And there is a message in this movie that such incidents happen in the country, they can be brought in front of the country through a movie, through a cinematic graphic.”

He said that his family is still fighting for justice.

“I have gone to many cases, but in this case, I still did not see anything that these criminals are being punished for. A very long time has passed,” he added.

“Three years is a very long time. Even now, the criminal is still in jail. He has not been punished.

So, I hope that after watching this movie, people will support us in our fight for justice. And the criminals will stand with us to get the punishment of hanging as soon as possible.”

Asked about the problems faced over the release, Yash Sahu said: “There were a lot of problems with the release. It was challenged in High Court Delhi. He got a stay in that. Because this movie was going to be released on 11th July. He got a stay on 10th July, a day before that.”

“Even after that, many attempts were made to release it. He got a stay in that as well. It was challenged in the Supreme Court as well. The Supreme Court said, let the movie come. Because the movie is CBFC certified. So, the movie that CBFC has given the certification, that movie will come in front of people. Then, its decision was left to the Central Government.”

“The Central Government also gave a positive decision in this. But only yesterday, it was said that this movie should be released. And today, this movie is in front of you, in front of the people of the country, and is on release.”

The assailants had also released a video claiming that the murder was in reaction to the tailor allegedly sharing a social media post in support of former BJP member Nupur Sharma. Javed, who is one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, had moved to the Supreme Court against the release of the film.

Regarding the film’s release, Kanhaiya Lal’s wife Jasoda Sahu shared that when the film was initially stalled, she herself wrote a letter to the Prime Minister appealing for permission to release it.

She said: “This film is a true reflection of our family’s pain and struggle, and the entire country should see it.”

The film was initially slated for release on July 11, 2025. However, the film faced many delays due to censorship and legal troubles.(Agency)

Election ‘fraud’ protest: Rahul Gandhi arrives in Bengaluru; tight security at State EC

Bengaluru, Aug 8, 2025

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi arrived at HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Friday to take part in the protest at Freedom Park over the alleged election fraud.

Karnataka State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, welcomed him at the airport. Party’s national President Mallikarjun Kharge also arrived with Rahul Gandhi.

In light of the protest, tight security arrangements have been made around the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru.

The Chief Electoral Officer’s office is located approximately 80 feet from Freedom Park, the venue of the protest.

The police department, taking no chances with the large gathering and the significance of the protest, has deployed additional forces both at the premises and in front of the State Election Commission office to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.

The Chief Electoral Officer has granted him an appointment between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sources said the Congress delegation, comprising national and state leaders — possibly with or without Rahul Gandhi — is expected to meet the officer between 1.30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

State Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna stated, “Rahul Gandhi has made statements backed by documents. He is speaking with authority, and we must endorse his statements — there is no doubt about it. The BJP is well aware of the malpractices. The RSS, the frontal organisation of the BJP, is manipulating everything.”

“The common people are with us. In the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, voters have been enrolled without proper addresses. How is that even possible? During the parliamentary election, our government was in power — we should have been more alert. Instead, we are alert only now. Had we acted earlier, we could have prevented these malpractices,” Minister Rajanna said.

“Out of the eight Assembly segments in the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat, we had leads in seven. In only one — Mahadevapura — we did not. That single loss tilted the overall result. Isn’t that clearly due to malpractice?” he questioned.

Responding to the allegations, BJP state President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said, “In the Mahadevapura Assembly segment, the BJP had the highest lead in the last Lok Sabha election. This constituency has always been a BJP stronghold. It has 6.5 lakh voters, the highest in Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi is questioning the voters’ list, but he should also examine what happened in Chamarajpet — represented by Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, and Shivajinagar — represented by Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, where the minority population is the highest.”

“We are aware that a large number of fake voters have been added in these segments. My question to Rahul Gandhi is: the objective of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is to identify such discrepancies. Why, then, are Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party opposing it in Bihar? Why are they coming to Karnataka and creating this drama?” Vijayendra questioned.

“The BJP won 25 out of 28 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka. In 2024, the NDA won only 19 seats. Rahul Gandhi could have made these allegations earlier. The truth is, he has failed to gain the confidence of the people of this country and is desperate to become the Prime Minister. He has been rejected by the voters of Karnataka and across India. In that context, he is now targeting the Election Commission,” Vijayendra said.

“They are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They must be joking. Instead of making baseless demands, they should focus on winning the people’s confidence. They can’t blame Narendra Modi ji’s leadership — he is leading the nation toward development, which is why he has been elected for a third consecutive term. There is no reason for the BJP to protest against the Congress on this issue. Let’s hear what Rahul Gandhi says in Bengaluru — based on that, we will decide our course of action,” he concluded.(Agency)

Selena Gomez reveals how ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ changed her life

Los Angeles, Aug 8, 2025

Actress-singer Selena Gomez has shared how the TV sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place changed her life.

The 33-year-old actress auditioned for a series of TV shows, including the spin-off of Lizzie McGuire, before she joined the cast of Wizards of Waverly Place.

Selena said on the Therapuss with Jake Shane podcast: “It was actually a weird thing because I was on three pilots for the Disney channel. One was the spin-off of Lizzie McGuire. One was the spin-off of the Suite Life of Zach and Cody and the last one was Wizards.

“So by then all of them didn’t get picked up and I was just kind of at my wits end, but not in a bad way just kind of thought ‘okay, well this is not going to work out’ and Wizards got picked up and my whole life changed after that.”

She still feels proud to be part of the “Disney high school experience”, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Gomez, who has also enjoyed huge success with her music, said: “It was an immediate feeling of oh I achieved my dream at that point in time. I was such a huge fan of the channel. I was a huge fan of what they did for our generation, and it was an honour. I wear it proudly.”

“I definitely am not ashamed of being part of the Disney high school experience … It was all of us, all from the Jonas Brothers, to Miley (Cyrus) and Demi (Lovato), and then it was Zendaya. It was just so cool to see all the people you so ‘went to school with’ if you will. It’s good to see them all do their thing.”

Despite her success, Gomez’s family tried to ensure that she remained grounded.

The actress said: “I just remember my mom being on my a** all the time about making sure that any sort of sudden exaggerated fan moment is meant to be treated with respect.”(Agency)

Pratik Gandhi, Sunny Hinduja heap praise on ‘brilliant, marvellous’ Rajat Kapoor

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025

Acclaimed actors Pratik Gandhi and Sunny Hinduja, who are gearing up for the release of “Saare Jahan Se Accha”, have heaped praise on Rajat Kapoor, who plays a spymaster in the series.

Talking about working with Rajat Kapoor, known for his masterful acting skills, Pratik told IANS: “It’s amazing. Lots to learn and that minimalistic approach towards a performance that’s brilliant. He doesn’t do much and that’s the biggest thing that he does.”

“Everytime I have performed with him. Very easy to work with, the way he interprets lines, dialogues, scenes between the lines also . He actually flows like water.”

Sunny, who did not get to share screen space with Rajat in the series, said he did interact with Rajat and loves him as a performer.

“He just camouflages himself into the character and he is just Kao. You don’t see anybody else. I think he does it brilliantly and he looks effortless but I think there’s a lot of work that goes behind and that he does which we don’t know… But I want to know that. He is absolutely marvelous.”

“Saare Jahan Se Accha” follows the gripping journey of RAW agent Vishnu Shankar, who is assigned a dangerous mission deep inside Pakistan.

Set against the tense backdrop of the 1970s, a time when every strategic move risked igniting a global nuclear conflict, the show captures the fierce intelligence war between India’s RAW and Pakistan’s ISI.

The series also stars Suhail Nayyar, Kritika Kamra, Tillotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor, and Anup Soni.

Created by Gaurav Shukla and produced by Bombay Fables, with Bhavesh Mandalia as creative producer, “Saare Jahan Se Accha” will premiere ahead of Independence Day on August 13 on Netflix.

Rajat Kapoor started out in Parallel Cinema, making his debut in the 1989 Kumar Shahani film Khayal Gatha. He made his full-length directorial debut with Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One, which had Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah in minor roles.

He got his big mainstream break-in Dil Chahta Hai, as Preity Zinta’s character’s uncle. He received international attention in Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding. Since then, he has written, directed, and appeared in many films. He played Muhammad Ali Jinnah in a UK television film The Last Days of the Raj in 2007.(Agency)

Canadian Open: Mboko stuns Osaka to clinch maiden WTA 1000 title

Montreal, Aug 8, 2025

An 18-year-old Canadian wild card Victoria Mboko stunned four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to win her first WTA 1000 title on home soil at the Canadian Open.

After dropping the first set in the championship match, Mboko once again showed her resilience and fighting spirit, breaking in the opening game of the second set which seemed to throw Osaka off her game even though she managed to break back twice during the frame.

Mboko carried her momentum into the final set, cruising to victory against a discouraged opponent to achieve a destiny that seemed written in the stars from the moment she stepped foot in Montreal.

The victory moves Mboko to a career-high no. 25 on the WTA rankings, guaranteeing that she will be seeded for the first at a Grand Slam in New York later this month. Since 1970, Mboko is the second Canadian semifinalist, finalist, and champion, at the Canadian Open after Bianca Andreescu in 2019.

Coming into the tournament, Mboko was ranked 85th in the world. Her victory makes her the second-lowest ranked player to win a Tier I / WTA 1000 title since the format’s introduction in 1990.

She is the second player since 2009 to claim her maiden title at a WTA 1000 event. Mboko is the second wildcard to win the National Bank Open after Monica Seles in 1995.

Her fortnight included four victories over Grand Slam champions — Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Osaka. Gauff and Rybakina were seeded No. 1 and No. 3. It’s the first time that’s happened in a single tournament since Ons Jabeur and Elina Svitolina in Wimbledon 2023 — but they weren’t teenagers. Mboko is the second-youngest player ever to defeat four Grand Slam champions in a single WTA event in the Open Era. The first was Serena Williams in 1999.

The 18-year-old is the first Canadian woman to face four former Women’s Singles Grand Slam champions and the first to beat all four in a single WTA event in the Open Era.(Agency)

Aditi Rao Hydari to be feted with Diversity in Cinema award at IFFM: Such a special honour

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025

Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari will be felicitated with the Diversity in Cinema Award for her immense contribution to cinema and her impactful performances across mediums at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025.

Expressing her gratitude, Aditi said, “It is such a special honour to be part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as a Guest of Honour and to receive the Diversity in Cinema Award.”

She added: “Melbourne has always been warm and welcoming, and to be celebrated in a city that celebrates cinema with such passion is deeply humbling. I’m looking forward to being amidst fellow artists and cinema lovers and soaking in the infectious energy of IFFM.”

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange added, “Aditi Rao Hydari is the epitome of grace and excellence. Her work speaks volumes of her versatility and strength as an artist. We are absolutely delighted to welcome her to IFFM 2025 and to honour her with the Diversity in Cinema Award for the magic she brings to the screen.”

“Her presence will certainly make this year’s celebration even more memorable for audiences in Melbourne,” Lange added.

Aditi was last seen on screen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s maiden series “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” a period drama, set in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement.

The series explores the lives of tawaifs and their intersection with political and personal struggles under British colonial rule. The cast includes Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha.

Looking forward, Aditi will be sharing screen space with acclaimed starPankaj Tripathi in the forthcoming family comedy “Parivarik ManuRanjan”. The shoot of the drama is presently underway in Lucknow.

The actress also has “O Saathi Re” lined up.(Agency)

Milap Zaveri on helming ‘Masti 4’: Hope I live up to expectations that this loved franchise comes with

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025

As the UK schedule of “Masti 4” is all set to conclude, filmmaker Milap Zaveri penned a note saying that he will “miss the madness” and hopes he lives up to the expectations that this loved franchise comes with.

Milap, who had also written the first two installments of the franchise, took to Instagram, where he shared two pictures posing with Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh and Aftab Shivdasani posing on the sets.

He wrote: “FRIENDS I HAVE AN IDEAAAA! 2003 was the year i wrote the OG #Masti with @riteishd @vivekoberoi and @aftabshivdasani In my wildest dreams i never imagined i would one day direct the three of them in #Mastiii4.”

Zaveri said that he’s going to miss the madness that the three actors brought to the sets.

“As our UK schedule comes to an end with the film almost wrapped I’m gonna miss the madness that these three brought to the sets, the scenes and to my life this past one and a half month. I learnt a lot from them, the most important lesson being to have a great time and to enjoy my work,” Zaveri wrote.

“I hope I live up to the expectations and responsibility that this much loved franchise comes with.”

He shared that without a doubt that his life is richer “having directed these three extraordinary actors whom I have the privilege of calling friends.”

“This was destiny’s greatest IDEA to give me this opportunity and I’m forever grateful to @indrakumarofficial @amarjjw @skahluwalia_ for this generous opportunity! Thank You @ektarkapoor @zeestudiosofficial Ashok ji, Umesh Ji, @wavebandproduction @balajitelefilmslimited @pragatideshmukh @girish.johar @rahultomar_9711 @vaenyaa_ @iamhassann and my entire team of actors and technicians for being my strength on this journey. Thank u @tusshark89 @shaadrandhawa @nishantsinghm_official @shreyasharmaishere @ruhisingh12 @iamelnaaz and many more special actors whom i can’t name yet!”

He went on to thank actress Genelia Deshmukh “for finally giving me the joy to direct you! If I’ve forgotten anyone sorry!! See you’ll at the cinemas later this year!”

Genelia took to the comment section and wrote: “Awwww .. you did it Milap. Another film done.”

“Masti” was first released in 2004. The sex comedy film directed by Indra Kumar, starring Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta, Amrita Rao, Tara Sharma, and Genelia. The film spawned two sequels, Grand Masti and Great Grand Masti.(Agency)

Akshay Bhatia starts strong at FedEx St. Jude Championship in the Play-offs

Memphis, Aug 7, 2025

Akshay Bhatia got off to a stellar start at the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, carding a 4-under on the front nine to briefly lead the leaderboard. As the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs began in Memphis, the Indian-American golfer positioned himself strongly to advance beyond his 45th-place start in the standings.

Bhatia birdied the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 8th holes, showing early confidence. He was grouped with Harry Hall, who also made a fast start at 3-under, making for a high-performing pairing.

This tournament is the first of three playoff events that follow the conclusion of the regular PGA Tour season. The top 50 players in the FedExCup standings after this week will qualify for the BMW Championship next week — making this an important tournament for players like Bhatia and Aaron Rai, who are on the qualification bubble.

Rory McIlroy, ranked World No. 2, opted to skip this week’s event, conserving energy for the final two playoff legs.

TPC Southwind is known for its tight fairways, firm and fast greens, and 11 water hazards, making it a true test of accuracy. With only 50 players advancing to the BMW Championship — and then just 30 moving on to the Tour Championship — each stroke is crucial. The event offers a lucrative $20 million purse.

Both Bhatia, a Hero athlete, and Rai played the Tour Championship last year, but they’ll need strong performances this week to return. Rai, currently ranked 55th, sits outside the cutline but is trending upward after a top-five finish last week. His breakout PGA Tour win came at the Wyndham Championship last season.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as the man to beat, fresh off a remarkable season that includes two Major wins and a dominant performance at The Open Championship. Scheffler leads the Tour in most key statistical categories.

Chasing him are elite contenders like Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, and Matt Fitzpatrick — each aiming to make a big move as the playoffs unfold.

For Bhatia, this opening round momentum could be the key to securing a spot in the next stage of the playoffs — and possibly another Tour Championship appearance.(Agency)

Indian quartet Diksha, Pranavi, Aditi, Avani set for PIF London 2025

London, Aug 8, 2025

The PIF London Championship will witness a strong Indian presence with the participation of Diksha Dagar, Pranavi Urs, Aditi Ashok, and Avani Prashanth. The $1.5 million event holds special significance for Diksha Dagar, who was part of the winning team at the 2021 Aramco Team Series in London.

This achievement made her only the second Indian woman, after Aditi Ashok, to claim multiple titles on the Ladies European Tour (LET). That victory represented more than just a trophy; it highlighted India’s growing impact in women’s golf on the world stage.

Aditi Ashok has secured five LET titles, while Diksha boasts two individual wins alongside a team victory in the PIF events, formerly known as the Aramco Series. Despite missing the cut in the 2024 edition, the 24-year-old Diksha is determined to make a strong comeback in 2025. She has had an impressive season so far, achieving multiple top-10 finishes and finishing as runner-up at the Lalla Meryem Cup.

Looking ahead, Diksha is also targeting a victory at the Women’s Indian Open in October. Meanwhile, Pranavi Urs, who enjoyed a solid 2024, and rookie Avani Prashanth are steadily progressing on the tour.

Diksha’s team includes Kirsten Rudgeley, Momoka Kobori, and Chloe Williams. Aditi’s squad features Pranavi Urs, Ursula Wikstrom, and Ayako Uehara, while Avani teams up with Helen Briem, Patricia Isabel Schmidt, and Agathe Sauzon.

Aditi Ashok, who has shifted much of her focus to the LPGA Tour in the United States, continues to inspire fellow Indian golfers with her remarkable career on the LET. She regularly competes in major LET tournaments, such as the PIF London Championship.

The tournament will also showcase top international talents, adding to its prestige. Leading the field is Charley Hull, Golf Saudi ambassador and recent runner-up at the AIG Women’s Open. Joining her are Major champions Georgia Hall and Patty Tavatanakit, alongside 2023 Evian Championship winner Celine Boutier and Alison Lee.(Agency)

Windies pacer Matthew Forde ruled out of Pakistan ODIs, Johann Layne named replacement

Trinidad, Aug 8, 2025

The West Indies have suffered an injury setback ahead of their three-match ODI series against Pakistan, with young pacer Matthew Forde sidelined due to injury.

The 22-year-old pacer dislocated his left shoulder while attempting a catch during a training session on Wednesday and will be replaced by uncapped all-rounder Johann Layne in the West Indies squad.

“West Indies Academy pacer Johann Layne will replace Matthew Forde in the squad for the three matches against Pakistan starting on Friday.

Forde dislocated his left shoulder while attempting a catch during Wednesday’s training session,” CWI said in a statement.

Layne earned a call-up following his decent performances for West Indies A against South Africa A, with the 21-year-old providing another seam bowling option for the Caribbean side.

Head coach Daren Sammy believes the series holds major significance in the West Indies’ build-up to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

“Pakistan presents a different test and challenge as we continue our push for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup,” Sammy said.“While qualifying is our immediate goal, maintaining a winning mentality and team cohesion is essential for long-term success.”

“The upcoming matches against teams like Pakistan, who are ranked higher, provide crucial opportunities to earn valuable ranking points to improve our standing ahead of the World Cup,” he added.

The ODI series will be played entirely in Trinidad, with the first match on Friday, followed by games on August 10 and August 12.

West Indies ODI Squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.Series

Schedule:

1st ODI – August 8, Trinidad

2nd ODI – August 10, Trinidad

3rd ODI – August 12, Trinidad
(Agency)

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