United News of Bangladesh

Prabhas’ latest release, The Raja Saab, which hit theatres on January 9, has continued to perform steadily at the box office. Directed by Maruthi Dasari and produced by IVY Entertainment and People Media Factory, the horror-comedy raked in Rs 3.50 crore on Day 8 (January 16), taking its total collection to Rs 133.75 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The film saw a 34.88% occupancy in Telugu theatres on its second Friday, with evening shows drawing the largest crowds at 43.54%, followed by afternoon (37.57%), night (36.85%), and morning (21.57%) screenings. The Raja Saab follows an ordinary man, Raja Saab (Prabhas), who lives with his grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s. She believes her husband, Kanakaraja, will return from a long mission, and the story unfolds when Raja Saab meets a man resembling his grandfather, leading to a heartfelt and supernatural tale. The film’s ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, Murali Sharma, Zarina Wahab, Samuthirakani, VTV Ganesh, and Prabhas Sreenu. From Kantara to Coolie: The top 10 highest-grossing South Indian films of 2025 Maruthi Dasari has also hinted at a sequel, revealing that The Raja Saab Part 2 will feature a completely new storyline within the horror genre, promising a fresh take for audiences. Source: ndtv

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his image and voice to protect them from unauthorized use by artificial intelligence platforms. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, clips of McConaughey, including his famous line “alright, alright, alright” from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused, have been registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Lawyers for the Magic Mike star said this is the first time an actor has used trademark law to protect their likeness from possible AI misuse. They added that while there is no current example of his image being misused, the move is aimed at stopping any future unauthorized copies. McConaughey’s decision comes after several celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson and Taylor Swift, were targeted with fake videos, audio and images created using AI tools. The actor is not against generative AI. He has invested in ElevenLabs, an AI voice technology company, which has created an AI audio version of his voice with his permission. McConaughey rose to fame with Dazed and Confused and later starred in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact and Interstellar. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club.   With inputs from NDTV

Singer Harry Styles has announced his new album titled Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, which will be released on March 6. Styles shared the news on his Instagram account on Thursday. The post featured an image of the singer with the album title and release date written over it. “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. March 6,” he wrote in the caption. The upcoming project will be the 31-year-old singer’s fourth studio album. He is known for hit songs such as As It Was and Watermelon Sugar. Styles began his music career in 2010 after auditioning for The X Factor UK. He later formed the band One Direction with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. He started his solo career in 2017 after signing with Columbia Records and releasing his debut single Sign of the Times, followed by his first solo album later that year.   With inputs from NDTV

HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been praised for its humour, action, and engaging storytelling, offering a fresh take on Westeros. The six-episode series follows Ser Duncan, an inexperienced knight, and his clever squire, Egg, as they journey to a tournament at Ashford Meadow. The story focuses on their adventures and relationship, blending light-hearted comedy with thrilling battles. Unlike previous shows, the prequel features a single narrative thread, less CGI, and short episodes averaging 35 minutes. It also highlights the lives of common people rather than the nobility. Critics have praised the chemistry between the leads, Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg, calling it “extraordinary.” The show mixes physical comedy, dry humour, and dramatic fight sequences, making it accessible even to viewers unfamiliar with the Game of Thrones universe. The series debuts on HBO and HBO Max in the U.S. on Jan 18, and on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Jan 19, with weekly episodes. Season 2 is already in production.   With inputs from BBC

Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt, along with Imran Khan and Lekha Washington, were spotted arriving hand-in-hand at the screening of Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which releases in theatres on January 16. Ahead of the film’s release, a grand premiere was held in Mumbai on Wednesday evening. Aamir Khan drew attention as he arrived with his girlfriend Gauri Spratt, the two posing together for photographers while twinning in coordinated outfits. The evening was also special as Aamir’s cousin Imran Khan marked his return to films after a decade. He attended the screening accompanied by his partner, Lekha Washington. Several members of Aamir’s family and close associates were present, including his daughter Ira Khan with husband Nupur Shikhare, his son Junaid Khan, and filmmaker Kiran Rao, who came to support Aamir despite their divorce. Arhaan Khan, son of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora, was also among the guests. In the lead-up to the release, the makers unveiled a humorous promotional video featuring a comic face-off between Aamir Khan and Sunil Grover. The clip shows Aamir being escorted out of his office after security staff mistakenly identify Sunil Grover as the real Aamir Khan. The video follows Aamir Khan’s public praise of Sunil Grover’s spot-on impersonation of him. Sunil’s mimicry was recently featured on The Great Indian Kapil Show episode starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday. Reacting to the performance, Aamir told Bollywood Hungama that it went beyond mimicry, saying it felt so real that he thought he was watching himself. He added that the clip left him laughing uncontrollably and appreciated that it was done without any malice. Dhurandhar’s unprecedented 40-Day Box Office rampage Directed by Vir Das, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos releases this Friday, January 16. The film stars Vir Das, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Sanjay Dutt, Sharib Hashmi, and Imran Khan, with Aamir Khan appearing in a cameo and also serving as the producer. Source: NDTV        

The nominees for this year’s Bafta Rising Star Award have been announced, highlighting some of the most promising new talent in film. The list features five actors, including three from the UK and two from the US. British nominees are Robert Aramayo, Archie Madekwe, and Posy Sterling. US actors on the shortlist are Miles Caton and Chase Infiniti. Robert Aramayo, from Hull, is recognised for his role in I Swear, portraying a young man with Tourette’s syndrome in the 1980s. Aramayo, 33, previously gained fame as young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Miles Caton, 20, earned acclaim for Sinners, winning a Critics’ Choice Award for best young actor. Caton grew up in a musical family in New York and toured internationally as a backing singer for H.E.R. Chase Infiniti, 25, stars in One Battle After Another, acting opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. She previously appeared in Apple TV+ thriller Presumed Innocent and graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2022. Archie Madekwe is nominated for his role in Lurker, a psychological thriller where he plays a pop star blackmailed by a fan. He has also appeared in Saltburn and Midsommar and trained at the Brit School in London. Manchester-born Posy Sterling is nominated for her first leading role in Lollipop, portraying a single mother struggling for custody after prison. She previously appeared in TV dramas including The Road Trip and You Don’t Know Me. The Bafta Rising Star winner, voted by the public, will be announced at the Bafta Film Awards on 22 February at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Alan Cumming will host the ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer.   With inputs from BBC

US rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has reportedly sold his luxury private jet as he continues to face multiple legal challenges. According to People magazine, the 56-year-old artist sold his Gulfstream G550 aircraft in October, months after his federal conviction on two prostitution-related charges in July. A spokesperson for Silver Air Private Jets, which previously managed charter operations for the aircraft, confirmed that the company no longer handles the jet. The relationship ended in October 2025 following a change in ownership. Records from the US Federal Aviation Administration show that the aircraft, once owned by Combs’ company LoveAir LLC and registered under the tail number N1969C, is no longer linked to him. The jet is now registered as T7-OKS, indicating registration in San Marino. While the exact sale price has not been disclosed, similar Gulfstream G550 models are typically listed between $15 million and $30 million. Built in 2015, the matte-black jet can seat up to 14 passengers and features a beige interior, pet-friendly facilities and an advanced entertainment system. Combs was frequently seen travelling on the custom aircraft in the months before his arrest. In March 2024, the jet flew from California to Antigua amid federal raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. In July, he also shared a video on social media showing himself boarding the plane, calling it “home.”   With inputs from NDTV

Global K-pop group BTS has announced its first world tour after completing mandatory military service, marking the band’s return to the stage after nearly four years. The seven-member group said the 2026–2027 world tour will begin in South Korea in April and continue until March 2027, with more than 70 shows across Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Europe. The tour will be BTS’s first headline concert series since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. A presale for ARMY Membership holders who register on the fan platform Weverse will be held on January 22 and 23. General ticket sales for all regions will start on January 24. The announcement comes weeks after BTS management company BigHit Music said the group would return to music on March 20 following a nearly four-year break. All seven members RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope had been completing South Korea’s mandatory military service. Rapper Suga was the last member to finish service in June 2025. He served as a social service agent, an alternative duty he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury. The other six members served in the army. The tour will start in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9 and April 11–12. It will then move to Tokyo, Tampa, El Paso, Mexico City, Stanford, Las Vegas and Busan before heading to Europe with shows in Madrid, Brussels, London, Munich and Paris. The group will later perform in several US cities including East Rutherford, Foxborough, Baltimore, Arlington, Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles. The South American leg includes Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo. Asian shows will be held in Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Manila. The tour will also include concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. The final shows are scheduled for March 13 and 14, 2027, in Manila, the Philippines.   With inputs from NDTV

Bollywood actor Imran Khan has said his daughter Imara and his partner Lekha Washington have played a key role in his healing journey and personal growth. Imran, who is set to appear in a short cameo in Vir Das’s upcoming film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, spoke to NDTV about his life, work and recovery from depression and anxiety. The film is scheduled to release in theatres this Friday, January 16, 2026. He said the last few years have been better than before and that therapy has helped him feel more settled and ready to return to work. He added that love and support from his daughter and partner have been crucial to his well-being. Imran said love is a two-way feeling and described it as empowering and healing. He said receiving love gives strength, while giving love truthfully and selflessly also brings healing. He said the bond he shares with his daughter Imara and his partner Lekha has been central to his recovery and growth. The actor has been in a relationship with Lekha Washington since 2020. He was earlier married to Avantika Malik. The couple divorced in 2019. They have a daughter, Imara, who was born in 2014. Imran said he had almost stopped working after his daughter was born as he wanted to spend more time with her. He said being present in a child’s life leaves a deep impact, even from a very young age. He said he puts his daughter to bed, feeds her and regularly picks her up from school. He said spending time with his daughter gives him joy, purpose and a sense of value. He also said it is difficult for him to give up time with her for work or events. Even during long shoots, he tries to adjust his schedule so that he does not miss time with her. Imran also spoke about joining Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos for a cameo role. He said he agreed to do the film out of fear of missing out after learning that many of his friends were involved in the project. He said filmmaker Vir Das was developing the project and that his uncle Aamir Khan was attached as a producer. Actress Mithila Palkar, who worked with Imran in Katti Batti, also shared details about the film with him. Imran said he later sent a message to Vir Das and joined the project because his friends were part of it and the film looked like fun. Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos will release in theatres on January 16, 2026.   With inputs from NDTV

Actor Akshaye Khanna will return in the upcoming film Dhurandhar 2 following strong fan demand, sources said Wednesday. Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has planned additional shoots to bring Khanna back after audiences praised his portrayal of Rehman Dakait in the first film. The character became a viral sensation, with fans creating online discussions and theories demanding more screen time. Khanna’s appearance in the song Fa9la by Flipperachi also went viral, increasing the popularity of his character. The sequel had completed its main shoot, but selective reshoots involving Khanna are set to begin later this month under Dhar’s supervision. Rehman Dakait dies in the first film, so his return poses a narrative challenge. Reports suggest the sequel may use flashbacks to expand his backstory and show his rise and key choices. Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on March 19, 2026.   With inputs from NDTV