United News of Bangladesh

The trailer for the second season of Citadel has been released, with the new instalment set to premiere on Prime Video on May 6. The action-packed preview of the spy drama, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, was unveiled on Tuesday, confirming the return date of the series. The show follows elite agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, played by Madden and Chopra Jonas, along with Bernard Orlick, portrayed by Stanley Tucci. The trio were once part of a powerful global agency that was destroyed by Manticore, a shadowy network backed by influential families. According to the official synopsis, a new and dangerous threat forces the former operatives back into action. They must assemble a team of skilled recruits and carry out a worldwide mission to stop a conspiracy that could have far-reaching consequences. The upcoming season will see the return of cast members Lesley Manville and Ashleigh Cummings. New additions to the cast include Jack Reynor, Matt Berry and Lina El Arabi, along with Merle Dandridge, Gabriel Leone and Rayna Vallandingham. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios and AGBO, the series is executive produced by Anthony Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Scott Nemes. David Weil serves as showrunner, director and executive producer, while Joe Russo and Greg Yaitanes also direct and executive produce the series. #From NDTV

South Korean police Tuesday said they seek an arrest warrant for Bang Si-Hyuk, Hybe chairman and BTS agency head, over alleged investor fraud exceeding $100 million. Police said they asked prosecutors for court warrant as probe expands. Bang is accused of misleading investors in 2019 by saying Hybe would not list, prompting share sales to a private fund before IPO. Authorities suspect a 200 billion won ($136m) side deal granting him 30% IPO profit share. His lawyers said he regrets the arrest move despite full cooperation, and denies wrongdoing. He is barred from leaving Korea since August.The case hits Hybe as BTS returns after four-year military hiatus. The group held comeback shows in Seoul, Goyang and Tokyo, and will tour US starting Tampa, Florida. Deepika continues filming action scenes during pregnancy for RaakaBang founded Hybe (Big Hit) in 2005 and built it into a K-pop giant, later buying Ithaca Holdings for $1 billion in 2021, managing Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Hybe includes Seventeen, Le Sserafim and Katseye. The company also faced dispute between Bang and producer Min Hee-jin over Ador and NewJeans in 2024; court ordered NewJeans to honor contract until 2029 according to officials and court rulings the investigation remains ongoing at this stage police said report adds.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone is continuing to shoot demanding action scenes for upcoming film ‘Raaka’ despite being pregnant, according to media reports. Deepika and her husband Ranveer Singh announced their second pregnancy on Sunday, surprising fans. The actor is currently working on two major projects ‘Raaka’, starring Allu Arjun, and ‘King’ alongside Shah Rukh Khan. A report by Hindustan Times said Deepika plans to continue shooting throughout her pregnancy. Citing a source close to the actor, the report said she is filming intense action sequences for ‘Raaka’, with necessary safety measures in place. The source added that both ‘Raaka’ and ‘King’ are on tight production schedules with release dates already announced, prompting Deepika to stay committed to her work timeline. The couple shared the pregnancy news through a joint social media post, showing a glimpse of their daughter holding a positive pregnancy test kit. Deepika captioned the post with a nazar amulet emoji. Several Bollywood celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor, congratulated the couple. ‘Raaka’, a sci-fi action film produced by Sun Pictures, marks the first collaboration between Allu Arjun and director Atlee. The project was announced in April on Allu Arjun’s 43rd birthday. Reports suggest the film has a massive budget, with significant spending planned for production and visual effects. Meanwhile, ‘King’, directed by Siddharth Anand, will see Deepika reunite with Shah Rukh Khan. The film also features Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi and Rani Mukerji in key roles. ‘King’ is scheduled to be released in cinemas on December 24, 2026. Source: NDTV

The Russian House in Dhaka inaugurated a Film Festival dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the China–Russia Strategic Partnership, with its opening ceremony held at the campus of R. P. Shaha University (RPSU). The event brought together approximately 250 students and faculty members, marking a vibrant beginning to the festival aimed at fostering cultural dialogue and enhancing international understanding through cinema. The programme commenced with an opening session featuring welcome addresses by Professor Dr. Manindra Kumar Roy, Vice-Chancellor of RPSU, Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, and Li Shaopeng, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. In her remarks, Ms. Khlevnoy highlighted the historical significance of the Russia–China Strategic Partnership, tracing its development over the past three decades and emphasizing its foundation in mutual trust, cooperation, and a shared vision for a multipolar world. She also noted the strengthening partnership between Russia and Bangladesh, particularly in the areas of energy, education, and cultural exchange.  A special address was delivered by Li in the form of a video message, underscoring the importance of cultural cooperation and people-to-people engagement. Following the formal session, attendees enjoyed screenings of the films “Red Silk,” a Russian feature reflecting rich cultural values and storytelling traditions, and “I Am What I Am,” a Chinese animated film celebrating perseverance, identity, and self-discovery. The festival reflects a continued commitment to strengthening cultural ties and promoting mutual understanding among nations through the universal language of cinema.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have revealed that they are expecting their second child together. Along with the announcement, they shared a sweet glimpse of their daughter, Dua, who was born in September 2024. The couple posted jointly on Instagram, where the image featured little Dua holding a positive pregnancy test kit. Deepika kept the caption minimal, adding just two evil eye emojis. Deepika and Ranveer tied the knot on November 14, 2018, in an elaborate wedding ceremony at Lake Como. The celebrations included two traditional ceremonies honoring Deepika’s Konkani roots and Ranveer’s Sindhi heritage. Their relationship began while filming Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in 2013, followed by a private engagement in 2015 before they went public with their marriage. The couple welcomed their first child, Dua, on September 8, 2024. Speaking about motherhood at the WAVES 2025 summit, Deepika shared how becoming a parent transformed her outlook on life. She described the experience as deeply emotional and grounding, shifting her focus from personal ambition to caring for her child and being more present in everyday moments. She has also expressed a desire to give her daughter a normal upbringing, away from constant public attention. On the professional front, Ranveer is enjoying the continued success of Dhurandhar 2, while Deepika has a busy lineup ahead. She will appear alongside Shah Rukh Khan in King, directed by Siddharth Anand, and will also star with Allu Arjun in AA22xA6. Source NDTV  

The Hindi film Dhurandhar 2 has broken a series of box office records within just one month of its release, setting new benchmarks both in India and globally. Released on March 19, with paid previews starting a day earlier, the film made a strong impression even before its official opening. It earned around Rs 43 crore from previews alone, the highest ever in India, signalling massive audience interest. The film also recorded the highest advance booking in history, selling nearly 925,000 tickets across national cinema chains ahead of release. On its opening day, the film collected Rs 102.55 crore nett in India, the biggest-ever Day 1 figure for a Hindi film. Of this, the Hindi version contributed Rs 99.10 crore, marking the highest single-day collection for a Hindi-language movie. Including previews, the domestic Day 1 total reached Rs 145.55 crore. Globally, the film earned about Rs 236.63 crore on its first day, making it one of the biggest worldwide openings for an Indian film. The strong momentum continued over the opening weekend, with total earnings of Rs 674.17 crore nett in India, among the highest ever. By the end of the first week, the film had collected around Rs 745 crore domestically, the highest first-week total for a Bollywood film, with the Hindi version alone contributing over Rs 546 crore. The film maintained steady earnings in the following weeks, with its third-week performance ranking among the strongest for Hindi cinema. In terms of milestones, the film became the fastest Hindi movie to cross Rs 500 crore, achieving the feat in just six days. It crossed Rs 800 crore within 11 days and went on to surpass Rs 1,000 crore in India by Day 18, becoming the first Hindi film to reach that mark. Dhurandhar, the first instalment of the franchise, had collected around Rs 840 crore in its lifetime, a figure the sequel surpassed within just 11 days. Internationally, the film also performed strongly, crossing Rs 1,000 crore globally within a week. Overseas collections exceeded Rs 260 crore early on and went past Rs 400 crore by the end of the first month. The film also set a unique record by becoming the highest-grossing Indian movie excluding the Gulf and China markets, with global earnings crossing Rs 1,700 crore within weeks. By the end of its first month, the film’s India nett collection had crossed Rs 1,100 crore, making it the highest-grossing Hindi film in the country. Worldwide, the film’s total earnings have reached over Rs 1,700 crore, placing it among the top three highest-grossing Indian films of all time and close to challenging long-standing records.   With inputs from NDTV    

Hollywood actress Natalie Portman is expecting her third child at the age of 44, her first with partner Tanguy Destable. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Portman said she feels “very grateful” about the pregnancy and described it as both a privilege and a miracle. She added that she and Destable are very excited about welcoming their child. Portman already has two children 14-year-old son Aleph and 9-year-old daughter Amalia with her former husband Benjamin Millepied. The couple divorced in 2024. Her publicist, Keleigh Morgan, confirmed the pregnancy but did not provide further details. Speaking about her personal experience, Portman said she grew up understanding how difficult pregnancy can be, as her father worked as a fertility doctor. She noted that while having a child is a joyful experience, it is not always easy for many people, and she wants to remain mindful of that. She also said she is feeling physically well and has more energy than she expected

Bhooth Bangla has opened on a solid note, marking a strong comeback at the box office for Akshay Kumar. After a preview release earlier in the week, the film saw a sharp rise in earnings on Friday. The horror-comedy collected ₹12.15 crore from over 12,000 shows, a significant 250% jump from its preview earnings of ₹3.50 crore on April 16. With this boost, its total gross collection in India has reached ₹18.90 crore, while the net domestic figure stands at ₹15.75 crore. Worldwide, the film has earned ₹23.90 crore so far. Despite the upward trend, the opening performance presents a mixed picture compared to Akshay Kumar’s recent films. Jolly LLB 3 opened slightly higher at ₹12.5 crore, while Housefull 5 debuted strongly with around ₹24 crore. On the lower end, Kesari Chapter 2 had an opening of ₹7.76 crore. Still, Bhooth Bangla stands as his biggest opener since Sooryavanshi, which earned about ₹26.29 crore on day one. Within the horror-comedy genre, however, the film lags behind recent hits. Thamma opened at ₹24 crore last year, while Stree 2 set a high benchmark with ₹51.8 crore on its first day. It also trails Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (₹14.11 crore) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (₹35.5 crore). At the same time, the film faces competition from Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2, which continues to perform steadily even after a month in theatres. On its 30th day, the spy thriller added ₹2.70 crore, pushing its total net collection past ₹1,105 crore. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film marks his reunion with Akshay Kumar after several successful collaborations, including Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, De Dana Dan, and Khatta Meetha. The movie features a strong ensemble cast including Wamiqa Gabbi, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, and Jisshu Sengupta. Addressing controversy over a song allegedly resembling one from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne by Satyajit Ray, Priyadarshan dismissed concerns, stating that similarities can occur and emphasizing his deep respect for the legendary director. Source NDTV

Mrunal Thakur has shared her disappointment over certain unexpected changes in Son of Sardaar 2, saying some developments during the project did not match her initial expectations. In a recent interview while promoting her upcoming film Dacoit: A Love Story, the actor said she was unaware of a key casting decision that altered her perception of the story. She revealed that she did not know a much older actor would be cast as her husband in the film, which left her feeling that the project had shifted from what she originally signed up for. Mrunal said the situation affected her trust to some extent, though she added that she does not hold any regrets. In the film, Mrunal plays Rabia, while Chunky Panday portrays her estranged husband Danish. Ajay Devgn appears as Jaswinder Singh Randhawa, also known as Jassi, alongside Neeru Bajwa as his wife Dimple. The story follows Rabia and Jassi, both struggling in their marriages, who gradually develop feelings for each other. Mrunal also expressed concern that some of her key scenes were removed during editing. She mentioned an emotional sequence involving her character and a child, which highlighted Rabia’s sacrifices and maternal role, but did not make it into the final cut. Despite these issues, the actor said she remains on good terms with the film’s team and continues to look back at the experience without regret. Son of Sardaar 2 is the sequel to the 2012 film Son of Sardaar and features a cast including Ravi Kishan, Deepak Dobriyal and Kubbra Sait in key roles. #From NDTV