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Pankaj Tripathi’s mother, Smt. Hemwanti Devi, passes away at 89 in Bihar

Actor Pankaj Tripathi’s mother, Smt. Hemwanti Devi, passed away at the family’s hometown in Belsand, Gopalganj, Bihar, on Friday. She was 89 years old and had been unwell for some time. According to an official statement issued on behalf of the Tripathi family, Smt. Hemwanti Devi “left for her heavenly abode peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her loved ones.” The actor was by her side during her final moments. The cremation took place on Saturday in Belsand, attended by close family members, relatives, and friends. In the statement, the family expressed deep sorrow over the loss and requested privacy during this difficult time. “The Tripathi family is mourning this immense loss and humbly request everyone to keep Smt. Hemwanti Devi in their thoughts and prayers. The family also requests the media and well-wishers to respect their privacy during this period of grief and allow them time to mourn in peace,” it read. Smt. Hemwanti Devi’s passing marks a personal loss for Pankaj Tripathi, who has often spoken fondly of his roots and family in Bihar. The actor and his family are currently in Belsand for the last rites. Also Read: LEAKED footage shows Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal back in action for Mirzapur: The Film shoot; Anjumm Shharma joins shoot in Banaras.

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Huma Qureshi calls out lack of shows for her film Single Salma

Actor Huma Qureshi has expressed disappointment over the limited theatrical screenings of her latest film Single Salma, which released today on October 31. The actor took to Instagram to share her frustration after fans reported that the film was missing from cinema listings in several cities. In her Instagram Stories, Huma reposted messages from fans who were unable to find a single show for the film in their areas. One fan from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, wrote, “I opened an online movie booking app to book tickets for Single Salma, but I was shocked to see that there is not even a single show in my city. It is quite sad that cinema people cannot give even a single show to a good actor like Huma Qureshi.” Sharing the message, Huma wrote, “My DMs are full of messages like this. More shows for Single Salma.”In another post, Huma shared a message of support for her brother and the film’s producer Saqib Saleem, writing, “Will always keep fighting the good fight @saqibsaleem. More shows for Single Salma.”The film, directed by Nachiket Samant, also stars Shreyas Talpade and Sunny Singh. It tells the story of a woman’s journey of self-love and acceptance, exploring themes of individuality and empowerment. Single Salma has been caught in a dispute between its producers and major cinema chains over the Virtual Print Fee (VPF). This disagreement reportedly led to a restricted release, with the film being allotted very few screens across the country. Fans and industry colleagues have voiced their support for Huma, urging theatre chains to increase the number of shows. The actor’s posts have since gained traction online, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by mid-scale films in securing fair screen time amid tough competition and high distribution costs. Single Salma is produced by Star Studio18 and Elemen3 Entertainment. Also Read : EXCLUSIVE: After Jolly LLB 3, Star Studio18-PVR Inox now fight over VPF for Huma Qureshi-starrer Single Salma.

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Ranbir Kapoor to relaunch RK Studios with his directorial debut and collaborations with Ayan Mukerji, Deepika Padukone: Report

Actor Ranbir Kapoor is embarking on a heartfelt mission to revive the iconic RK Studios, originally established by his legendary grandfather Raj Kapoor, according to a report by Mid-Day. The revival is not just a business move but a tribute to the Kapoor family legacy, with Ranbir focusing on producing films that carry the spirit of RK Studios while infusing a modern voice to resonate with today’s audience. The report mentions that plans are well underway, with several scripts shortlisted and production anticipated to begin soon. As part of the revival, Ranbir aims to re-establish the studio as a prominent creative hub in Mumbai, possibly including an office space and screening theater to foster collaboration in the industry. The initiative also marks a continuation of his late father Rishi Kapoor’s dream to carry forward the family’s cinematic heritage. Alongside Ranbir’s directorial debut, the revived studio will back projects featuring some of Bollywood’s top talents, including collaborations with Deepika Padukone and director Ayan Mukerji. The reopening of RK Studios is expected to be a grand affair, paying homage to its golden era under Raj Kapoor, and serves as a symbolic passing of the torch to the next generation of filmmakers. This significant move further cements Ranbir Kapoor’s role not only as a leading actor but also as a custodian of one of Indian cinema’s most treasured legacies. RK Studios, established by the legendary Raj Kapoor in 1948, produced some of the most iconic films in Indian cinema including Awaara (1951), Barsaat (1949), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982), and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), which was Kapoor’s last film before his death. The last film produced under the RK Films banner was Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), directed by Rishi Kapoor. Over time, RK Studios faced a decline as the film industry shifted locations to Mumbai’s northern suburbs. The 2017 fire that gutted the studio during a reality show shoot was the final blow, destroying invaluable memorabilia, costumes, and the physical studio space. Due to the increasing maintenance costs and the impracticality of rebuilding, the Kapoor family decided to sell RK Studios, marking the end of an era for the historic studio, Also Read: BREAKING: Ranbir Kapoor’s Love And War bows out of Eid 2026 clash with Yash’s Toxic; to release post June 2026.

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Ram Gopal Varma reveals Shah Rukh Khan was first choice for Company before casting Ajay Devgn

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma recently disclosed that he had first offered the role of Malik in his 2002 gangster drama Company to Shah Rukh Khan. However, after a single meeting with the actor, Varma decided to cast Ajay Devgn instead.In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Varma explained, “My first instinct was to cast Shah Rukh Khan. I went and narrated the story to him, and he was interested. But I somehow felt Shah Rukh has this natural body language, very energetic, he’s like a live wire. The idea of Malik’s character was that of a subtle guy, laid-back and cold-minded when he’s thinking. I thought SRK’s natural energy would go against that. To make Shah Rukh still would be an injustice to both him and the film.”Varma further emphasized the difference in acting styles, stating, “I think there’s a performing actor and then there’s an actor. I’m not saying one is better than the other, but it’s just a different style of acting. A guy like Shah Rukh should be left to himself. I think directors trying to make him fit into a different kind of character won’t work. But Ajay was naturally suited for that role, he’s very calm. That’s when I decided to cast Ajay instead. I just had one meeting with SRK, and in that itself I realised it wouldn’t work, but I didn’t tell him.”Following his decision, Varma contacted Devgn immediately after leaving Khan’s residence and finalized him for the role. The film also featured Vivek Oberoi, who was cast as Chandru after Abhishek Bachchan, Varma’s initial choice, was unavailable due to other commitments.Company, which was the second installment in Varma’s gangster trilogy, was both a critical and commercial success. It grossed Rs 25.02 crores against a budget of Rs 9.5 crores and marked Mohanlal’s debut in Hindi cinema.Ram Gopal Varma is gearing up to collaborate once again with Manoj Bajpayee for their next project, a horror comedy titled Police Station Mein Bhoot. Announcing the film, RGV shared an intriguing line, “We run to the police when scared, but where will the police run to when they get scared? After a deadly encounter killing, a police station becomes a haunted station, making all the cops run in fear to escape the ghosts of the gangsters.” The story revolves around a police station that turns haunted after a deadly encounter, forcing the officers to flee from the vengeful spirits of slain gangsters. Details about the film’s release and additional cast members are yet to be revealed.Also Read: Happy Birthday Prabhas – Amitabh Bachchan, Ram Gopal Varma speak about the good qualities of the Baahubali star: “Prabhas is a hundred hassle-free”

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