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Director Change Once Again for Thalaivar 173

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Kamal Haasan Productions will produce Rajinikanth’s next film, his 173rd, after Jailer 2. Due to this combination, everyone was excited about Thalaivar 173; however, the directors’ names for this film are constantly changing. 

At first, Lokesh Kanagaraj was said to helm the film, which did not materialize. Later, the team officially announced Sundar C as the director, who soon walked out of the project due to creative issues.

No Director Has Been Confirmed for Thalaivar 173

Afterward, Rajinikanth listened to stories from several directors, and reports recently emerged that the superstar was very impressed with Parking movie director Ramkumar Balakrishnan, and he will direct the film.

But there have been no official announcements yet, and the latest news indicates that Ashwath Marimuthu, director of “Dragon,” narrated a story to Rajinikanth, who was impressed and is interested in collaborating with him.

An official update about Rajinikanth and Ashwath Marimuthu is expected to arrive soon. But after seeing multiple directors getting changed for Thalaivar 173, everyone is waiting to see whether Ashwath will be the final one or another director’s name will come up in the coming days. 

Allu Arjun – Atlee Film Heads Overseas

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Allu Arjun and Atlee’s AA 22 is being made on an international scale, and this spectacle film shoot started a few months back. Until now, the team has been shooting in India only, and now they are flying overseas for the next schedule.

The movie’s first overseas shooting schedule, with Dubai and other international locations locked in for filming. Director Atlee is planning a high-octane action sequence in Dubai. Allu Arjun and Atlee are expected to travel to multiple countries in 2026 to shoot key portions of this spectacle film.

There are huge expectations for the film, and though it is too early to talk about the film’s release, it is reported to arrive in theaters in 2027. Let’s wait and watch for more updates.

The Raja Saab BBFC Censor Report

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Prabhas’ upcoming Telugu film The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi Dasari, has officially received the censor report from British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The horror comedy is scheduled for overseas release on January 8, 2026.

According to the BBFC report, The Raja Saab has a runtime of approximately 185 minutes for its international version. The film has been classified under the 15 rating, which means it is suitable for viewers aged 15 and above in the United Kingdom.

The BBFC has highlighted that the film contains strong injury detail, violence, and horror elements along with mild sexual content and limited strong language are also present, while there is no significant depiction of drugs or discrimination.

In India, the film has received a UA (16+) certificate, allowing viewers aged 16 and above to watch the film with parental guidance. The Indian censored version of The Raja Saab has a slightly longer runtime of 189 minutes, which is around four minutes more than the BBFC-certified version.

The film’s plot has already been hinted at in the trailer. It is a fantasy-horror-comedy where a man enters a mysterious mansion haunted by his grandfather. The unique genre combination and Prabhas’ striking makeover have already generated significant buzz among fans.

NTR Thanks Delhi High Court

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Actor NTR has joined the likes of Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, and Ilaiyaraaja in safeguarding his personality rights, and the Delhi High Court has granted him a protective order, ensuring his identity is legally protected against misuse in today’s digital age.

With the rise of AI technology, many actors have become victims of fake images and morphed content, which often cross ethical boundaries. In this context, NTR’s move to secure his rights is seen as a crucial step in protecting his personal identity and dignity.

NTR Safeguards His Personality Rights

Sharing the news on his official social media account, NTR wrote: “I thank the Hon’ble Delhi High Court for granting a protective order that safeguards my personality rights in today’s digital age. My sincere appreciation to Supreme Court Advocates Dr. Balajanaki Srinivasan and Dr. Alka Dakar, along with Mr. Rajender and the team of Rights & Marks, for their dedicated legal support. Deeply thankful for your steadfast support.”

Fans and movie lovers have welcomed this development, calling it a significant move in the fight against the misuse of celebrity images and personal identity in the digital era.

Avatar Fire and Ash 10 Days Box Office Collections: All India Report

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The much-awaited Hollywood Grand film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, arrived in theaters 10 days ago, and it received mixed reviews. The film did average business in India, as the collections of the film are very less than the expectations. 

For 10 days, the film has collected 138 Cr nett in India, after 110 Cr in the first week. The film has collected just 28 Cr nett on the 2nd weekend, which is, for sure, a disappointing number. 

Overall, for 10 days, Avatar: Fire and Ash has collected close to 170 Cr gross, and looking at the trend, the maximum possibility is that the film will close around 225 Cr gross, which is less than half of Avatar 2’s final collections.

The mixed reaction of the second part, Avatar: The Way of Water, has affected the pre-release buzz of Avatar 3, which resulted in weak openings.

Trade Talk: Ajith Market Not Suited for 300 Cr Investments

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Ajith delivered a blockbuster with his last release, Good Bad Ugly, and soon signed his next film with the same director, Adhik Ravichandran. But there has been no update about this project so far. According to industry sources, the film has not taken off due to a mismatch between Ajith’s market value and his remuneration.

Even though the director and the script are ready, the film has not gone on floors because producers are not yet willing to invest. Discussions have taken place with a few Tamil and Telugu producers, and there are also talks with Hindi producers, but no one has been finalized so far.

Ajith’s Next Film Finding It Tough to Secure Producers

The main issue is said to be the huge budget. Tamil Nadu’s leading distributor, Tiruppur Subramaniam, spoke about this in an interview and stated that producers are not ready to invest more than ₹300 crore on an Ajith film because his market does not justify such a large investment.

This argument holds weight. Ajith’s highest-grossing film, Good Bad Ugly, earned around ₹250 crore gross worldwide, with a distributor share of about ₹110–120 crore. Even if his next film achieves similar theatrical business, there is no guarantee that producers can recover the remaining ₹180 crore.

Limitations in other markets are impacting Ajith’s stardom

OTT platforms are currently offering around ₹70–80 crore for films starring major regional actors. Even after adding satellite rights and other revenues, a budget of ₹250 crore itself is risky for producers, making a ₹300 crore budget extremely risky. To recover such a budget, a film would need to collect more than ₹400 crore at the box office.

Ajith has a very strong market in Tamil Nadu and stands on par with Vijay and Rajinikanth in his home state. However, his reach in other Indian markets and languages is much lower compared to theirs. This is the main reason producers are willing to invest ₹400 crore or more in films starring Vijay or Rajinikanth, but hesitate to do the same for Ajith.

Mohanlal’s Record Year, But Vrusshabha Ends in Shock at the Box Office

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Mohanlal, who had a great year in 2025 by scoring three back-to-back super hits at the box office, has faced a shocking result with his latest film, Vrusshabha, which has become a big disaster at the box office.

Normally, irrespective of word of mouth, big stars get huge openings and respectable numbers. But in Malayalam cinema, it has often been quite different, and this has been witnessed many times. The latest example is Vrusshabha, starring Mohanlal, who scored two of the biggest hits and all-time grossers of the industry this year with Empuraan (265 Cr) and Thudarum (234 Cr), along with the sensational blockbuster Hridaya Pooravam (76 Cr). 

In contrast, Vrusshabha, a big-budget film released during the Christmas weekend, failed to even recover its expenses and managed to collect only around 2 Cr gross. Sadly, Mohanlal had to end a superb 2025 with such a disastrous result. 

Let the Court Decide: iBOMMA Ravi

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The custody interrogation of iBomma Ravi, the operator of the piracy platform iBomma, has been completed. Even after being arrested in the piracy case, Ravi reportedly maintained that he had not confessed to the allegations and stated that the truth would come out only after the court’s verdict.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have gathered several crucial details in connection with the piracy website case. They collected evidence related to links with piracy gangs, sources of pirated content, betting apps, and financial transactions.

Additionally, it was found that Ravi obtained a PAN card and a driving licence in the name of Prahlad Vellela. Based on this, the Hyderabad police investigated Prahlad’s role as well. Prahlad was brought from Bengaluru for questioning. During Ravi’s custody, the police questioned Prahlad in Ravi’s presence and collected several key details.

iBomma Ravi says courts decision will be final

After interrogating Ravi for 12 days and four days each in three separate cases, the Cyber Crime Police produced him before the court as his custody period ended today. After conducting a medical examination, Ravi was shifted to the Nampally Court.

During this time, iBomma Ravi, who was arrested in the piracy case, told the media that all the allegations against him were false and said he would prove his innocence in court. He reportedly displayed a defiant attitude while speaking to the media.

Immadi Ravi said that the court’s decision would be final and dismissed the accusations against him as baseless. He questioned who had claimed that he had links with betting apps and reiterated that everything would be settled legally in court. He also further clarified that he had not absconded and was living in Kukatpally, adding that he had only obtained citizenship of another country and had not fled anywhere.

Spirit Update Arriving

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Telugu cinema is gearing up for some massive projects in 2026 and 2027, and one of the most awaited among them is Prabhas – Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit. The latest update is that the makers are preparing to announce the release date very soon.

The film recently began shooting. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga had extra time for pre-production because of Prabhas’s earlier commitments, and now Prabhas is fully focused on Spirit. His look in the film is said to be completely fresh and different.

Reports suggest that the first look of Spirit, the most awaited movie, will be unveiled on New Year’s Day, along with the official release date. With Vanga’s strong reputation and Prabhas’s star power, the film already has massive hype among fans.

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna Wedding Date Revealed

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Even though there has been no official announcement, rumors about Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s wedding continue to circulate in media circles. The latest buzz suggests that the wedding date has already been finalized.

According to reports, Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are planning to get married on February 26, 2026, at the Udaipur Palace. It is also said that the couple got engaged in October 2025 in a private ceremony attended only by close family members.

However, the couple has not officially confirmed any details about their engagement or wedding so far. Fans are now waiting to see when they will make a formal announcement.

Vijay and Rashmika have previously worked together in popular films such as Geetha Govindam (2018) and Dear Comrade (2019).