Vijay, actor and chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has received a fresh summons from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear for questioning on March 10, 2026, at the agency’s New Delhi headquarters.
Third Round of CBI Questioning
This will be the third round of questioning for Vijay in connection with the Karur stampede case. His legal team has submitted a written request to the CBI seeking a 10-day extension from the scheduled appearance.
Background of the Karur Stampede Case
The CBI took over the investigation from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after directions from the Supreme Court of India.
The probe relates to a stampede that occurred on September 27, 2025, during Vijay’s political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The tragic incident reportedly claimed 41 lives and injured more than 60 people.
Supreme Court’s Role in the Probe
Last October, the Supreme Court of India directed the CBI director to appoint a senior officer to lead the investigation.
The court also set up a supervisory committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi to oversee the probe into the Karur stampede case.
Chidambaram S. Poduval, director of the blockbuster Malayalam film Manjummel Boys, has been granted anticipatory bail by a Kerala court. The order was issued on March 7, 2026, by District Judge K.K. Balakrishnan of the Ernakulam Sessions Court.
Court’s Reasoning for Bail
While granting anticipatory bail, the court highlighted three key factors in favor of the director:
No necessity for custodial interrogation
Significant delay in filing the complaint
The director’s clean criminal record
These reasons played a crucial role in the court’s decision to grant bail.
Background of the Case
The Ernakulam South Police registered a case against Chidambaram on March 2, 2026, following a complaint filed by a woman working in the Malayalam film industry.
According to reports, the alleged incident dates back to 2022 and involves claims of inappropriate behaviour at an apartment in Kochi.
Defense Arguments
Chidambaram’s legal team argued that the allegations were professionally motivated. The defense claimed the complaint was part of a deliberate attempt to damage the director’s reputation after the massive success of Manjummel Boys.
Bail Conditions
Judge K.K. Balakrishnan granted the anticipatory bail under specific conditions. The director must cooperate with the ongoing investigation and appear before authorities when summoned.
Released in 2024, Manjummel Boys became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films, earning widespread appreciation for its survival thriller story based on a true incident.
Alpha, the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe, has been postponed again. The makers have now officially announced July 10, 2026 as the new theatrical release date.
Multiple Delays for Alpha
The spy thriller starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari was originally scheduled for a December 2025 release. Later, the film was pushed to April 2026.
Now, Yash Raj Films (YRF) has announced that Alpha will release in theatres on July 10, 2026.
Cast and Crew
Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha marks a major expansion of the YRF Spy Universe, introducing its first female-led action film.
The movie stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as elite super agents, while Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor play important supporting roles.
Why Alpha Was Delayed
According to reports, YRF is taking extra time to perfect the film’s VFX and overall content. After the underwhelming box office response to War 2 and Tiger 3, the studio is reportedly being more cautious with its upcoming Spy Universe projects.
The much-awaited Allu Cinemas Kokapet in Hyderabad, featuring a premium Dolby Cinema screen, has officially locked its grand opening date of March 12, 2026. Movie lovers across the city have been eagerly waiting for this high-end multiplex experience, and the management has announced the launch with the tagline “Experience The Extraordinary.”
Welcome to ALLU CINEMAS – ASIA'S LARGEST #DolbyCinema ❤🔥
Built with state-of-the-art technology, the multiplex is especially significant because it houses India’s third Dolby Cinema screen and Hyderabad’s first. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will officially inaugurate Allu Cinemas Kokapet on March 12, 2026.
Test Screenings Before Public Opening
Before opening for the general public, the management will conduct a series of technical test screenings to ensure that the projection, sound systems, and overall theatre experience function perfectly.
As part of these trial runs, films such as F1 starring Brad Pitt will be screened inside the theatre. These test screenings will continue until March 18, 2026, after which the multiplex will begin regular ticket bookings for the public.
Opening Films at Allu Cinemas Kokapet
For its commercial launch, the multiplex will start its journey with Dhurandhar 2 and Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The management of Allu Cinemas Kokapet has also been sharing multiple features, visuals, and updates online, further increasing excitement among Hyderabad movie lovers and cinema enthusiasts.
Actor Sree Vishnu is currently facing a difficult phase at the box office. His two latest films, Mrithyunjay and Vishnu Vinyasam, have failed to make a strong impact with audiences.
Interestingly, both films were initially scheduled to release on the same date — February 27. However, to avoid a direct clash, the teams made a last-minute change to the release strategy.
Release Strategy That Didn’t Work
Vishnu Vinyasam was released first on February 27, while Mrithyunjay postponed its release to March 6, hoping the gap between the two films would help attract better audience response.
Unfortunately, the strategy did not work as expected. Both films struggled to receive positive reviews and strong word of mouth, which directly impacted their box office performance.
Box Office Numbers
Vishnu Vinyasam Collections: The film collected around ₹9 Cr to ₹10 Cr in its opening weekend — already a weak performance for Sree Vishnu.
Mrithyunjay Shock:Mrithyunjayperformed even worse. It collected only ₹5 Cr gross in its first weekend — just 50% of what Vishnu Vinyasam earned.
Film
Opening Weekend
Verdict
Vishnu Vinyasam
₹9-10 Cr
Weak
Mrithyunjay
₹5 Cr
Disaster
A Wake-Up Call for Sree Vishnu
These back-to-back box office failures have become a major setback for Sree Vishnu.
The actor has previously proven that he can deliver successful films, but his recent script choices have not connected with audiences. Continuous underperforming films are also slowing his progress toward reaching the next level in his career.
For now, these two films may serve as an important lesson, and fans will be hoping that Sree Vishnu makes a strong comeback with his next project.
Ram Charan’s highly anticipated Peddi has locked April 30, 2026 as its official release date. However, the film now faces stiff competition from Kollywood with Dhanush’sKara and Suriya’sKaruppu targeting the same release window.
Initially planned for March 27, Peddi was pushed to April 30 due to pending shoot schedules and heavy post-production work. Director Buchi Babu Sana and the team are working tirelessly to ensure they meet this deadline.
Kollywood Films Targeting the April 30 Release Window
While there are currently no major Telugu releases on April 30, two big Kollywood films are set to clash with Peddi at the box office.
Dhanush’s Kara: Directed by Vignesh Raja, this Pan-Indian project is officially confirmed for an April 30 release. The film is expected to release in multiple languages, including Telugu.
Suriya’s Karuppu: Director RJ Balaji has confirmed that his upcoming film with Suriya is aiming for a May 1 release. The movie is also expected to have a wide Telugu release, increasing the competition around the same weekend.
Why a Solo Release Is Important for Peddi
For a big-budget Pan-Indian film like Peddi, securing a solo release window is extremely important, especially during the opening weekend.
Although Kara and Karuppu may not necessarily turn into massive blockbusters, they could still impact the box office performance of Peddi, particularly in certain regions.
In Tamil Nadu, films starring Dhanush and Suriya will naturally attract strong local support, which could limit the box office collections for Peddi in that market.
Even in the Telugu states, the presence of two additional releases may lead to screen sharing, reducing the overall screen count and footprint for Ram Charan’s Peddi.
The highly anticipated Jana Nayagan re-certification screening by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was scheduled for today, March 9, 2026, at 02:00 PM. The producers had reportedly received official confirmation a week ago, raising expectations that the film would finally move forward in its certification process.
Jana Nayagan Screening Cancelled Due to Board Member’s Health
According to Tamil media reports, the CBFC has now informed the Jana Nayagan producers that the scheduled screening cannot proceed today.
Reports suggest that one of the key CBFC board members, who was expected to attend the screening and review the film, is currently unwell, forcing the authorities to cancel the entire re-certification screening at the last moment.
However, this development is still unofficial, and it remains to be seen how much truth there is in these reports.
Earlier Reports Suggested Positive Outcome
Earlier updates had suggested that Jana Nayagan would undergo its censor review today, with the team expecting to receive the censor certificate within the next 10 days if everything went smoothly.
With these conflicting reports circulating, an official update from the CBFC or the film’s production team is expected later today.
Vijay Fans Await Official Update
Fans of Vijay and movie audiences are now waiting for clarity regarding the Jana Nayagan certification process.
The film has already faced multiple hurdles during its certification journey, and supporters are hoping that the latest delay is only temporary and that the film will soon receive a positive update.
While India celebrates a historic third T20 World Cup victory, Pawan Kalyan fans are expressing frustration after the Ustaad Bhagat Singh teaser, which was promised to air during the final on JioHotstar, never appeared during the broadcast.
India’s Historic Win vs Fans’ Disappointment
The Indian cricket team defeated New Zealand in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat, becoming the first nation to win the T20 World Cup three times. The entire country erupted in celebration — except for one section of the audience.
For Pawan Kalyan fans, the excitement was not just about cricket. Many had been eagerly waiting for the Ustaad Bhagat Singh teaser premiere during the World Cup final.
The Broken Promise That Angered Fans
Earlier in the day, the official Ustaad Bhagat Singh team announced that the film’s teaser would premiere during the World Cup final broadcast on JioHotstar. With millions of viewers watching the match worldwide, it appeared to be the perfect platform to launch the teaser.
Fans waited through every over, every boundary, and every commercial break — but the Ustaad Bhagat Singh teaser never aired.
So far, the team has not released any official explanation or statement, and the silence has only increased frustration among fans.
Why This Promotion Was Important
The stakes were high for this World Cup teaser premiere. The makers recently preponed Ustaad Bhagat Singh’s release from March 26 to March 19, targeting the Ugadi and Ramzan holiday window.
Detail
Information
Original Release Date
March 26
New Release Date
March 19
Reason for Change
Ugadi & Ramzan holidays
Platform for Teaser
JioHotstar (World Cup Final)
Fans Demand Answers
The World Cup final broadcast was expected to kickstart the final phase of promotions for Ustaad Bhagat Singh. Instead, many fans feel disappointed after the teaser failed to appear during the match.
With no communication from the film’s team, speculation has started spreading online. Some believe it could have been a technical issue, while others think the promotional plan may have changed at the last moment.
For now, fans are simply waiting for clarity from the Ustaad Bhagat Singh team about why the teaser was not released as promised.
Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra have filmed a massive dance number for SS Rajamouli’sVaranasi, and the global actress just revealed some exciting details about the song.
The upcoming sequence is already creating buzz among fans, especially after Priyanka Chopra hinted at the intense choreography and grand scale of the performance.
Priyanka Chopra Opens Up About the Dance Number
Priyanka Chopra recently shared that Varanasi features an intense Latin-style dance number that pushed her to her limits.
The actress admitted that the choreography “almost broke her,” highlighting the physically demanding nature of the sequence and the scale at which it was filmed.
According to reports, the song has been designed as a visually grand dance sequence featuring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra together on screen.
Meanwhile, the production team has also been sharing updates from the Antarctica shootand other filming schedules, further building anticipation around the project.
Can Varanasi Repeat Naatu Naatu’s Global Success?
For RRR, the Naatu Naatu dance number played a crucial role in the film’s global reach. The infectious track won multiple international awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Song.
With Rajamouli at the helm and a Latin-style dance featuring two massive stars, expectations are sky-high. Mahesh Babu is known for his smooth moves, and pairing him with Priyanka Chopra – who has experience with international productions – could create magic on screen.
Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Babu Pairing Raises Expectations
Mahesh Babu is widely known for his smooth screen presence and stylish dance moves.
Pairing him with Priyanka Chopra, who has significant experience in both Bollywood and international productions, could bring a unique global appeal to the song.
The combination of Rajamouli’s grand vision, international choreography style, and two major stars has already sparked excitement among movie fans.
What to Expect from Varanasi
Varanasi marks Mahesh Babu’s first collaboration with SS Rajamouli, making it one of the most anticipated Telugu films in recent years.
Rajamouli has consistently delivered large-scale cinematic experiences with memorable music and iconic moments.
If the Latin-style dance number lives up to the expectations, it could become the next viral song from Indian cinema, similar to how Naatu Naatu captured global attention.
Pawan Kalyan’s much-awaited Ustaad Bhagat Singh is all set for a grand theatrical release on March 19, with overseas premieres starting on March 18.
Early overseas trends are already generating discussion around the Ustaad Bhagat Singh North America box office, especially regarding its break-even target and current advance booking numbers.
Here is a complete breakdown of the film’s North America business, break-even target, and pre-sales trends.
Ustaad Bhagat Singh North America Business & Break-even
The North America rights for Ustaad Bhagat Singh have been acquired by Prathyangira Cinemas. The total business for this region is valued at around ₹10 Crore.
Aspect
Details
Distributor
Prathyangira Cinemas
Business Value
₹10 Crore
Break-even Target
$2.3M – $2.4M
Break-even Target Analysis
To recover its investment and reach the break-even mark, Ustaad Bhagat Singh needs to collect around $2.3M – $2.4M in North America, including distribution expenses.
For a Pawan Kalyan film, this target is generally considered achievable. His recent film They Call Him OG reportedly delivered premiere numbers that were significantly higher than this entire break-even requirement.
Because of this, trade analysts believe that the Ustaad Bhagat Singh North America box office performance has a realistic chance of reaching profitability if the opening momentum remains strong.
Challenges Aheadfor Ustaad Bhagat Singh
Despite the manageable break-even target, the film faces a couple of challenges.
First, Ustaad Bhagat Singh will release alongside Dhurandhar 2, which is generating massive hype and strong advance bookings.
Second, the overall pre-release buzz for Ustaad Bhagat Singh is currently not as strong as it was for OG. This could impact the initial opening numbers unless the promotions generate stronger momentum closer to release.
Ustaad Bhagat Singh North America Pre-Sales Cross $75K
Despite the competition, North America bookings have started on a high note. Bookings opened yesterday, and the response is very good. The film crossed $60K in pre-sales very quickly and has now surpassed the $75K mark.
Opening Day Predictions
If the film manages a $1 Million+ start, it will be a very good sign for reaching the break-even target. The current booking trend suggests that hitting $1 Million is very achievable.
The recently released teaser has received a positive response. If the upcoming promotional content also clicks, the film has the potential to aim for a $1.5M+ opening. Good content will push the film toward bigger openings despite the clash with Dhurandhar 2.
Final Outlook
Overall, the Ustaad Bhagat Singh North America box office outlook remains promising.
With pre-sales already crossing $75K and the break-even target set at around $2.3M – $2.4M, the film has a realistic pathway toward recovery if it opens strong and maintains momentum over the first weekend.
All eyes are now on the March 18 overseas premieres and the March 19 worldwide release, which will determine the film’s true box office trajectory.
