Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan have been spotted in London by a number of eagle-eyed fans. The city is a favourite holiday destination for the couple, who are regular visitors to the capital.
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POLICE corruption, caste politics, and dangerous interfaith liaisons are at the heart of Santosh, a feature by British Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri. She turns the title on its head – Santosh, regarded more widely as a male name, is the protagonist, played by the versatile Shahana Goswami.
Santosh’s husband, a police constable in a north Indian village, is killed in the line of duty. Or so it appears.
Under a government scheme for widows of slain policemen, Santosh joins the service and quickly learns that the job is less about protecting people and more about safeguarding one’s own interests by wielding power.
Her senior colleagues target young lovers getting frisky in public spaces, with little accountability for off-the-book, disproportionate actions. Santosh gets drawn into a murder investigation when the body of a young girl from an ‘untouchable’ Dalit caste is found in a well.
Working with a senior female colleague, whom she regards as a mentor (Sunita Rajwar as Geeta Sharma), Santosh tracks down the main suspect. Her bosses are pleased, and she is promised a promotion. Yet, what unfolds next is, in parts, unsurprising and uncomfortable, though compelling.
With sharp editing and punchy dialogues, Suri paints a portrait of the shifting dynamics of power – between the police and villagers, experienced colleagues and novices, men and women, and local officials left to their own devices.
Despite the expanse of themes covered in the film – class, authority, abuse, patriarchy – the dialogue is sparse, but complemented by Goswami’s restrained performance. The film delivers a powerful synopsis of what lurks in the villages and towns of India, behind the dazzling razzmatazz of glossy headlines.
Her character’s arc, as a woman who married for love, learning on her feet, giving in to authority, standing up for herself, negotiating consequences, pushing for answers, give Santosh the credibility real-life documentaries seek to portray. There’s a note of hope in Suri’s unflinching take on the realities of rural India, though the questions raised linger on long after the film has ended.
Scarlett Johansson has finally addressed the jaw-dropping joke about her that aired during Saturday Night Live’s holiday episode in December. Her husband, Colin Jost, was made to deliver the punchline live on air, and Johansson, watching from backstage, was left stunned. In a recent interview with InStyle, she described the moment as “so gross” and admitted she couldn’t believe the show went that far.
The joke was part of the show’s annual “Weekend Update” tradition, where Jost and his co-host Michael Che write outrageous jokes for each other to read without any prior warning. This time, Che handed Jost a line that compared Johansson to a Costco roast beef sandwich in a joke about their sex life. When Jost read it aloud, the audience gasped. Meanwhile, cameras backstage caught Johansson’s reaction mouth open, clearly shocked.
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She says she was given a heads-up that Che had written a joke involving her, but she didn’t expect it to be so explicit. “I thought, ‘It’s just a joke about my vagina. How bad could it be?’” Johansson said. “And then the Costco reference came up, and I was like, ‘No! No, Michael!’”
What made it even more overwhelming was the sudden swarm of cameras trained on her to capture her reaction. “It was intense. Lights, cameras and everyone was waiting for me to do something. I felt like I was going to pass out,” she recalled.
Johansson reacts to Colin Jost’s shocking SNL punchline written by Michael CheGetty Images
After the show, Johansson and Jost both felt drained. “My nerves were shot,” she admitted. “Colin was feeling the same way.”
Despite her willingness to laugh it off at SNL, Johansson has firm boundaries in her personal life. One of them is not taking photos with fans in public. “People sometimes take it personally, but I don’t want to be tagged or identified in a specific time or place,” she explained. “I like keeping to myself when I’m not working. I don’t want to feel self-conscious.” Johansson says it’s important to her to live in the moment without the pressure of being “on” all the time.
Scarlett Johansson explains why the viral SNL joke crossed the line for herGetty Images
Despite the viral moment, Johansson says she’s learnt to take it all in stride. “I can laugh about it now,” she said, “but it also reminded me why I’m protective of my privacy. Some things are just for me.” For Johansson, keeping parts of her life off-limits isn’t about being distant, it’s about staying grounded, even when the spotlight gets a little too bright.
Amitabh Bachchan has purchased a second plot of land in Ayodhya, this time a large 54,454 square foot piece, located roughly 10 kilometres from the newly consecrated Ram Mandir. The land was bought through the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Trust, an organisation set up by the actor in 2013 to honour his late father, the renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
This latest purchase adds to Bachchan’s earlier investment in Ayodhya. In January 2024, he bought land in a premium township called Haveli Avadh for ₹4.54 crore. Reports suggest that property was meant for residential use. Now, sources indicate the newly acquired land could be developed into a memorial dedicated to his father’s life and literary legacy.
The sale was confirmed by Ayodhya’s Stamp and Registration Department. Pratap Singh, an official from the department, stated that while they have processed the sale deeds, the specific purpose of the land will only become clear once the local development authority approves any building plans.
Amitabh Bachchan’s land acquisition in Ayodhya is reportedly for his father’s memorial projectGetty Images
Both transactions were handled by Rajesh Rishikesh Yadav on behalf of Bachchan.
Ayodhya seems to hold personal significance for Amitabh Bachchan. He previously shared that the city’s deep spiritual roots and cultural heritage have created an emotional bond for him. “This is not just about property,” he said in an earlier statement. “It’s about a connection to Ayodhya’s traditions and timeless spirit.”
Bachchan’s first plot, located within "The Sarayu," a luxury development project by Mumbai’s House of Abhinandan Lodha, is close to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple and sits along the banks of the Sarayu River. That purchase was reportedly finalised for ₹14.50 crore.
On the professional front, the veteran actor was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD (2024), where he portrayed Ashwatthama alongside Prabhas and Deepika Padukone.
With these recent investments, Bachchan seems to be definitely weaving a personal legacy with the evolving spiritual and cultural landscape of Ayodhya.
A new documentary sheds light on the lesser-known struggles Stan Lee faced behind the scenes
Stan Lee spent his life bringing superheroes to the world—Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, and so many more. But behind the joyful cameos and conventions, his last years were marked by serious exploitation. A new documentary, Stan Lee: The Final Chapter, talks about the dark, uncomfortable truth about what really happened.
The film is being put together by Jon Bolerjack, who worked closely with Lee during his final four years. Bolerjack wasn’t just an assistant; he was a witness to what many believe was the mishandling and manipulation of an ageing legend. According to Bolerjack, Lee was constantly pushed to sign memorabilia and make public appearances, despite his poor health. In video clips already shared, Lee appears exhausted while being shuffled between events.
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Bolerjack has launched a Kickstarter campaign to complete the film, aiming to raise over £230,000. Much of the footage was recorded while Bolerjack was part of Lee’s inner circle. He claims the comic icon’s name and signatures were used to make enormous sums of money, most of which never made it back to Lee himself.
Stan Lee died in 2018 at 95, shortly after battling pneumonia. Though his name became synonymous with Marvel and superheroes, his personal finances didn’t reflect his cultural impact. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth was $50 million. Lee had even sued former business partners in 2018, calling them “opportunists” who tried to control his estate after his wife’s death.
Stan Lee’s legacy as the creator of iconic superheroes contrasts with the personal hardships he endured later in lifeGetty Images
The documentary features interviews with comic book veterans like Roy Thomas, Rob Liefeld, and Mark Waid. Many, including Waid, express regret for not realising sooner just how badly Lee was treated.
Bolerjack says Lee gave him permission to tell this story before he passed away. For Bolerjack, it’s about setting the record straight and warning others. “Stan didn’t feel shame,” Bolerjack said. “He wanted this known.”
The man behind Spider-Man and Iron Man battled more than just illness in his final yearsGetty Images
Stan Lee: The Final Chapter is set to be released later this year. Its creators hope it will remind people of the man behind the characters and what he endured at the end
Actor Mohan Babu faces renewed allegations linked to actress Soundarya’s tragic death, 22 years later
Two decades after the tragic death of actress Soundarya, new allegations have surfaced against veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu. A social activist in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam district has filed a complaint accusing him of having a role in Soundarya’s untimely demise.
Soundarya, a much-loved star in South Indian cinema, was 31 years old and reportedly pregnant when she died in a private plane crash on April 17, 2004. She and her brother, Amarnath, were flying to Karimnagar to participate in a political campaign for the BJP and TDP when the aircraft went down. Tragically, their bodies could not be recovered from the wreckage.
Late actress Soundarya, whose tragic death in 2004 is now back in the headlinesInstagram/actresssoundarya
Now, 22 years later, a man named Chittimallu has alleged that Soundarya’s death was not an accident, but murder. He claims there was an unresolved land dispute between Soundarya’s family and Mohan Babu. According to the complaint, Mohan Babu had pressured Soundarya and her brother to sell six acres of land located in Jallepalli, Shamshabad. When they refused, tensions allegedly escalated. After their deaths, the complainant says Babu illegally occupied the disputed property.
The activist has urged authorities to reclaim the land and hand it over for public welfare suggesting it could benefit orphans, military families, or journalists. He has also expressed concern for his own safety, alleging he received threats from Mohan Babu, and is seeking police protection.
Veteran actor Mohan Babu faces renewed allegations linked to Soundarya’s tragic deathInstagram/mohanbabu111
At this point, no formal case (FIR) has been registered. There’s no confirmation of any direct link between Chittimallu and Soundarya’s family. However, the complaint also mentions ongoing rifts within the Manchu family, pointing to Mohan Babu’s strained relationship with his younger son Manchu Manoj. Last year, Mohan Babu was in the spotlight for allegedly assaulting a journalist during a family dispute.
Mohan Babu, known for his villainous roles in South Indian films, has yet to respond publicly to these serious accusations. Authorities have not made any official statements about launching an investigation.