EXCLUSIVE: Amar Kaushik reveals why Bhediya looks ‘bigger and khunkhar’ in Thamma: “Our universe is expanding; we needed to give him more powers”; admits Varun Dhawan is “putting PRESSURE” for Bhediya 2: “But we have to be excited about the script…”

One of the highlights of the grand Diwali release Thamma is the special appearance by Bhediya, played by Varun Dhawan. He has become a crowd favourite; his entry got a rousing reception in Stree 2, where he also had a cameo, and Thamma was no exception. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Amar Kaushik opened up on Bhediya. Was the intention to take a different route for Bhediya’s cameo compared to the one he had in Stree 2? Amar Kaushik replied, “Yes. When we made Bhediya (2022), we could have made him bigger and stronger. But we had seen that a lot in the films of the West and I didn’t want to repeat it. Also, it didn’t fascinate me then. Our story was about animals saving the forest and hence, Bhediya should be like any other creature.”He continued, “Now that the universe is expanding, Bhediya can’t remain just another beast. There was a need to give him more powers. Once he gets powers, what happens? We mulled over it and finally decided to make him bigger and more khunkhar. Even he’s shocked to see himself in the mirror in that avatar, as evident by the scene in the apparel shop. But it works well as it sets the rivalry between Bhediya and Betaal. Hence, this is how we established a chain of events Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) meeting Elvis Karim Prabhakar (Sathyaraj), Alok (Ayushmann Khurrana) coming there at the same time and Elvis informing Jana about Alok is a Betaal.”How did Varun react to the bigger Bhediya avatar? Amar Kaushik said, “He’s very happy and putting pressure on me to make Bhediya 2 soon!”And rightly so! After seeing Bhediya in a cameo in Munjya, Stree 2 and Thamma, there’s now a demand to have him in a full-fledged role. When asked about its update, Amar Kaushik explained, “We can’t make it unless we are excited with the script, and only then can we take things forward. However, I assure you that it won’t take much time now.”Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Shakti Shalini goes on floors in January 2026; Amar Kaushik explains how Aneet Padda came on board, “We saw Saiyaara and knew that she perfectly.”.

EXCLUSIVE: Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is FIRST Diwali release in 22 years to get ‘A’ rating; CBFC replaces ‘Raavan’ with ‘villain’, ‘maal’ with ‘ladki’

Diwali usually brings family entertainers, but Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat takes a bold turn. The film has been certified ‘A’. With recent adult-rated hits like Animal (2023), Coolie (2025) etc., proving that an ‘A’ tag doesn’t stop box office success, this intense love story is ready to make its mark amid the festive fireworks. Despite the ‘A’ rating, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) requested six modifications from the makers of the romantic saga. A 2-minute 12-second shot was asked to be modified. The details of the shot aren’t specified in the cut list. A 1-second visual of Mantralaya was asked to be removed. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat also suffered audio cuts. The dialogue ‘sleep with her’ was asked to be removed. At two places, ‘Raavan’ was replaced with ‘villain’. The CBFC’s Examining Committee, in fact, asked the makers to remove all the dialogue belonging to the epic Ramayana. Lastly, ‘maal’ was replaced with ‘ladki’. Once these changes were made, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat was passed with an ‘A’ certificate on October 16. The length of the film, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 140. 17 minutes. In other words, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is 2 hours 20 minutes and 17 minutes long. Directed by Milap Zaveri, it stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa. Interestingly, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is the first Diwali release in 22 long years to be A-rated. The last time this occurred was during Diwali 2003. Four films were released in the festival week that year the period drama Pinjar, Govinda’s comic caper Raja Bhaiya, Tanishaa Mukherji’s horror flick Sssshhh and Vikram Bhatt’s thriller Inteha. The last two were passed with ‘A’ rating by the CBFC. A year prior, in 2002, Annarth, starring Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Vinod Kambli and others, was given an adults-only rating. In 2001, Kamal Haasan’s ambitious venture Aalavandhan, which was released in Hindi as Abhay, was also meant only for adults. In 1999, the A-rated Shool, starring Manoj Bajpayee and Raveena Tandon with a special appearance by Shilpa Shetty, was a Diwali release and it clashed with Hum Saath Saath Hain. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Thamma vs Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat screen-sharing battle begins; makers of Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer demand ALL shows in single and two-screen cinemas.

Sandeep Singh, Remo Gopi D’Souza and Milap Zaveri come together for Dongri: Gangster’s Paradise

The streets of Mumbai are set to come alive once again with guns, power, and ambition as filmmaker Sandeep Singh of Legend Studios announces his next big venture — Dongri: Gangster’s Paradise. Helming the project is Remo Gopi D’Souza, who will be stepping away from his celebrated dance films to explore the action-drama space once again. The screenplay and dialogues are penned by Milap Zaveri, known for his command over commercial, dialogue-driven storytelling.The upcoming action drama marks a return to the gritty, larger-than-life world of the Mumbai underworld, a genre that has defined some of Indian cinema’s most memorable narratives. The film’s central story revolves around a young and ambitious challenger who dares to take on the biggest Don of all time. What follows is a tense, explosive rivalry that promises to deliver a full-throttle cinematic experience, blending action, emotion, and high drama.Speaking about the collaboration, Sandeep Singh said, “Remo, Milap & I have been friends for years. We have been trying to come for a film and it couldn’t have been better than this as this couldn’t have been expected from an ace choreographer Remo. But this one is a surprise by him to me. And I am sure that it will surprise the audience also equally. This is the most unique film under Legend Studios and I hope people will accept this genre from our banner.” 
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A post shared by SANDEEP SINGH (@officialsandipssingh)Director Remo Gopi D’Souza shared his enthusiasm, stating, “This film is a raw, emotional, and powerful story rooted in the heart of Mumbai, and it is a genre I’ve always been fascinated by. The script is phenomenal, and I am thrilled to collaborate with Sandeep Singh and Milap Zaveri to bring this classic rivalry to the big screen, promising audiences an unforgettable, mass-market spectacle.”Writer Milap Milan Zaveri added, “Writing Dongri has been an exhilarating experience because it brings back the iconic crime drama genre with a fresh, contemporary take. I believe the blend of raw emotion, powerful dialogue, and Remo Gopi D’Souza’s brilliant visual execution will resonate strongly with the audience, and I’m confident that this story will deliver all the action and intensity fans have been waiting for.”Dongri: Gangster’s Paradise will go on floors in February 2026 and is slated for a theatrical release on October 9, 2026. Produced by Sandeep Singh and Vishal Gurnani, the film is co-produced by Juhi Parekh Mehta, Vicky Jain, and Golden Hour Production, with music composed by Sachin–Jigar.Also Read: Remo D’Souza praises Sonam Bajwa’s performance in ‘Bol Kaffara Kya Hoga’: “She brought her own understanding of the character into every move”