As the year draws to a close, Rediff's Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya takes a look at the hits and misses, the highs and lows, the newsmakers and the dealbreakers in alphabetical order.
Malavika Mohanan recently went on a jungle safari at the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.
Where Dhurandhar leaned into aggressive bloodlust through its acerbic storytelling, Ikkis moves in the opposite direction, asking us to see people beyond uniforms, slogans, or sides, observes Mayur Sanap.
The industry is anticipating 2025 to deliver around Rs 13,500 crore in overall box-office collections, which would cement it as India's strongest box-office year after 2023
When Dhurandhar released a week ago, it was expected to become a hit, with a lifetime collections of Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) in reach. But no one knew the film to become such a phenomenon.
MEA data show that the number of Indian students in the UAE in 2025 was 253,832, just behind the United States with 255,447 students, and Canada being on top at 427,085.
'A huge big round of applause for everyone especially the makeup and prosthetics dept!'
The year had a variety of films to choose from. Not all of them were successful at the box office, but had merit.
Akshay Kumar has broken his silence on the squabble around the keenly-awaited Hera Pheri 3.
Ram Vilas Vedanti, a prominent leader in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and former Bharatiya Janata Party MP, died of a heart attack at the age of 67 in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. His last rites will be performed in Ayodhya.
Vidarbha will take on Odisha at the VCA Cricket Stadium in Nagpur from Saturday.
A prayer meet was held for Dharmendra at the Taj Lands End hotel in Bandra, north west Mumbai.
A Delhi court granted bail to six protesters arrested in connection with a protest at India Gate, where slogans were allegedly raised in support of a slain Maoist commander. Bail was denied to four others, and decisions on other pleas are pending.
Dhurandhar's most dangerous idea is that Director Aditya Dhar envisions an Indian state run by a deep state -- an intelligence machinery not accountable to Parliament, courts, or voters. A future political system where unelected officials decide when Indian democracy is 'fit' to function, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
The actors played a key role in helping recover the stolen Mahavir Chakra.
Akshay Kumar is suing Paresh Rawal for Rs 25 crore after he decided not to act in Hera Pheri 3.
'We had just shared the warmest of hugs just a week back at the shoot of Haiwaan.'
'This so called trend of giving money, in the disguise of marketing a film, to ensure good 'hype' for a film is created or else 'they' will continuously write negative things (even before the film is released), until you pay 'them' money feels nothing but kind of extortion.'
In the movie, veteran star Sanjay Dutt portrays Chaudhary Aslam. The police officer was assassinated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban's Mohmand chapter who claimed responsibility for carrying out a bomb attack on his car on the Lyari Expressway on January 9, 2014, in which two other police officers, his driver, and guard were also killed.
The year will close on a blockbuster note, if December's theatre line-up is any indication. Be it Bollywood, Hollywood or south, there are many biggies ready for release.
Dhurandhar may not have the dark realism of a spy story which a web show can manage. But it does not have the flamboyance either, that has come to be associated with espionage movies, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Top real estate developers reported healthy presales growth in the second quarter of FY26, aided by a steady pipeline of new project launches. While overall housing momentum across major Indian cities moderated during the quarter, listed players remained relatively insulated.
Ranveer Singh and team unleashed the fierce and ferocious trailer of the action drama, which marks Director Aditya Dhar's return six years after his 2019 blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike.
'In almost every film, Shah Rukhbhai has done a lot of his own stunts.'
Before he plays a lawyer in Kesari 2 next, Sukanya Verma looks at the professions Akshay has acted on screen before.
India's top cement producers delivered a solid July-September quarter (Q2) in 2025-26 (FY26), lifted by firmer prices, higher sales volumes, and a favourable base. Seasonal weakness and maintenance outages did dent sequential performance, but the overall picture remained positive - and the road ahead looks steady.
Today, says Twinkle Khanna, motherhood is very different. "You're like a psychologist, you're their trainer, you're the nutritionist, you're seeing how many carbs they're eating, how many vitamins they're having, you're their chef, you're an educator and you are also their screen monitor. And you still have to make the hair along with that."
How cybercriminals used the names and likenesses of celebrities to trick people into scams.
She also happens to be Akshay Kumar's niece and personal style is all about soft glam -- think pastels, flowy silhouettes and effortless fits.
'60 ka lagta nahi hai vaise tu kahin se. Shakal se 40, akal se 120 ;)'
120 Bahadur is underwhelming, adding little fresh perspective and generally feeling like a standard war drama we have seen umpteen times before, notes Mayur Sanap.
'At times when the pressure, glitz and glam felt horribly garish, there he was with no pretences or guile. A sweet reminder that life is about the real things not the fluff.'
Farah Khan and Ananya Panday are poles apart and that's exactly what made the latest episode of Too Much With Kajol And Twinkle so interesting. From funny anecdotes to candid confessions, the duo spilled it all out.
It was a starry, starry night for Esquire India and Michael Kors first Diwali party in Mumbai.
With husband Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava doing so well at the box office, Katrina Kaif seems to be just as grateful, as she heads to the Maha Kumbh Mela with mother-in-law Veena Kaushal.
They Call Him OG topped the gross domestic box office collection with Rs 224 crore (Rs 2.24 billion).
Agent Ching Attacks boasts of sleek visuals and starry appeal rare to see in a commercial. Ranveer Singh returns as Captain Ching, joined by Bobby Deol and Southern sensation Sreeleela.
Akshay Kumar's superhero-without-the-cape act will supersede the sheer magnitude of the story, expects Mayur Sanap.
Bollywood families celebrated Diwali and created memories on social media.
Let's see what the festive box office finally brings us.
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