The World Insider

Three days are left for the release of the grand Diwali biggie, Thamma, and the excitement is gradually building up. The makers, Maddock Films, completed the censor process on time and in this article, Bollywood Hungama will exclusively focus on the cuts suffered by the horror comedy. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked for audio cuts in three places and one visual modification as well. The word 'Alexander' was replaced with ‘Sikandar’. In another dialogue, the word ‘Ashwathama’ was muted. In the second half of the film, the words 'Azaadi doonga' were replaced with 'Aiyaashi karata hoon'. The Examining Committee also asked the makers to ‘reduce the slurping sound of drinking blood to minimum’. Finally, a kissing scene in the second half was reduced by 30%, that is, by 5 seconds. The last modification may dampen the excitement of the moviegoers but on the positive side, this is the shortest intimacy cut asked by the CBFC in recent times. In Su...

A controversy erupted ahead of the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election in Telangana after fake voter ID cards bearing the photos of actresses Tamannaah Bhatia, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Rakul Preet Singh were discovered at a single residential address. The authorities from the Election Commission have confirmed that they are investigating the matter to determine how these fraudulent entries were created. Same Address, Multiple Fake IDs According to reports, all three fabricated voter ID cards listed the same address within the Jubilee Hills constituency, raising serious questions about the integrity of the electoral rolls. The Election Commission’s local office has taken note of the irregularities and stated that verification is underway to trace those responsible. Telangana|Hyderabad EC takes serious note of fake posts claiming Tollywood heroines Rakul Preet, Samantha & Tamannaah are Jubilee Hills voters EC filed a police complaint over the misleading propaganda; Hyderabad offici...

Dinesh Vijan has emerged as one of the most successful producers of the Indian Film Industry in the post-COVID world, tasting success with mid-budget films devoid of big stars. Diwali 2025 will see the release of Thamma, which is a follow-up to his Independence Day 2024 blockbuster - Stree 2. Reliable sources have confirmed that Thamma is the most expensive film of Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. "Thamma is the most expensive and ambitious film of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. With VFX companies of international repute working on it, the final budget of Thamma is around Rs. 125 crores, excluding print and publicity, which is estimated to be in the bracket of Rs. 20 crores. The final landing cost of Thamma will fall in the vicinity of Rs. 145 crores," a source told Bollywood Hungama. The source also informs that Thamma has surpassed Stree 2 to become the most expensive film of the universe. "Stree 2 was made on a budget of Rs. 125 crores including print and public...

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'. ...

After days of social media speculation surrounding her pregnancy, actress Sonakshi Sinha has finally broken her silence — and in her signature witty style. The actress took to Instagram to address the ongoing rumours while sharing a series of photos from one of the Diwali parties she recently attended. In the photos, Sonakshi looked radiant in an elegant ivory ensemble, while her husband Zaheer Iqbal complimented her in a navy-blue outfit. The final slide captured the couple laughing heartily — a fitting response to the chatter surrounding them. Putting an end to the rumours, Sonakshi wrote in her caption, “World record holder for longest pregnancy in human history (16 months and counting according to our lovely and hyper intelligent media) simply for posing with hand around midsection. Scroll to last slide for our reaction… and then continue to dazzle this Diwali.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) Her playful tone instantly str...

The much-anticipated Diwali releases, Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, are just days away, and the excitement across the trade, industry, and audiences is palpable. As with every major festive clash, the battle for screens has intensified. Bollywood Hungama has learned that the first round of this tussle between the distributors of both films has already begun. A trade source told Bollywood Hungama, “Thamma, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, is being distributed by PVR Inox Pictures. Its distributor-partner in the Mumbai circuit, August Entertainment, has sent a mail to cinemas in the territory informing them about their screen-sharing requirements. They have asked for all shows in single-screen cinemas and two screen theatres. They have also asked for 12 shows in three-screen multiplexes; it means 100% showcasing in two of the three screens and a show or two in the third screen as well.” The mail from August Entertainment further states that they want 15 shows o...

Deepika Padukone has created history by becoming the first Indian to lend her voice to Meta AI, the virtual assistant integrated into Meta’s ecosystem, including the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, joining the list of the global lineup of voices for the AI assistant, including Hollywood celebrities Awkwafina, Judi Dench, etc. The collaboration marks a powerful intersection of technology and culture, positioning Deepika as a bridge between global innovation and Indian identity. Meta announced that users in India will now be able to interact with Meta AI through Deepika’s voice, available in Indian English. Alongside this, the company introduced full Hindi language support and UPI Lite payments, making the experience more localised and personal. Yet, the biggest talking point remains Deepika’s voice — warm, poised, and unmistakably familiar. Known for her global influence and grounded presence, Deepika brings authenticity and emotion to a space often dominated by synthetic tones. Her voice...