By uploading a standard image to ChatGPT and requesting a retro makeover, users are getting high-quality reimaginations featuring dramatic hairstyles, vintage denim, classic film-grain filters, and iconic 80s Bollywood hero and heroine aesthetics.

Parineeti Chopra & Raghav Chadha shared the couple’s portrait oozing classic vintage Bollywood glamour, jokingly asking her husband why they couldn’t have met the moment they were born

The actor-politician Ravi Kishan broke the internet by showing off a dapper 1980s hero look complete with flowing long hair and vibrant retro styles.

Kiara Advani & Sidharth Malhotra reimagined as a striking retro film duo posing in vintage aesthetics. Personalities like Shruti Haasan, Abhay Verma (who channelled an all-denim look), Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Ameesha Patel have rapidly jumped onto the bandwagon.

Will the trend last? Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt doesn’t think so. “It’s a fad. And fads don’t linger. Also , the 1980s was not a particularly chic or aesthetic era. The charm wears thin.”

Ram Gopal Varma is discernibly annoyed by the trend. “I don’t think people have much to do these days. The phone has taken over from sex and cinema as the no.1 entertainment.”

Arifa premiered at the festival on September 8 and its lead performance was recognised with the Best Actor award for the luminous Tanya Maniktala.

Arifa is part of the Kashmir trilogy – Muhabbat Se, Gubbara Entertainment’s three-film Kashmir anthology directed by Rohin Raveendran, Durgesh Singh and Palash Vaswani. The anthology tells stories from Kashmir that look beyond conventional narratives. Instead they explore the human experiences, relationships and emotions that connect people to the region.

For Dimpy Agarwal, Founder, Gubbara Entertainment, the recognition is particularly meaningful. “Arifa is a very special chapter of our film Muhabbat Se. A screening of the film in Kashmir, at this historic event before the film releases in theatres in October is the universe’s magic wand at play. Muhabbat Se is our love letter to the valley. Arifa winning in its hometown, to me, means our love has been received.”

Director Rohin Raveendran said, “At the centre of our short film ARIFA is an arduous emotional journey in search of answers to questions that have long remained unspoken. Making ARIFA was, in many ways, an exploration of these silences and the weight they can carry over time. At its heart, the film is about forgiveness and finding peace before it is too late. I hope the film leaves audiences with a sense of that emotional journey, and perhaps makes them think about the words they have left unspoken in their own lives.”

The award is like a booster shot for Arifa as it heads towards an October release in theatres.

Haiwaan has registered low advance ticket sales, tracking a low single-digit opening day prediction between ₹5 to ₹8 crore.

Huge upcoming franchise releases like Drishyam 3 are already dominating the trade tracking conversations, overshadowing mid-budget remakes like Haiwaan which is an adaptation of the Malayalam film Oppam. Because of this intense blockbuster competition and a relatively quiet marketing campaign, the film’s success relies heavily on strong spot-bookings and exceptionally positive word-of-mouth .

Trade analysts in Mumbai are loathe to comment on the expected boxoffice performance of Haiwaan as it is a premium product facing imminent disgrace.

“It is shocking that two films featuring a non-star cast is ruling while another film with two A-listers is looking at bleak prospects,” one trade analyst lamented under condition of anonymity.

Apart from a couple of misfires, the performances in The Revolutionaries are robust and full-blooded.

The series is adapted from Sanjeev Sanyal’s bestselling historical book, Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom. It features a talented young ensemble portraying legendary, lesser-known freedom fighters. Bhuvan Bam stars as Rash Behari Bose, and he is restrained, letting his eyes and nostrils do the talking.

Rohit Saraf as Sachindra Nath Sanyal tries too hard. Sweat is not always conducive to creativity. Gurfateh Pirzada as Bagha Jatin, and Pratibha Ranta as Pratibha Lahiri are in character most of the time, except when they are not. Jason Shah’s Dyer is deadly. Films from the British (Indians and dogs not allowed) genre seem to have found their new Tom Alter.

Set against the backdrop of the early 20th-century freedom struggle, it follows these firebrands as they mount a dangerous, underground armed resistance against the British Raj. There is a surge of flagwaving and primordial passion in the presentation. But it’s all done tastefully, and more importantly, discreetly.

At the heart of VIBE is a friendship between Hardik and Bugs, making the casting of two characters central to the film’s dynamic. While Sparsh Shrivastava may not have been the obvious fit for Bugs as the character was originally imagined, Kunal Kemmu saw an opportunity to do something unexpected. Finding Sparsh an interesting actor, Kunal reshaped the character to make him younger and reworked his equation with Hardik, giving Sparsh a part unlike those audiences had seen him play before.

Speaking about why he reshaped the character of Bugs for Sparsh Shrivastava, Kunal Kemmu shared, “In all honesty, he doesn’t fit the part as is, so I moulded it a little bit because as an actor I know you can. I don’t believe you know when people lot of times, say you cannot pull off something like this. I think if you’re a good actor, you can pull it off unless it’s not your age. If the director has one particular physicality in mind or bohot action hai but isne kabhi action hi nai kiya hai ya physically utna strong nai hai, those aspects I get it, which also actors can mould yourself for. But for me, he was younger than the part, so I made the part younger, and I made the relationship between them slightly different from how it was initially imagined.”

He further added, “Only because I thought that he is an interesting actor and it was a different part from what he had done before. And I like to do that with actors, when you know people always see them ki yeh aisa kar raha hai; you always get cast for the same thing. I actually like to cast somebody who doesn’t fit that part in the so-called, you know, how you’d imagine to see them. So that’s what excited me, and I think that’s why Sparsh was an immediate choice for Bugs.”

The film produced by Kunal Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under the banner of Drongo Films follows two inseparable friends whose ordinary lives spiral into an unpredictable adventure, pushing their survival instincts and friendship to the limit. Bringing together high-stakes action, character-driven comedy, infectious music, it also feathres Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav in pivotal roles.

ICYMI

Amazon MGM Studios’ VIBE hits theatres on September 18.

Under the music label of Zee Music, Bollywood portrays, for the first time, the celebration of Chhath Puja on the big screen, showcasing the revered culture and tradition through ‘Chhathi Maiya’, a track rooted in faith and dedicated to the goddess who is worshipped during the festival, paying a humble ode to the pride of Bihar.

Tamannaah brings the emotional depth of Chhath Puja to life in the song sequence. The actress says, “It feels surreal to be a part of The Vvaan and bring to life the pride of Bihar and Patna by celebrating Chhath for the first time on the big screen of the Indian Film Industry through the ‘Chhathi Maiya’ song. It’s our humble attempt to bring the Bihari pride of India on the big screen, and all we hope is that the audience feels equally spiritual and devotional the way we felt throughout the journey.”

‘Chhathi Maiya’ is brought to life through singer and composer Vishal Mishra, with lyrics penned by Kaushal Kishore and performance choreographed by Chinni Prakash. The song adds a new layer of faith and devotion to Vvaan with ‘Chhathi Maiya’ as it not only revolves around Chhath Puja but also draws emphasis to the strength of the Van Devi that sits right at the heart of folklore fantasy adventure world.

Singer and composer Vishal Mishra says, “It is truly an honour and a blessing for me to bring the faith and sacred tradition of Chhath, deeply rooted in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, to Hindi cinema for the first time. My only wish is for the beauty and fragrance of our culture to travel to every corner of the world, and receive the love and respect it truly deserves. This is a small offering from Kaushal Kishore, the entire Team Vann, and me, dedicated to my people. ‘Chhathi Maiya’ is yours now. Jai Chhathi Maiya.”

Backed by some of the country’s most distinctive storytellers, The Vvaan brings together TVF’s Arunabh Kumar, director Deepak Mishra and Ektaa Kapoor for a commercial film that takes Indian folklore into a new cinematic space. While its world is rooted in folklore and fantasy, the film brings together adventure, mystery and humour to shape itself as a complete family entertainer. The ambition extends beyond the film, with The Legend of Vvaan comic book already introducing audiences to the larger folklore surrounding its universe.

Presented by Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with TVF and 11.11 Production, The Vvaan stars Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah. Written by Arunabh Kumar and directed by Deepak Mishra, with Manu Anand as DOP and Visual Director, the film is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Arunabh Kumar and Niraj Kothari.

The Vvaan arrives in cinemas internationally on September 25, 2026, through Marudhar Entertainment, promising a big-screen fantasy folklore experience where visuals, music, mystery, romance, and scale come together to create a world audiences will want to step into.

Deepa Mehta’s 1947 Earth where you played a nanny during Partition is 27 ?
Some films become more and more relevant with every passing year. Earth is definitely one of them. With mindless wars, rising prejudice, strife, and violence everywhere, this is a film that questions this insanity and the need for trust, compassion, and empathy.

But then where do people see it?!
I don’t see it on any major platform. Unlikely it will get re-released like many other films that are. It really deserves to be. A powerful story written by Bapsi Sidhwa, who is sadly no more, with soulful lyrics by Javed sahab, fantastic music by A R Rahman, superb performances by all the actors… no self-praise here! I mean, my co-actors.

You were fabulous. So was Aamir Khan?
I truly think it is one of Aamir‘s best performances. It’s my most favourite film of Deepa’s. And one of my most memorable experiences. I really hope 27 years later somebody will make it more accessible. Anyhow, time is the only true judge of art, so it will stand the test of time.

Told through four distinct cinematic worlds, Lust Stories 3 brings together an ensemble of some of the finest contemporary talent, including Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Radhika Madan, Sana Thampi, Vijay Varma, Abhishek Banerjee, Siddharth, Ali Fazal and Gurfateh Pirzada, as they navigate complicated relationships, unexpected choices, emotional entanglements and the many shades of desire.

Talking about being a part of the anthology, Vikramaditya Motwane says, “What drew me to Lust Stories 3 was the chance to explore what happens when the comfort of everyday life begins to rub up against the desire for something unexpected, and this story allowed me to explore that space with warmth, humour and a little bit of unpredictability. Bringing it to life with this madly gifted cast was an incredible experience.”

Kiran Rao adds, “What interested me about this story was how the first sparks of an attraction can quickly become something far more complicated. Desire makes us curious, and sometimes willing to take chances we normally wouldn’t. I was interested in what happens when those choices begin to have unexpected consequences. The anthology format allowed me to play with intimacy and humour. I really enjoyed finding that balance, letting the characters follow their impulses, and take us to surprising territory. I hope it’s a fun, unpredictable ride that keeps the audience on their toes.”

Shakun Batra says, “For me, the most interesting relationships are the ones where people don’t quite know what they’re feeling, or how to make sense of it. Affection, insecurity, allure and frustration can all exist at the same time, often in ways that surprise us. I wanted to explore that emotional ambiguity with honesty, without judging the characters or trying to give them easy answers. There’s something inherently dramatic, and often quite funny, about watching people navigate those contradictions.”

Vishal Bhardwaj concludes, “What fascinates me about desire is how deeply it is connected to imagination – to the stories we tell ourselves, and sometimes the stories we are afraid to tell out loud. I was drawn to the idea of exploring that space through a character finding her own voice and discovering what happens when that voice reaches beyond her. There’s humour, mischief and emotion in that journey, but also questions about identity, expression and who gets to tell stories about desire. That made this a particularly exciting story for me to explore. Being part of an anthology with three such distinctive filmmakers was a wonderful creative experience.”

ICYMI

With a gripping story and strong performances, here are 5 reasons why you can’t miss Ghamasaan.

1. A Cop-Dacoit Face-Off That Goes Beyond the Usual Chase
At the heart of Ghamasaan is a high-stakes pursuit between IPS officer Aditya Singh (Pratik Gandhi) and feared dacoit Maharaj (Arshad Warsi). But this isn’t simply about a cop trying to catch a criminal. As Aditya gets closer to Maharaj, the chase becomes a larger battle involving power, loyalty, politics and a system that has allowed men like Maharaj to thrive.

2. Arshad Warsi Steps Into a Dark, Unfamiliar Avatar of Maharaj
Best known for his memorable comic roles, Arshad Warsi takes a sharp turn as Maharaj, a ruthless and feared dacoit who has a strong hold over the Bundelkhand landscape. What makes the performance interesting is the contrast: this isn’t the familiar, likeable Arshad audiences are used to seeing. Maharaj is unpredictable, cruel and dangerous, giving Warsi the opportunity to explore a much darker side of his acting.

3. Pratik Gandhi Plays a Cop Who Fights With Strategy, Not Swagger
Pratik Gandhi’s Aditya Singh is not the typical larger-than-life Bollywood cop who relies on muscle and action to get the job done. As an IPS officer leading the pursuit of Maharaj, Aditya approaches the case with patience, strategy and calculated thinking. What makes his character compelling is that while he is chasing Maharaj, he is also forced to confront the very system that has helped create and sustain a figure like him.

4. Tigmanshu Dhulia Returns to the Gritty World of Dacoits
After exploring the world of outlaws and the Hindi heartland through films like Paan Singh Tomar, Tigmanshu Dhulia returns to familiar territory with Ghamasaan, but with a different perspective. Inspired by the landscapes of Chitrakoot and rooted in the Bundelkhand region, the film once again brings Dhulia’s grounded, raw storytelling to the world of dacoits. This time, however, the story is equally divided between the hunter and the hunted.

5. Because There Are No Clear Heroes or Villains in the story
One of the most intriguing aspects of Ghamasaan is that it doesn’t simply ask you to choose between the cop and the criminal. Maharaj may be ruthless, but he is also shown as a man with his own beliefs and contradictions, while Aditya’s position as part of the system makes his pursuit more complicated. The film explores the grey areas of power, morality and survival, making the audience question where justice really stands.

Premiering globally on 11th September on Zee 5 Global, Ghamasaan brings together Pratik Gandhi and Arshad Warsi in an intense cop-dacoit face-off, backed by Tigmanshu Dhulia’s gritty storytelling. Set against the rugged backdrop of Bundelkhand, the series explores power, crime, loyalty and survival, making it an intriguing watch for fans of hard-hitting thrillers.

On this note, here’s a look at Abhishek Banerjee starrers that soared past 100 crore.

Mirzapur: The Movie (2026):
In his list of Rs.100 crore hits, Abhishek Banerjee has added the latest one with Mirzapur: The Movie that’s been creating a rampage at the box office ever since it released on September 4. The gangster drama has wreaked havoc, grossing an excellent Rs.112.35 crore at the domestic box office so far, and continues to hold strong. As the film continues its successful theatrical run, the numbers are expected to grow manifold.

Stree (2018):
Abhishek Banerjee made Jana unforgettable in the memorable horror-comedy, Stree. The first installment grossed a fabulous Rs. 124 crore net in India and a stupendous first-day collection of Rs. 6 crore.

Dream Girl (2019): In this romantic comedy, Abhishek Banerjee fueled the film’s comical world by playing Mahinder, the one who falls head over heels for Pooja, aka the Dream Girl. The film collected an impressive Rs.139 crore, with a fabulous day-one collection of Rs.10 crore.

Bala (2019): In Bala, the actor played a loyal friend and a barber to the protagonist, fueling the film’s comedy scape. Bala made a fabulous collection of Rs.110 crore, and an impressive day-one collection of Rs.10 crore.

Dream Girl 2 (2023): In Dream Girl 2, Abhishek Banerjee played the prominent role of Mohammed Shahrukh Saleem, a young man who is battling depression and sadness, and yet balances it all with humour. The film earned an impressive Rs. 104 crore net in India, with Rs. 10 crore on day one.

Stree 2 (2024): In Stree 2, Abhishek Banerjee reprises his role as Jana, taking the audience on a rollercoaster of laughter. The film made an excellent collection of Rs.627 crore with an impressive Rs.55 crore on day one.

What’s next to hit that 100 crore mark, you may ask! We will all have to wait and watch!