Speculation is building around the fate of Inspector Ghalib, the long-delayed project that was set to see a collaboration between filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The movie, which was intended to explore the life of a police officer, was discussed by the two before 2018, but never materialised.

In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Madhur Bhandarkar opened up about the project, revealing that he still has the script and intends to revisit it in the future. “It was a very good script. I have always wanted to make that film; it’s about a cop in UP. The setting of the film was great,” said the filmmaker.

The film’s fate was altered by the onset of the pandemic and a subsequent loss of contact, leading Madhur to shelve the project. However, he expressed his desire to bring it to life when the time feels right. “I’ll work on it. I may revive it someday when I feel I should make Inspector Ghalib. Definitely, I will make it,” he confirmed.

As for his current work, Madhur revealed he is working on two new projects. One is a hard-hitting story based in Mumbai, while the other, titled Wives of Bollywood, will delve into the lives of women in the film industry. The latter, which Madhur described as “Page 3 on steroids,” will offer a contemporary and fictionalised perspective on the ups and downs faced by Bollywood wives.

Despite the setbacks, fans are hopeful that Madhur Bhandarkar and Shah Rukh Khan’s collaboration on Inspector Ghalib may finally come to fruition in the near future.

Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film Emergency has been banned in Bangladesh, with strained political relations between the two nations cited as the primary reason. The film, scheduled for release in Indian cinemas, delves into India’s tumultuous Emergency period declared by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

A source familiar with the situation explained, “The decision to ban Emergency in Bangladesh is rooted in current diplomatic dynamics rather than the film’s content itself.”

The movie portrays India’s involvement in Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence, highlighting support for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of Bangladesh, and depicting his later assassination by extremists—a portrayal believed to have influenced the ban.

Emergency has faced a series of delays before its Indian release. Initially slated for 6 September, 2024, the film’s debut was postponed after failing to secure a clearance certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite resolving these hurdles, further controversies led to another delay, and the film is now set for release in India on 17 January, 2025.

This ban underscores how political climates continue to affect cultural exchanges between India and Bangladesh. Although Pushpa 2 reportedly faced release issues, films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2 successfully premiered in Bangladesh, thanks to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 released in both countries simultaneously on 1 November, 2024, while Stree 2 premiered in Bangladesh in October 2024, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

The Emergency ban reflects ongoing challenges for cross-border entertainment amid fluctuating diplomatic ties.

filmmaker Rakesh Roshan’s recent remarks about South Indian cinema have triggered a wave of criticism on social media, reigniting the South vs Bollywood debate. In an interview with Times Now, Roshan acknowledged the technical advancements in South cinema but criticised its storytelling approach, stating, “South films are very grounded. They continue with the old-school format of song-action-dialogue-emotions. They’re not progressing. Technically, they are, but storytelling-wise, they’re sticking to the same formulas that work. They’re successful because they’re not breaking any path.”

Roshan contrasted this with Bollywood’s approach, asserting that the Hindi film industry takes creative risks. “We are breaking paths,” he added. “After I made Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, I didn’t want to make romantic films again. Then I did Koi… Mil Gaya. After that, I made Rohit (Hrithik Roshan’s character) a superhero. These are the challenges we took. They don’t take risks. They play on safe grounds.”

The comments did not sit well with social media users, many of whom perceived them as dismissive and arrogant. On Reddit, one user commented, “Bollywood’s own arrogance is its downfall.” Another remarked, “Regional cinema is far more inventive than commercial Bollywood. Roshan likely doesn’t follow anything beyond popular cinema.”

Some X users cited films like Eega, where a housefly is the protagonist, to highlight South cinema’s creativity. “Can Bollywood produce a hit movie with a fly as the hero?” questioned a user. Others pointed out that Bollywood itself heavily relies on testosterone-driven action films like Jawan, Gadar 2, Pathaan, and Animal. “One Stree 2 doesn’t change that,” said another.

Amid the backlash, Roshan’s 2000 blockbuster Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was re-released in cinemas to celebrate its 25 year anniversary. The romantic drama, which marked Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel’s debuts, was a massive hit and catapulted both actors to stardom.