The YRF Spy Universe’s latest outing Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, has failed to emerge as the massive crowd-puller many anticipated. Despite pre-release hype positioning the two actresses as dynamic, cool young leads ready to anchor a female-driven spy thriller, the film’s opening weekend collections hovered around a modest Rs 34 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 60 crore worldwide; underwhelming figures for a big-budget franchise entry. What began as a seemingly seamless partnership between two young female protagonists quickly soured after release. Word of mouth turned dull, with critics and audiences pointing out that Sharvari’s role felt like little more than a glamorous showpiece with limited depth. Marketing missteps, including a controversial appearance on India’s Got Latent 2, comparisons of the film’s first look to Hollywood’s Nikita, and the perceived forced, superficial cameo by Hrithik Roshan, further dented momentum. The absence of any memorable chart-topping songs, which is a YRF trademark, only compounded the issues. Now, fresh videos of Alia and Sharvari meeting theatre audiences have surfaced, revealing a noticeable shift in their dynamic. While Sharvari appears energetic and engaging, Alia looks visibly upset, subdued, and far from her usual positive, dynamic self. In several clips, she maintains an uncomfortable posture, her expressions hinting at possible jealousy or quiet resentment. The easy camaraderie and playful chemistry showcased during promotions have seemingly evaporated. What was once marketed as a powerful female buddy pairing appears strained in the face of Alpha’s mixed reception. With collections not living up to expectations and personal awkwardness on display, it remains to be seen if Alia and Sharvari can salvage both their professional rapport and the film’s long-term prospects. The early signs, however, suggest everything may not be as picture-perfect as it once seemed.

At a time when Odisha lost some big projects to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, this huge investment from Adani Enterprises and UAE’s International Holding Company has given a big boost to the BJP-run Odisha government. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has every reason to feel happy particularly as there are many of his own partymen trying to show him in a bad light…and would ideally like him to go. Though the mining initiative is denuding into the rich forest reserves of Odisha, the state needs developments too. Adani’s JV with UAE proposes to invest $ 11.5 billion in Odisha to set up an integrated aluminium project which includes green energy plant, ship building and steel plant. These projects are expected to create 53,000 new jobs. It is considered one of the largest FDI projects so far in Odisha. Now political commentators are giving all kudos to CM Majhi’s core team. However, Opposition Biju Janata Dal has labelled the big MOU investment figure as exaggerated political propaganda rather than realized capital.

Even as KVN Productions announced their Big Bang extravagant film, Toxic lead role by KGF fame Yash, the expectations hit the sky. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, herself an actress and artist known for her Malayalam hits, Moothon and Liar’s Dice, she is now firmly in the saddle with her talent to direct. Toxic, a drug mafia gangster film set in Goa from the 1950’s to 1970’s is an action, gore and thriller for aficionados, building up sky high excitement to see Yash in this killer avatar. Toxic is set to hit cinemas on August 26. The team had guarded a big secret till its recent glimpse video…it was all about Yash, but not a word leaked out about the sirens sizzling, spying and socking the male lead. Even as this mystery built up, the producers released the glimpse video. And a treat …the film has four leading ladies…Nayanthara, the Queen of sophistication; Kiara Advani, the artist who electrifies the screen with her appearance; Huma Qureshi, the artist who performs with much dedication; and Rukmini Vasanth, she of Kantara fame, trained at the Royal Academy of Arts. These ladies were not just gangster molls and props, parading in outrageous outfits…each one has a solid role that moves the story and generates twists ….Yash fans are in for a thrilling treat.

Trust Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to be at an Esport event taking gigantic steps in the world. The Mumbai Metropolis’ GenZ crowd was having a whale of time at pavilion 3 of the Jio World Convention Centre at the BKC on July 4 and when two chess Grandmasters — India’s Nashik-born Vidit Gujrathi and Holland’s Benjamin Bok — were trying to outwit each other to win a place in the $ 75 million prize pool Esport World Cup 2026 in Paris. Enter the Chief Honcho of Maharashtra to take the centre stage and announce how the city of dreams via the tinsel world and entertainment is taking guard to show the way in new creative industries like animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR). Fadnavis’s short speech highlighted Maharashtra and his readiness to be on the front foot and revealing that the setting up of the ‘Indian Institute of Creative Technologies’ in Mumbai will show the pathway to the country’s creative and orange economy and play an important role in developing world class manpower. Fadnavis was at the inauguration of the Maharashtra Government supported Jio Blast India Rising Road to World Cup Paris 2026 – in July/ August. For some time now, the Maharashtra CM has been on an overdrive to take the cricketing infrastructure to the next level nudging the MCA to build a 100,000 plus capacity stadium so that the city can make a strong push to host the final of World Cups and like events and pledge his and the State’s full backing for the  ambitious venture; and now he is showing the big plans for the State in the world of ‘gaming’ that he feels will create employment opportunities for two lakhs in the State and attract an investment of Rs 50,000 crore!

India has sent former Union minister and BJP leader Dinesh Trivedi as its High Commissioner to Bangladesh, marking for the first time in the NDA government’s 12-year tenure that a political leader has been appointed as an envoy. Trivedi has also been given the rank of a Union cabinet minister. Under PM Modi, this is the first time a cabinet rank has been given to a political appointee, though there have been cabinet-rank ambassadors in Congress governments. Dinesh Trivedi is a political appointee, which means someone who is not a career diplomat (an Indian Foreign Service officer) being chosen for the envoy position. There have been a number of political appointee envoys but not all are bestowed cabinet status. The present ambassador to the USA, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, was till recently foreign secretary, but was sent as ambassador to the USA post retirement. He is also considered as a political appointee. There is former Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, who was appointed High Commissioner of India to Seychelles in 2019. Soon after Independence, then PM Jawaharlal Nehru appointed his sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit as an ambassador with cabinet rank. In subsequent years, TN Kaul was given cabinet rank when he went as ambassador to Moscow. Likewise, Dr Karan Singh was given cabinet rank when he went as ambassador to the USA, and so too DP Dhar when he went a second time as ambassador to Moscow. Giving cabinet rank indicates a direct line to the PM; the envoy will not have to go through the hierarchy of the Foreign Secretary or the Foreign Minister. Second, the indication is also to the host country where the ambassador is accredited. In this case, the signal is clearly to Dhaka that this person is held in very high political esteem by PM Modi. All this is bound to help Trivedi to have direct access with Bangladesh top brass.

Nearly a month after the “chanda chori scam” broke involving top leaders of the Sangh, the top RSS leadership for the first time opened up on the scam involving the Ayodhya Ram temple. Looks like the Sangh first wanted to understand the extent of the theft and the persons involved. But, once the RSS realised that the loot was extensive and PM Modi and UP CM Yogi wanted a crackdown to catch all thieves, big or small, a statement was issued by RSS general secretary Dattareya Hosbale. From the statement it is clear, the Sangh was not going to protect anyone —howsoever close to the Ram Temple cause. For the first time Sangh shared a sense of hurt that has been bothering Hindus at large. In fact, there was even a sense of unease in the Sangh that Yogi’s SIT may end up ferreting out more details of the loot. For some reason, the Sangh and VHP treated the temple more as personal fiefdom and have landed in a mess. The RSS statement also assumes significance because of the Sangh’s long and central association with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The Sangh and its affiliates played a pivotal role in mobilising the nationwide campaign that culminated in the construction of the temple after decades of political, legal and social mobilisation. Even after the temple’s inauguration, the Ram Temple Trust had leaders associated with the Sangh. The statement marks the RSS’s first formal intervention in the controversy. The row has already claimed its biggest casualty with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai stepping down from his post amid mounting pressure. Investigators have also arrested his former driver as part of the probe into the alleged theft.

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray’s declaration to revert to Hindutva has come at a time when his party is constantly assaulted by his arch enemy and one-time disciple, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. While half a dozen Lok Sabha members of the Sena defected to the NDA camp, Uddhav and son Aaditya remained content on just criticising the rival Sena, led by Shinde. With great fanfare, announcements were made that the ‘betrayers’ will be taught a lesson. However, barring a couple of protests, nothing much happened. Since 2022, ever since the unified Sena suffered a vertical split, Uddhav has been seen taking differing stands on certain issues. To the discomfiture of the Congress party, he proclaims his loyalty to Veer Savarkar, the Hindutva icon. Similarly, Uddhav Sena’s insistence on the issue of Marathi Manoos and Marathi language has not wavered. This is not to the liking of the other two partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which had installed Uddhav as chief minister. Seeming to be befuddled by the current exodus from his side, Uddhav has now announced that a “Ram Raksha” agitation will be launched at Dadar in Mumbai on Sunday by him. Ram Raksha is among the most sacred Marathi scriptures, paying tributes to Lord Ram. It is chanted in chorus, generally. Uddhav’s fresh move has created some suspense since it is seen as a signal by some to the BJP under Hindutva veneer. However, the rival Sena’s leaders have ridiculed Uddhav for forgetting his embrace of the Congress party since 2022 and taken the coming event lightly.

The debate surrounding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has once again moved to the forefront of public discourse with the Maharashtra government initiating steps towards drafting and implementing a common civil law framework for all citizens. The recent decision of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to prepare a draft UCC marks a significant development in Maharashtra’s legal and social landscape. The move reflects a growing recognition that personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and succession should be guided by the constitutional principles of equality and justice rather than differing religious traditions. For decades, Goa has operated under a common civil code inherited from the Portuguese legal system. More recently, Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to enact and implement a modern UCC. Some other states, too, are contemplating implementation of UCC. The momentum is growing across India. In March 2026, the Gujarat Assembly passed a Uniform Civil Code Bill, becoming the second state to legislate in this direction. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh has announced its intention to introduce similar legislation.  Against this backdrop, Maharashtra’s initiative is considered timely and necessary. Maharashtra is India’s second-most populous state and one of its most socially diverse regions. It has long been a leader in social reform movements. One of the strongest arguments for implementing a UCC in Maharashtra is the need to ensure equal rights for women. Little resistance is expected to take place to the initiative.  

Keralam chief minister V D Satheesan objects to Adani Group selling its 49% stake in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The Keralam CM tweeted saying that it was announced without prior consultation with or intimation to the Government of #Keralam. “I have conveyed the State Government’s strong displeasure to the management of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. Any change in the concessionaire’s shareholding structure requires government approval and will be examined strictly under the provisions of the concession agreement and applicable regulations.” The Government remains committed to safeguarding Keralam’s interests and strengthening Vizhinjam as a globally competitive transshipment hub. CM’s tweet seems to have evoked mixed reactions. Why can’t investor sell his part of the stake to an investor ask many. It is micro management by the state government that is seeing the investors hesitate to invest in Kerala. If an investor legally sells shares to a foreign company, what is wrong with that? If the state government has concerns, it can buy those shares instead of creating unnecessary hurdles for investors. Countering this argument veteran journalist J Gopikrishnan posted on X that “Since the Port is under PPP Model, Kerala Govt has to approve the sale of ownership…Adani sold the 49% shares of around Rs 15000 crore …. Let us see what happens in coming days.” Yes, wait and watch is the operative word for now.

He was to visit Odisha and energise the local BJP team ahead of three-tier Panchayat polls and also inaugurate BPCL’s the Rs 1775-crore 2 G ethanol plant in Western Odisha. Now, it is learnt that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has abruptly cancelled his three-day Odisha tour fuelling speculations in political circles. Tongues are wagging saying that the abrupt postponement of Amit Shah’s Odisha tour is not connected to “official” bad weather version; it may well be related to the imminent cabinet reshuffle issue. It is no secret that Amit Shah has been pushing for a brand new BJP organisation team in Odisha under party president Nitin Nabil with a possibility of Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan getting transferred to Nitin Nabin’s camp. On social media, rumours are flying thick and fast for the last few days that ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan, Hardeep Singh Puri, Nirmala Sitharaman who may get new assignments. Rumours that the former RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, currently part of PMO, may get ministerial berth is also doing the rounds. Modi, it seems, is keen to appoint people with domain expert in key ministries.