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In the grand circus of Bollywood predictions, the trade pundits once more proved they have a special talent for missing the plot. Awarapan 2 was written off before the first show. Promotion was dismissed as lacklustre, the songs labelled dull, and the clash with Batwara 1947 declared a “setback.” The Rajkumar Santoshi–Sunny Deol combination, complete with partition gravity and familiar mass formulas, was anointed the safer, louder bet. Awarapan 2, many declared, stood no chance. Then the Awarapan 2 trailer dropped. Suddenly the room changed. Immersive, nostalgic, emotionally connected, it carried a lived-in intensity that cut through the noise. The same trade that had been busy writing obituaries started hearing a different buzz. Audiences, it turned out, were still capable of responding to atmosphere, character and a certain reckless heart rather than merely to star wattage and theme weight. The numbers delivered the punchline with clinical precision. On Friday, Batwara 1947 opened to approximately Rs 5.5crore net. Awarapan 2 stormed in with around Rs 22 crore net; the highest opening of Emraan Hashmi’s career. On Independence Day Saturday the gap only widened: Awarapan 2 collected roughly Rs 34 crore net while Batwara 1947 managed about Rs 13.5 crore. In two days, the sequel had crossed Rs 55 crore net in India and was racing past Rs 72 crore worldwide, leaving its rival trailing far behind. Once again the audience refused to follow the script written in trade WhatsApp groups. Content, when it connects, still trumps calculation. The film that was supposed to be the underdog shot to the top, embarrassed the entire prediction industry, and reminded everyone of the oldest truth — there is n business like show business. Unpredictability remains the only reliable order of the day. Cinema, as always, had the last laugh.
Popular Tamil star Suriya faced a scary drop n his box office ratings like the Air India flight fighting turbulence. His Soorarai Pottru was perhaps his last outing that touched hearts, literally celebrating a brave non descript pilot entrepreneur, who made flying accessible to all. What followed as Suriya’s outings turned out to be noisy action that hammered not just the goons but audience interest too. Suriya had morphed into a stereotype…his Kanguva and Retro turned out be a precipitous dive. Talented R J Balaji and Karuppu did give him a floating buoy …what he needed was a sturdy and seaworthy lifeboat. The talented Telugu writer and director Venkat Atluri has resurrected the actor…gentle, classy and capable of great emotional depth in his performances. Coincidentally enough, Vishwanath & Sons deals with surrogacy; how this former pistol shooting champ is railroaded by mother Radhika Saratkumar to beget her a grandchild. How the hero deals with the issue (Mamitha Baiju is the sourrogate mother), with knots and plots that often turn into chaos. Atluri manages a spice mixed Bhel. The plot also deals with Suriya’s May December romance. G V Prakash stands out for his outstanding background music. Especially the lilting song Butterly. Only this butterfly flits too frequently from situation to situation … insurance for the hero? Jyotika and Suriya with all their predilection for public posture would have scored if more light was shed on surrogacy in India.
A press conference held a couple of days ago by a group of entrepreneurs in Chakan industrial estate near Pune has become a trigger for a clash between Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and veteran leader Sharad Pawar. The industrialists grieved that they would be forced to shift base to adjacent Satara district owing to the pitiable condition of the infrastructure like power supply and roads in Chakan. Pawar said that the companies employed more than 2000 workers and urged the state government to protect jobs and industries in Maharashtra. In a swift rejoinder, Fadnavis has pointed out that Maharashtra continued to top the list of industrialises states in the country. He assured Pawar that the state will continue to be a prime location for industrial activity. Pawar’s observation is based on the data cited in parliament, which said that over 36000 companies in the state had closed down. Fadanvis pointed out that the figures had been presented without the wider context and that around 76% of them were “defunct” entities that had never commenced operations. Fadanvis has also advised Pawar to peruse the official data concerning the subject. He has assured the NCP leader that urgent steps are being taken to resolve the woe of the Chakan industrial belt. Pawar is among the leaders who have a soft corner for industry. Hence, Fadnavis has ensured that his response to Pawar is seen in a correct perspective.
The fall of a star is rarely sudden. For Govinda, once crowned Hero No 1, it has been a prolonged, public unravelling where professional choices collided with domestic fire. He earned his place through pure comic timing and dance that lit up ordinary lives; small-town crowds, school grounds, college campuses and even corporate gatherings. That mass connection was real. Yet the industry that once celebrated him also recorded his chronic lateness and broken commitments. Producers waited in vain, schedules collapsed, and the tag that once meant box-office gold slowly became a warning. The last decade turned the decline dramatic. Film after film failed. The once-unstoppable comic force drifted into obscure stage shows and low-level events that sat uncomfortably with the stature he once commanded. His children never received the carefully planned launches many star kids enjoy. The Sonakshi-Sinha-in-Dabangg moment he had often spoken of for his daughter never materialised. The family that once projected unity now appears fractured and exposed. The sharpest blow is the latest. Govinda has been repeatedly photographed at Mumbai airport with newcomer Komal Rani Swarnkar, the young actress he is launching in Roopa. Wife Sunita Ahuja has answered with open, sustained fury: calling him a “sugar daddy,” accusing him of roaming with a girl of his daughter’s age. Her public, repeatedly derogatory words have turned private bitterness into daily national headlines. Domestic disturbance does more than distract. When a wife paints her husband as unfaithful, classless and lost, the audience that once danced with him begins to look away. Govinda’s own decisions; professional unreliability earlier, and the current public associations, have accelerated the fall. The man who once made India laugh is now watched for the next airport picture and the next angry soundbite. The dance remains, but the stage keeps shrinking.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was palpably gutted, falling a run-out victim to Sri Lanka in the opening dig of the First Test at Galle, Sri Lanka. No batter in the world likes to be ejected from the middle when on song, and the India opener was in commanding form when he was caught short at the non-striker’s end after he had faced 37 balls in the first hour of the action at the lovely ground. After choosing to bat upon winning the toss, India was in control when KL Rahul drove to deep mid-on and took off for a single, which would have been there for the asking in normal circumstances. But even as Rahul had left the ground, Jaiswal got tripped, getting into physical contact with debutant off-spinner Keshava Nuwantha — who was trying to stop the ball from going past him — and fell on his knees. The last piece of action resulted in a deep mid-on throw to the keeper, and he had all the time in the world to remove the bails, with both batters 22 yards from him. It was a weird dismissal, and the discerning are wondering if Rahul could have stopped on his tracks, seeing Jaiswal down on the ground and gesturing to him to go back, which did not happen. The Sony Sports experts on Extraaa Innings, WV Raman, Cheteshwar Pujara and Kona Bharat, did not squarely blame Rahul, but spoke at length about the unfortunate incident, saying Rahul felt a run was on with Jaiswal getting up. Jaiswal was in good nick, facing and sending the ball to the picket five times. There was no mix-up between the two, but Jaiswal lost a chance to put up a big score!
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife Harsimrat has posted an emotion-filled ‘X’ message to salute Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre of the Maharashtra Police’s Special Protection Unit for showing heroic courage in saving Badal’s life in Nanded on Thursday (Aug 13). She says, “Santosh, you stood like a human shield between Sukhbir ji and the attacker, putting your own life at risk to protect his. In doing so, you reminded us of what it truly means to wear the uniform — to put duty before self and courage before fear. The Badal family bows to you with deepest gratitude. Your bravery will never be forgotten. May Waheguru bless you with a speedy recovery. Also, a special mention for the doctors and the entire staff at the Yashosai Hospital for their relentless service in comforting us.” Reports from Nanded say that Badal was spared of a second attack, thanks to the bravery of Kendre, who sustained a serious injury in the process. According to eye witness accounts that have gone viral, the attacker, Jaspal Singh, had already attacked Badal once and was attempting to stab him again when Kendre leapt between the two. He caught hold of Jaspal’s hand and stood as a wall in a way that shielded Badal from the second swipe of the kirpan. Then Jaspal attacked Kendre in the gruesome incident at Nanded Gurudwara. Immediately after the attack, Badal was taken to Yashosai Hospital where he received a few stitches and was declared out of danger. Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan said there was no breach in Badal’s security. Police have found that the accused is a Pune resident and had practised as a lawyer there. Jaspal’s Pune house was raided by the police as part of investigation.
Famous film stars have a penchant for unique collectibles. Rare cars, precious watches, famous wardrobe memorabilia and many more. Imagine having boasting rights for Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz, Marilyn Monroe’s white subway dream that swept up many a fantasy, Daniel Radcliffe and his Magic wand and glasses from the Harry Potter winner and a host of collectibles. Ah, we overlooked endangered animal species too. Recently a viral video of actor popular Tamil star Vikram cuddling and imitating a baby Lar Gibbon ape went viral; it woke up the Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s attention. Hey isn’t that a Lar Gibbon cuddly ape baby? How did it land in Vikram’s lap and other such questions flew in the media? Not that such earlier incidents were swept under the rain forest carpet…remember Salman Khan and the Black Buck controversy? Vikram was quickly issued a notice: Where did he procure this Lar Gibbon? These unique apes (they are not monkeys) have suffered and slipped into that coveted status …endangered due to lack of suitable forest habitat and illegal poaching to feed just such an illegal pet trade. The investigation led the law to an animal farm in Perundurai, Erode, alleged to be owned by Kesavanathan who had brought this Gibbon from Manipur without the required papers. The Forest Dept found that another baby Gibbon had died in the farm and it was not reported. Vikram has been issued notice ..that he should present himself at the investigating office no later than three days or else. Endangered animal collectibles…they draw the Rich and Famous like magnets.
Kangana Ranaut once again allowed her rage to override restraint. Reacting to the CJP student protests, the BJP MP and actor branded young protesters the “gutter generation.” She called their reels “puke-inducing,” their language “crass and jarring,” and questioned “who is birthing and raising them.” Young women were singled out as “ugly and corrupt” for allegedly flaunting drugs, drinks and “endless body counts.” An FIR has now been registered against her in Agra for insulting an entire generation of students and their parents. The political and commercial cost is enormous. This same generation will decide the box office of every film she makes and the fate of every election she contests. They are the future audience of Indian cinema and the decisive voters of the next three decades. To dismiss them as “gutter” merely because some used raw language is not just arrogant—it is strategically suicidal. Kangana’s history is littered with such self-damaging outbursts. In cinema she declared war on the “nepotism mafia,” clashed publicly over ‘Manikarnika’, and watched ‘Emergency’ sink under controversy and poor returns. In politics she has compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, labelled farmers’ protesters terrorists, and declared 1947 freedom “bheekh”—remarks that forced even her own party to distance itself. A boisterous, hyper personality can generate headlines, but it also burns bridges that never rebuild. Language alone does not define a generation’s worth. The very people she called “gutter” will remain a bitter pill she is forced to swallow every time her film releases or she seeks votes. In both politics and cinema, words spoken in fury have a long memory and this one may outlast her career.
A political controversy over Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has intensified in West Bengal following remarks by BJP leaders, giving the Trinamool Congress an opportunity to counter the BJP after its rout in this year’s Assembly elections. The controversy began after Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya alleged that Forward Bloc activists, the party founded by Netaji,had attacked Syama Prasad Mukherjee, then a Hindu Mahasabha leader, with stones and injured him. He also claimed Netaji had declined Mukherjee’s request to condemn atrocities against Hindus in the late 1930s. Bhattacharya later refrained from further remarks. The controversy widened after BJP Rajya Sabha member Ananta Maharaj, questioned Netaji’s ability to raise the Azad Hind Fauj and claimed it was actually a unit of British soldiers. In subsequent remarks, Maharaj allegedly questioned Netaji’s contribution to the freedom struggle, called him a “war criminal” and questioned the INA’s role. TMC supremo and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined a Kolkata protest accusing the BJP of insulting Netaji, questioned its failure to act against Roy, and said Tagore, Netaji, Vivekananda and Khudiram were global icons. The All-India Forward Bloc demanded action against Maharaj and revocation of his Rajya Sabha membership. A separate row erupted in Rampurhat after a Netaji-named road was allegedly renamed after Syama Prasad Mukherjee. The dispute has revived debates over Netaji’s relationship with Mukherjee, the Hindu Mahasabha and INA, while intersecting with the BJP’s Bengali outreach and competing claims over Netaji’s legacy. Amid the row, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari directed BJP MLAs to establish “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Seva Kendra” in constituencies for welfare work, eligible centres can receive Rs 30,000 monthly government assistance.
The Odisha government seems to be in a quandary over the appointment of a new Director General of Police as the incumbent DGP Y B Khurania retires on August 16,2026. A PIL has been filed by P Chidambaram in the Supreme Court challenging the Odisha government’s appointment process. However, the Apex court decided not to list the matter. What seems clear is that the Supreme Court bench led by Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana wanted to delay immediate judicial intervention. Given this scenario, the State government may appoint an in-charge/officiating DGP temporarily pending the Supreme Court final hearing. Amid growing speculation over the appointment of Odisha’s next DGP, senior IPS officers Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa were promoted to the Director General (DG) of Police rank few days ago. According to former Mumbai top cop Arup Patnaik, who hails from Odisha the said empanelment of police candidate falls under the purview of Home Minister Amit Shah. Patnaik noted that when Narendra Modi was Gujarat CM, he did not appoint a permanent DG for 15 years. Adding further, he says, it is a political decision as DG is also responsible to control the election process in the state.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have decided to hold a demonstration in Mumbai on Sunday (July 26) in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) on-going protest in Delhi and elsewhere. This comes on the heels of a ‘bandh’ organised by Republican leader Prakash Ambedkar. Of course, his effort to paralyse Mumbai went almost unnoticed but is viewed as a fresh injection of energising the Opposition, which had failed to nail the Fadnavis government in the just concluded legislature session. Ever since the CJP launched its stir, one Opposition party after another and a large number of their leaders are warning the Union government and PM Narendra Modi of serious consequences despite their meagre strength in the state and Mumbai. Seizing on the situation, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have announced that their two parties will hold a joint protest in Mumbai on 26 July. This will be to condemn the police action against students protesting in various places. The march will begin from Shivaji Park and conclude at Siddhivinayak Temple, a short distance. On the other hand, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sakpal, legislative party leader Vijay Wadettiwar and former speaker Nana Patole have kept on attacking the BJP and Modi. Strangely, the three have not addressed a joint press conference so far. Fringe parties like the Communists are seen towing the line of the Congress or the Sena (UBT) while the Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears totally confused on how to proceed, especially following Sharad Pawar’s call on Modi.
Officially speaking, PM Modi’s two emissaries, JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh convinced activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday night (July 23) by providing three specific written assurances regarding the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. This was after a four-hour high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram where Nadda read out and handed over the government’s official commitment. The Centre promised not to register cases or launch punitive action against students who participated in the “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20, or those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar. The government officially committed to holding discussion in Parliament regarding accountability in the failing examination system and implementing urgent educational reforms. Lastly, the government agreed to positively consider suitable financial compensation for the families of students who committed suicide following paper leaks. Was there any commitment to Wangchuk on sacking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan? The answer is not a clear “Yes”. Wangchuk was told that trouble-makers were gathering in strength to unleash violence and he would be blamed for the aftermath. Therefore, Wangchuk agreed to pause his fast despite his initial core demand for the resignation of Pradhan remaining unmet. He stated that protecting the future of peaceful student protesters from legal jeopardy took higher priority. Wangchuk cited that the decision was heavily influenced by appeals from 65 MPs across political parties. Wangchuk was told that a decision on a new Education Minister was not ruled out. It might take some time. Prior to Wangchuk’s meeting, the Centre attempted to address student grievances by replacing Education Secretary Vivek Joshi and establishing a fast-track court. The ministers also conveyed that the government...
Why is PM Narendra Modi refusing to sack Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite intense pressure from Opposition parties and student groups? Is it because of a calculated political strategy focused on maintaining his authority? Or is it to prevent a domino effect of ministerial accountability? Modi’s aides say PM Modi probably thinks that the demand for Pradhan’s exit will not stop with him. There is a good chance the protesters will change the goal-post to next seek the exit of Home Minister Amit Shah citing the police action of some unruly elements near Jantar Mantar. Can Modi afford to allow that scenario? Already, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and all those opposed to Modi may be toying with such a possibility. But it is well known that PM does not crack under political pressure. Sacking Pradhan would invite a “chain reaction” of “accountability” prompting the opposition and public to aggressively target other senior leaders such as Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari or Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Also, many senior BJP leaders believe forcing a high-profile minister to step down under public duress will be viewed as an explicit admission of failure of the Modi government. The BJP also thinks that elected governments with a parliamentary majority should not be forced into submission by street marches or hunger strikes. Till date the Modi administration has not capitulated to agitations, preferring to choose its own timing for changes or reshuffles rather than reacting to public ultimatums. But this time, can Modi resist the brewing storm?
Another high-profile wedding in Maharashtra is the talk of the town since the bridegroom is none other than the son of deputy chief minister, Sunetra Pawar. The scion, Rajya Sabha member Parth Pawar, will be betrothed to Kainaat Dara (also referred to as Dhara) in Pune on 29 July. They are scheduled to wed in Baramati on 27 February 2027. The engagement ceremony will be the first happy occasion for the family after the plane crash demise of then deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Just as a meeting between veteran leader Sharad Pawar and PM Narendra Modi two days ago has generated new speculation about the fate of the two factions of the NCP, both camps are feeling uneasy since none can predict which way Pawar will tilt. Pawar’s detractors recall that his granddaughter (Supriya Sule’s daughter) Revati married Sarang Lakhani just a few weeks ago in Nagpur. His father Arun Lakhani became a BJP MLC within days. Since then, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are feeling miffed about how to react to the marital alliance. To add to the suspense, Pawar visited the Cockroach Janta Party agitation in Delhi in the morning and called on Modi the same evening. The schedule for Parth’s nuptial has thus only added spice to the guess game.
Why did PM Modi choose a selfie-mode to convey his message to Gen-Z in the middle of a persistent protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi? After Modi’s video promising tough action over paper leaks went viral, everyone was talking about something other than the fast-track courts he promised. It was about how the thing was shot. Modi put the message up at 11.52 pm on Thursday (July 23). He started by calling viewers “Friends” and speaking straight into what looked like a phone’s front camera, held at arm’s length. No podium, no studio, no formal backdrop. For a leader whose addresses are usually announced days ahead and treated as events, the vertical selfie seemed unusual. Modi wanted to appear to be speaking to the youth. “Is it Gen Z style to impress the Gen Z audience?” asked the Twitterati. Of course, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka noted that the Prime Minister had to release a selfie video at midnight and that showed that the pressure was very high to act on the demand to sack Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As expected, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge objected to Modi’s selfie approach on X saying, “When Parliament is in session, the Prime Minister has to give a statement on the floor of the House; he should not make a late-night video and do a one-sided ‘Mann Ki Baat’ outside Parliament!”. He demanded that Pradhan be axed before Modi walks into Parliament next. Rahul Gandhi thinks that Modi is trying to outsmart his style of reaching out to the youth. While he has been wearing polo T-shirts, is Modi trying his outreach by selfie posts. “The PM’s promise is, as usual, hollow and only a headline-grabbing exercise…The fast-track courts are an eye-wash, an attempt to show responsiveness when there is none,” said Jairam Ramesh.
BJP’s national general secretary Sunil Bansal who is considered as one of the principal architects of the BJP’s first ever electoral win in West Bengal, is no longer confined to managing poll campaigns. His role within the party is steadily expanding, with growing influence over organisational affairs and strategic decision-making. Party sources said after winning the 2026 assembly election, the BJP is concentrating on strengthening its organisational structure, reinforcing its booth-level network and bringing the state unit into closer alignment with the central leadership’s strategy. Bansal has been holding regular meetings with state BJP President Samik Bhattacharya, other leaders and reviewed the functioning of district units and assessed political situation across various districts. According to a senior BJP leader, Bansal is not just an election strategist his opinion carries weight on how the organisation should function, where changes are required and how the state unit should remain aligned with the vision of the central leadership. Party insiders also claimed that Bansal’s advice may play a role in shaping the state’s top bureaucratic structure in the future. Although the BJP has made no official statement on the matter, many within the party believe the central leadership is giving equal importance to long-term political and administrative planning alongside electoral preparations for the upcoming municipal polls. A veteran BJP leader at the central level said that the party is now placing greater emphasis on administrative preparedness, policy implementation and organisational coordination, for which Bansal’s responsibilities are gradually expanding. Several BJP leaders also point to the experience of government formation, noting that it took nearly a month to finalise the Council of Ministers, followed by another two weeks to allocate portfolios after the swearing-in.
Former BigBasket CEO Hari Menon may have stepped away from the top job, but he’s far from slowing down. While continuing on the company’s advisory board, Menon is now turning his attention to something much closer to his heart—music. His first venture is bringing busking—the tradition of street music performances, popular across Europe and the UK—to Bengaluru. Backed by the Karnataka government, with police and Bengaluru Metro permissions reportedly falling into place, the first public performances are set to begin on 24 July. Menon and his team have already started inviting aspiring musicians to sign up as buskers. The idea is simple: provide a platform to perform, improve, access a studio free of cost, and eventually grow into accomplished musicians. Together with his wife Shanti, a noted educationist, Menon plans to begin with four shows a month before expanding to daily performances at Metro stations, malls and other public spaces under the banner of Unboxing Bengaluru. The initiative is backed by Unboxing Bengaluru, a platform founded by Prashant Prakash, co-founder of Accel, and former The Economic Times journalist Malini Goyal, with the aim of promoting music, art and dance across the city.
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Editor’s Note: Short Post Is Here To Stay…
Time, they say, flies—and how true that is. Here we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary. Five years ago, when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, I took a leap of faith and launched Short Post, India’s first website for Authentic Gossip. That was on January 31, 2021. I was convinced there was a clear gap in the market for gossip that was credible, sharp, and impactful—especially if told in just 250 words.
In this, I was fortunate. Scores of senior editors across diverse verticals bought into the idea and, in the process, gave wings to my dream. Quite honestly, Short Post could not have crossed these milestones without the unflinching support of its contributing editors. Like all start-ups, we have seen our share of ups and downs, but these editors have stood by us like a rock. I take this opportunity to doff my hat to them.
Thanks to their commitment, we have published close to 5,000 stories spanning politics, business, entertainment, and sports. I say this with pride: we made our mark as people who matter read us. “Small packs, big impact” truly captures the essence of Short Post.
We all know that Covid-19 has reset businesses worldwide, and the media sector is no exception. In the post-Covid era, investors have become more cautious and selective—and advertisers too. To compound matters, the entry of AI has disrupted the media landscape in equal measure. So far, we have managed to hold our ground, hopeful that some angel investors will take a shine to us.
What gives me confidence is this: AI cannot smell news—especially the gossipy kind. In other words, AI cannot churn out Short Post-type stories, no matter the prompt. That puts us in a safe zone. As someone rightly said, “AI is a co-pilot, not a pilot.”