Sizzling samachar: Salman Khan to team up with Karan Johar for a new action film; Ahmed Khan roped in to direct ‘Welcome 3’; ‘Haddi’ starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui announces OTT release

Welcome to another episode of Sizzling samachar, I'm your host Nikhil. News from Bollywood first.

Salman Khan to team up with Karan Johar for a new action film

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is set to reunite with producer Karan Johar for the first time since the 1998 film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai where the actor played an important cameo. The new Dharma film will be an action thriller helmed by Shershaah director Vishnuvardhan and will reportedly feature extraordinary action sequences. The film’s production is expected to commence by November this year. Further details about the project have been kept under wraps, but the film is expected to release by December 2024.

Ahmed Khan roped in to direct ‘Welcome 3’

It was recently announced that Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Arshad Warsi have been cast in Welcome 3. It has now been revealed that Heropanti 2 director Ahmed Khan has been roped in to helm the comedy film. The comedy entertainer is expected to commence filming in early 2024 and will be produced by Firoz Nadiadwala. The first two films in the franchise, titled Welcome and Welcome Back were helmed by Anees Bazmee and we’re keen to see how choreographer-turned-filmmaker Ahmed Khan would turn this successful franchise. We have our fingers crossed for this upcoming laugh riot.

‘Haddi’ starring  Nawazuddin Siddiqui announces OTT release

The highly-anticipated noir revenge thriller Haddi, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Anurag Kashyap, is to be released on ZEE5. The film is helmed by debutant Akshat Ajay Sharma, in which Siddiqui essays the role of a transgender woman. The film also features a strong supporting cast of actors such as Ila Arun, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Saurabh Sachdeva, and Shridhar Dubey among others. While ZEE5 has not revealed the exact release date, the streaming platform has confirmed that the film will release in 2023, skipping a theatrical release as previously planned.

Disney+ announces ‘The Little Mermaid’ release date

Despite being embroiled in much controversy and backlash surrounding the release of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the film was a box office hit for the studio. The film is a live-action adaptation of the iconic 1989 animated film, and it stars singer and actress Halle Bailey as the titular character. Streaming giant, Disney+ has announced that the film will be released on the platform on September 6th, and it is expected to release in India on the same day on Disney+ Hotstar.

‘Promising Young Woman’ follow-up confirmed

British filmmaker and actress Emerald Fennell, who recently starred in the global hit Barbie, as Midge, is set to helm a new project titled Saltburn. It will be a follow-up to the critically-acclaimed 2020 dark comedy crime thriller, Promising Young Woman, which stars Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, and Alison Brie in prominent roles. The upcoming film, Saltburn, stars Academy Award nominees Rosamund Pike and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi in lead roles. The plot revolves around an Oxford student who is dangerously infatuated with a fellow student who belongs to a family of aristocrats. The film will premiere at the London film festival before receiving a wider global release. Director Fennell won an Academy for Best Original Screenplay for the previous film Promising Young Woman.

J K Rowling references removed from ‘Harry Potter’ museum

J K Rowling,  the author of the popular Harry Potter novels has come under scrutiny yet again for her alleged transphobic views. She was controversially excluded last year from the reunion special for the celebrated franchise’s 20th anniversary titled, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. Now, the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle has taken the decision to remove all references to the embattled author. Project manager Chris Moore has labelled Rowling a ‘cold, heartless, and joy-sucking entity’ for Rowling’s public views on the trans movement.

Well that's all we got for today's episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

• Written by Ryan Gomez

Listen to more OTTplay Sizzling Samachar of the Day podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.