The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2025 celebrated excellence in Bollywood on March 9 in Jaipur. Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies and the action thriller Kill won major accolades. Kartik Aaryan bagged the Best Actor award, adding to the night’s highlights. The grand event saw dazzling performances and the presence of top Bollywood stars. The awards recognized outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, with fans cheering their favorite actors and filmmakers. Jaipur hosted the glamorous evening, making it a memorable night for the film fraternity.

Yo Yo Honey Singh, once India's top rapper, is back after a 7-year hiatus battling addiction and mental health struggles. The 41-year-old, known for hits like Brown Rang, admits fame led him to drugs and self-destruction. His Netflix documentary Famous highlights his rise, fall, and recovery. Singh, now sober, seeks redemption, though critics say his new music lacks edge. "I was away, but I will drive everyone mad again," he declared. Fans remain divided—some applaud his honesty, while others question if he has truly changed. His comeback tour is currently underway.

Gene Hackman, the esteemed 95-year-old actor renowned for his roles in "The French Connection" and "Unforgiven," was found deceased alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, 2025. Autopsy reports indicate Hackman died from cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a contributing factor, while Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal respiratory disease transmitted by rodents. Arakawa's last known communication was on February 11, suggesting she passed away first. Due to Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's, authorities believe he may have been unaware of his wife's death, living for approximately a week afterward. Both deaths have been classified as natural causes.     

A Match sheds light on the humiliating realities of arranged marriages in India. Directed by Jayant Digambar Somalkar, the film follows Savita, a young woman forced to endure repeated rejections based on her skin color and height. Lead actress Nandini Chikte called the process “very humiliating.” The film also highlights dowry struggles, with Savita’s father contemplating selling land for her marriage. Featuring first-time actors from rural Maharashtra, Sthal challenges deep-rooted patriarchal traditions and seeks to spark debate on women's agency in marriage. The film releases in Indian theaters this Friday.

Kannada actress Ranya Rao, 33, was arrested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, 2025, for attempting to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore concealed on her person. Investigations revealed she had made 30 trips to Dubai in the past year, allegedly smuggling gold each time. Authorities discovered gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash at her residence, bringing the total seized assets to ₹17.29 crore. Ranya reportedly earned ₹1 lakh per kilogram of smuggled gold, amounting to ₹12–13 lakh per trip. She allegedly used modified clothing to conceal the gold and had possible connections with police officials to bypass airport security checks. Her stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, has distanced himself from her actions, stating they had no connection to his professional life.

Alia Bhatt has finally spoken about the box office failure of Jigra. In a podcast with Jay Shetty, she shared how the experience has fueled her passion. “I had a film released last year that didn’t do really well, and that’s given me a new vigour for a new dream,” she said. Jigra, directed by Vasan Bala, featured Alia as a sister on a mission to save her brother. Despite its underperformance, she remains motivated. “I don’t think I’m ever comfortable, and I really like that about my mind,” she added. Alia will next appear in Love and War.

  Kannada actress Ranya Rao, arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for attempting to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold worth over ₹12 crore from Dubai, employed a consistent modus operandi to evade detection. She made multiple trips to Dubai, reportedly 30 times over the past year, frequently wearing the same modified jacket and belt designed to conceal gold bars. Leveraging her connections, Rao allegedly identified herself as the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao and secured police escorts upon arrival to bypass customs scrutiny. Authorities are investigating potential involvement of law enforcement personnel and links to a broader smuggling syndicate. 

Kannada actor Ranya Rao, 33, was apprehended at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport upon arrival from Dubai. Authorities discovered 14.2 kg of gold bars, valued at ₹12.56 crore, concealed on her person. Subsequent searches at her Lavelle Road residence yielded gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. In total, assets worth ₹17.29 crore were seized. Ranya, known for her debut in the 2014 film "Maanikya," is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao. Her frequent short trips to Gulf countries had placed her under the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence's (DRI) scrutiny. She has been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, and remanded to judicial custody.

Actors Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma have ended their two-year relationship but will remain good friends, sources revealed. The duo, who confirmed their romance during the release of Lust Stories 2 (2023), reportedly kept the breakup low-key. "It is not something to celebrate," a source told India Today Digital. Varma had previously expressed surprise at the public’s interest in their relationship, calling it "bigger news than my film’s release." Their romance began after working together on Lust Stories 2, with Varma asking Tamannaah out at the film’s wrap-up party.

Bollywood actor John Abraham admitted to experiencing "geo-political anxiety" while closely following global conflicts, including Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars. Ahead of his film The Diplomat, he said, "I feel Jerusalem is at the center of every conflict today." He believes understanding global politics enhances awareness and informed decision-making. Reacting to Israel’s airstrikes in Damascus, he expressed concern: “What’s gone wrong?” He compared his anxiety to environmental anxiety, highlighting its impact. The Diplomat, releasing on March 14, reflects his passion for global affairs, with his character embodying deep political awareness.