Warner Bros has rejected a $108 billion hostile takeover bid from Paramount. The company asked shareholders to back its deal with Netflix instead. Warner Bros said a partnership with Netflix will offer more choice and value to viewers. It also said the deal will help creators reach larger audiences. Paramount made its offer directly to shareholders after its earlier bids were rejected. Paramount offered a higher price per share than Netflix. However, the Warner Bros board said Netflix is the better partner. Shareholders can still choose which offer to support. Any deal will need regulatory and shareholder approval. (PC: X)

Actor Rishab Shetty has reacted to the controversy over Ranveer Singh imitating the Daiva scene from Kantara at IFFI Goa. Speaking at an event in Chennai, Rishab said, “That makes me uncomfortable.” He explained that the Daiva tradition is sacred and emotionally important. He said it should not be performed or mocked on stage. Though he did not name Ranveer, his remarks came after the viral video sparked backlash online. Ranveer later issued an apology and said his intention was to praise Rishab’s performance. He also said he respects all cultures and beliefs. (PC: X)

Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound has reached the Oscars 2026 shortlist in the Best International Feature category. The film stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa. It was chosen as India’s official entry and competed with 86 films worldwide. Only 15 films made the shortlist. This makes Homebound the fifth Indian film to achieve this feat. Earlier films include Mother India, Salaam Bombay! and Lagaan. The next round of voting will decide the final nominees in January 2026. While the competition remains tough, the shortlist spot is a major win for the film and Indian cinema. (PC: X)

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has shared his first review of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire And Ash from India. Rajamouli said he felt honoured to be the first Indian to watch the film before its release. He praised Cameron’s vision, visuals and storytelling. Rajamouli said the film made him feel like a child watching cinema again. He enjoyed the new worlds, characters and action scenes. He said Jake Sully’s moral struggle stayed in his mind even after the film ended. Rajamouli also praised the emotional conflicts shown in the story. Avatar: Fire And Ash will release in theatres on December 19. (PC: HT)

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, India’s official entry, has been shortlisted among the Top 15 films competing for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026). The list includes acclaimed global contenders chosen from over 80 submissions, taking the film a step closer to potential nomination. Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor and co‑produced by Karan Johar, the movie has received widespread praise and festival recognition. With final nominations to be announced in January 2026, Homebound represents a major moment for Indian cinema on the world stage. (PC: X)

Renowned filmmaker Vikram Bhatt (Ghulam, Raaz) and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt were remanded to judicial custody by a Udaipur court in a ₹30 crore fraud case after their plea for interim bail on medical grounds was rejected. The couple was arrested in Mumbai on December 7 and brought to Udaipur, where they were initially held in police custody. They are accused, along with others, of cheating Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira Group/Indira IVF, by promising a profitable biopic deal that never materialised. Bhatt has denied the allegations, calling the FIR misleading. 

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa's Homebound has been shortlisted among 15 films for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar, India's official Oscar entry competed against films from Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and others. Five films from this shortlist will advance to final nominations, announced January 22, 2026. The film explores friendship between two childhood friends aspiring to become police officers while facing systemic and societal obstacles. Produced by Dharma Movies with Martin Scorsese as executive producer, Homebound premiered at Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, currently streaming on Netflix.

A Pakistani viewer from Karachi has garnered attention for his candid review of Ranveer Singh's spy thriller Dhurandhar. Despite the film's portrayal of Pakistan as the adversary and its depiction of cross-border tensions, the reviewer praised the cinematography, music, screenplay, and performances. He acknowledged the film took him to "uncomfortable places" but appreciated its bold narrative as an art form. Emphasizing humanity over nationalism, he urged viewers to look beyond country labels and recognize wrongdoing as human-to-human harm. His review sparked positive responses online, with many praising his open-mindedness. Dhurandhar, featuring Singh as an Indian spy infiltrating Pakistan's Lyari, has grossed over Rs 350 crore domestically in ten days. (PC: News18)

Warner Bros Discovery is expected to advise shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid and instead support Netflix’s earlier acquisition deal for its assets, according to sources. Paramount’s all-cash offer of $30 per share, launched directly to shareholders, tops Netflix’s approximately $82.7 billion cash-and-stock proposal and aims to buy the entire company, including cable networks. Warner’s board favors Netflix’s bid, which focuses on studios and streaming assets, citing better strategic fit. The high-stakes battle over Hollywood’s prized content library marks a major clash in the global media landscape. (PC: Reuters)

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, co-produced by Karan Johar under Dharma Productions, has been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. The film, India’s official Oscar entry, was selected from a competitive international field and will advance to the next voting round. Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, and has Oscar winner Martin Scorsese as executive producer. Inspired by a true story, it charts two friends’ life-changing journey. Karan Johar celebrated the achievement on social media, expressing pride in the team’s global recognition. (PC: HT)