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Anushka Shetty’s Kathanar Trailer Impresses, Fans Want More Screen Presence
After slowing down her pace in recent years, Anushka Shetty is once again in the spotlight with her ambitious new project Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer. The film also marks her debut in Malayalam cinema, making it a significant step in her career.
The film features Jayasurya in the lead role alongside her. The recently released trailer offers a glimpse into a visually rich fantasy drama packed with mystery and magical elements. Directed by Rojin Thomas, the film is being mounted on a grand scale by Sree Gokulam Movies, promising a high-quality cinematic experience.
The storyline appears to center around the life of a powerful magician, blending folklore with fantasy in a unique narrative. While the trailer has generated considerable buzz, a section of Telugu audiences feels that Anushka Shetty’s presence in the promo is relatively limited.
Known for her commanding screen presence, Anushka has consistently stood out across genres. Given the scale and pan-Indian appeal of the project, highlighting her role more prominently in upcoming promotional material could enhance the film’s reach, particularly in Telugu and other key markets.
Apart from the lead pair, the film also boasts a strong supporting cast including Vineeth, Sandy, Sanoop Santhosh, Devika Sanjay, Harish Uthaman, and Srikanth Murali. The music is composed by Rahul Subramanian, further adding to the film’s appeal.
Despite her limited screen time in the trailer, expectations remain high as Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer gears up for a pan-Indian release across multiple languages.
Canada Raises Citizenship & PR Fees from 2026, Costs Go Up Across Immigration Streams
Canada is set to increase immigration-related costs, with higher citizenship application fees already in effect from March 31, 2026, and a broader hike in permanent residence (PR) application charges scheduled from April 30, 2026. The revised fee structure will apply across almost all immigration pathways, making the process more expensive for applicants under economic, family sponsorship, and humanitarian categories.
The changes cover all major permanent residence streams, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), family sponsorship, protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate applications. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is also being increased as part of the revision. Under the new rates, applicants will see a rise in overall costs across categories. The RPRF will go up from CA$575 to CA$600, while processing fees for principal applicants under economic programs will increase from CA$950 to CA$990. Fees for dependent children will rise from CA$260 to CA$270.
Business immigration applicants will also be impacted, with principal applicant fees increasing from CA$1,810 to CA$1,895. In family sponsorship cases, the sponsorship fee will rise from CA$85 to CA$90, while the sponsored principal applicant fee will increase from CA$545 to CA$570.
Alongside the PR fee changes, Canada has already revised its citizenship application fee, increasing it from CA$119.75 to CA$123.00, effective March 31, 2026. Applicants who have already submitted their applications online and completed payment before the cut-off dates will not be affected by the revised charges. However, those who submitted paper applications earlier may still be required to pay the difference due to delays between submission and receipt by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Applicants who chose to defer payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee will have to pay the revised amount, even if their application was submitted before April 30, as the applicable fee will be based on the rate at the time of payment rather than submission. If additional payment is required, IRCC will notify applicants with instructions. Applicants must calculate the difference between the old and new fees for each person included in the application and complete the payment through the official IRCC online payment system. Payments can be made in a single transaction or multiple installments, with receipts generated for each payment that must be submitted as required by IRCC.
CM Stalin Declares ₹6.25 Cr Assets; Vijay’s Wealth 100x Higher Sparks Debate
The position of a Chief Minister comes with significant administrative powers as well as immense responsibilities. Over the years, India has seen several chief ministers with substantial personal wealth running into hundreds of crores, while a few leaders have reported relatively modest assets.
Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin came into focus after filing his nomination affidavit, which revealed some interesting details about his declared assets. According to the affidavit, Stalin reported having ₹10,000 in cash, while his wife possesses ₹40,000, bringing their total cash holdings to just ₹50,000. This modest declaration has sparked discussion and amusement on social media.
Interestingly, the Chief Minister also stated that he does not own any motor vehicles in his name, despite often being seen travelling in high-end official cars such as the Range Rover Defender used for security and administrative purposes.
Further, Stalin’s total declared assets stand at approximately ₹6.25 crore, with a major portion invested in savings schemes and financial instruments. This has led to contrasting opinions online, especially considering his strong political lineage as the son of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
In comparison, actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay has reportedly declared assets exceeding ₹500 crore, making him significantly wealthier on paper than the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The stark contrast between the two declarations has fueled widespread discussion on social media about wealth, politics, and public perception.
Box Office Reality Check for Telugu Big Stars Post-Pandemic
Post-pandemic box office trends have become increasingly unpredictable, even for the biggest stars in Telugu cinema.
Several highly anticipated films led by top actors have struggled to cross the ₹100 crore mark in the Telugu version alone.
A recent example is Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, a massive crowd-puller and influential political figure whose films usually open to strong numbers. Despite the initial hype, the film reportedly ended its theatrical run below the ₹100 crore gross mark.
Earlier, Acharya also failed to reach the milestone. The film featured megastar Chiranjeevi in the lead role alongside his son Ram Charan in a pivotal appearance. Despite the huge expectations, the film underperformed at the box office.
Another Chiranjeevi starrer, God Father, also could not cross the ₹100 crore mark in the Telugu market. The film presented him as a powerful political figure navigating a high-stakes power struggle, but it failed to translate star power into sustained box office success.
The trend continued with Bhola Shankar, further highlighting the challenges even senior stars face in the current theatrical landscape. Even big-scale action spectacles like War 2, featuring Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr., reflect the increasing unpredictability of audience response.
Ultimately, the message from recent box office trends is clear: content is king. No matter how big the star power, films cannot sustain at the box office without strong storytelling that genuinely connects with the audience.
Rishab Shetty’s Instagram Cleanup Sparks Buzz
Rishab Shetty, who rose to nationwide fame with the Kantara franchise, has once again become the centre of attention after a surprising activity on social media.
The actor has reportedly unfollowed almost everyone on Instagram, leaving fans shocked and curious about the sudden move.
A few days ago, it was noticed that Rishab had unfollowed his co-stars Rukmini Vasanth, Raj B. Shetty, and several others. Now, latest reports suggest that he has taken it a step further by clearing nearly his entire following list.
Earlier, he was following around 140 accounts, but he is now said to be following only three—his wife Pragathi Shetty, his production banner Rishab Shetty Films, and the Rishab Shetty Foundation.
What makes the move even more striking is that he has reportedly unfollowed several prominent personalities across different film industries as well.
Despite this social media cleanup, Rishab continues to enjoy a massive fan base online, with around 1.7 million followers on Instagram and over 450 posts on his profile.
As of now, there has been no official clarification from the actor regarding this action, further fueling speculation among fans and media circles.
On the work front, Rishab Shetty will next be seen in Jai Hanuman, directed by Prasanth Varma. The film is expected to hit theatres next year.
Dil Raju Locks Salman Khan for ₹550 Cr Bilingual Action Film
Producer Dil Raju is reportedly unfazed by the current slowdown in the Telugu film industry as he gears up for a massive pan-India project featuring Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
According to industry reports, Dil Raju has locked a high-budget bilingual action film, estimated at around ₹550 crore, designed to be made in both Hindi and Telugu. As part of the deal, Salman Khan is said to be receiving his full market remuneration of approximately ₹120 crore, a figure that some Mumbai-based producers have reportedly become cautious about due to recent box office setbacks.
Sources further suggest that Salman’s compensation package goes beyond the upfront payment, including a share in satellite, music, and other revenue streams. Despite fluctuations in box office performance, his team maintains that his fee structure remains unchanged, citing his consistent market value and revenue-generating appeal.
The upcoming project, titled Dil, Dimag, Jigar Se, will be directed by Vamshi Paidipally and is expected to go on floors in April. The film was officially announced by Salman Khan on his social media platform, where he shared a picture with the director and confirmed the collaboration with Dil Raju and Shirish.
With this high-profile collaboration, the project is already generating significant industry buzz as one of the most ambitious bilingual ventures in development.
Dhurandhar Slowdown Opens Box Office Window for Biker and Rakasa
After enjoying a strong opening week across the Telugu states in both its Hindi and Telugu versions, Dhurandhar is now showing a gradual slowdown at the box office.
Interestingly, this dip is being viewed as a positive sign for the upcoming Telugu releases Biker and Rakasa, as the reduced dominance of Dhurandhar is expected to open up more screens and audience attention for new films.
Both Biker and Rakasa have generated decent pre-release buzz through their promotional campaigns, sparking curiosity among moviegoers. However, as always, their ultimate success will depend heavily on content strength and audience reception, with strong word of mouth playing a key role in their box office run.
Another encouraging factor is the gradual easing of the recent petrol crisis concerns, which had impacted theatre attendance in certain regions. With the situation improving, audiences are expected to return to cinemas more comfortably, potentially giving a boost to collections.
Overall, the coming days appear promising for Biker and Rakasa, but their real test will be delivering engaging and impactful cinematic experiences that can sustain audience interest.
Varanasi Sparks Hero vs Director Credit Debate Ahead of Release
The upcoming big-budget film Varanasi, featuring Mahesh Babu and directed by S. S. Rajamouli, has already become a major talking point on social media even before its release.
Soon after the announcement, fans began a debate over credit attribution, with one section referring to the project as #SSMB29 while another group promotes it as #SSR13. The discussion around whether the film belongs more to the hero or the director has been trending intermittently, reigniting again in recent days.
Amid this ongoing debate, producer Shobu Yarlagadda shared a thoughtful post discussing how credit in cinema is generally perceived. Without directly mentioning Varanasi, he highlighted that filmmaking is primarily driven by the director’s vision, making them central to how a film is shaped and presented.
He explained that cinema is a collaborative art form, but the director plays a key role in defining the storytelling, visual style, and emotional impact. This is why films are often identified by their directors, with the “Directed by” credit carrying significant importance in the industry.
Although he did not name the film directly, many believe his remarks were aimed at calming the ongoing fan debate surrounding Varanasi. His statement appears to have eased tensions on social media to some extent.
Meanwhile, both S. S. Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu remain focused on the project, prioritizing its scale and quality. The team is committed to delivering a global-standard cinematic experience, aiming to take Telugu cinema to an even wider international audience.
Niharika Konidela Responds to Trolling Over Rakasa Production Choices
Actress and producer Niharika Konidela is actively promoting her upcoming film Rakasa, starring Sangeeth Sobhan and Nayan Sarika in lead roles. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 3, 2026.
At the film’s pre-release event held on Monday, Niharika spoke candidly about the constant trolling she has faced as a producer. She recalled that during her debut production Committee Kurrollu, critics questioned her decision to work with newcomers instead of established stars. Now, with Rakasa, she says the criticism has shifted to why she is not continuing in the same path and instead opting for a VFX-heavy project.
She emphasized that such comments never stop regardless of the choices she makes. “People will always have something to say,” she noted, adding that she has chosen to move forward with confidence and focus on her growth as a producer with every project.
Niharika also highlighted the importance of her production house, Pink Elephant Pictures, stating that it holds as much value to her as her Konidela family legacy. She affirmed her commitment to continue making films she believes in, despite criticism and online trolling.
Nithiin Teams Up with New Directors for Comeback Film with Sithara Entertainments
After films like Ishq and Bheeshma briefly revived the career of Nithiin, the actor has struggled to maintain consistent box office success in recent years.
Despite attempting several high-budget entertainers such as Extra Ordinary and Thammudu, the results have not met expectations, leaving the actor at a crucial turning point in his career. While he has been in discussions with both established and emerging directors, nothing concrete has materialized so far.
Nithiin was also expected to collaborate with Vikram Kumar and other successful filmmakers after stepping away from the project Yellamma for undisclosed reasons. However, most of these potential collaborations remain in the discussion stage.
Reports now suggest that he has finally locked a new project with Sithara Entertainments. The film is said to be directed by a duo of newcomers who previously worked on short films, marking an interesting shift in his approach toward fresh talent.
In today’s evolving film landscape, where audiences are increasingly favoring strong content-driven narratives with commercial appeal, Nithiin’s next move is being closely watched. With his new collaboration, the actor is aiming for a much-needed comeback, and it remains to be seen whether this project will help him regain his earlier success streak.
Ram Charan’s Peddi Release Date Rumours Spark Buzz, SKN Clarifies Confusion
Ram Charan’s upcoming film Peddi has become the subject of widespread speculation on social media, with rumours suggesting a possible release postponement from April 20 to June 25, 2026. However, the makers have not issued any official confirmation regarding the change in date.
The buzz intensified after producer S. Krishna (SKN) made comments at a promotional event for Chennai Love Story, which quickly went viral and led to confusion among fans about a potential delay. Following the reaction, SKN later clarified the situation and addressed the misinterpretation.
He explained that during discussions about Chennai Love Story, writer and co-producer Sai Rajesh mentioned seeing online speculation about a new release date for Peddi. Based on that, he advised caution until the Peddi team officially confirms their plans. SKN admitted that he momentarily misunderstood the audience reaction at the event, assuming a date might have already been finalised.
He further apologised for the confusion, stressing that any official announcement regarding Peddi’s release would come only from the production house. He also clarified that his intention was simply to avoid box office clashes and ensure a suitable release window for his own film.
Directed by Buchi Babu Sana and produced under Vriddhi Cinemas, Peddi also features music composed by A. R. Rahman. The team is expected to announce an official update on the release date soon.