Aadi Saikumar appears to have scored a major career milestone with Shambhala, as the film’s impressive early box office performance signals a clear turnaround. The mystical fantasy thriller has grossed ₹5.4 crore within just two days of its release, injecting fresh confidence into both the actor’s prospects and the producers’ plans for wider expansion.
Encouraged by the robust Telugu box office response, the makers have now decided to move ahead with the Hindi release of the film. Although the Hindi dubbed version was ready earlier, the team chose to wait and assess the Telugu version’s performance before taking a final call. With Shambhala emerging as a Christmas success, the Hindi version is now officially scheduled to hit cinemas on January 1.
Released on December 25, Shambhala has been receiving strong word-of-mouth and positive audience reactions across its release centres. Consistent house-full shows and rising demand have positioned the film as one of the notable winners of the festive season. Trade circles believe that the extended holiday period could potentially propel the film into the ₹10 crore club in the coming days.
Directed by Ugandhar Muni and produced by Mahidhar Reddy and Rajasekhar Annabhimoju, Shambhala continues to build momentum. The team is also expected to carry out an extensive promotional campaign in Mumbai ahead of the Hindi release, aiming to capitalise on the film’s growing buzz.
Anasuya Bharadwaj Calls Out Moral Policing Over Women’s Dressing
Amid the controversy triggered by actor Shivaji’s remarks on women’s dressing—particularly the attire worn by heroines at public events—former anchor and actress Anasuya Bharadwaj has once again responded with a powerful and unfiltered statement.
Taking to social media, Anasuya described the ongoing narrative as a form of gaslighting, while also calling out sections of the media, whom she labelled as “vultures” for sensationalising the issue. She made it clear that her stand is not about promoting western wear over traditional clothing, but about choice—emphasising that what women wear, be it sarees or western outfits, should never be dictated by men.
Anasuya expressed concern that comments like Shivaji’s risk normalising unsolicited judgments and moral policing, especially when voiced by public figures. She stressed that both women and men have the fundamental freedom to dress as they please, without being subjected to societal shaming or moral scrutiny.
Calling such restrictions disrespectful and harmful, Anasuya highlighted the responsibility that comes with influence. According to her, opinions expressed by celebrities and influencers have the power to shape public thinking and must therefore be exercised with care.
She further noted that reducing women’s choices to “right” or “wrong” based on clothing distracts from far more important conversations around respect, equality, and personal freedom.
In a series of Instagram posts filled with strong messages, Anasuya ended on a sharp note, stating that those who claim to dislike her yet closely follow her social media updates are, in reality, nothing but her fans.