In what could be a biggest-ever TV deal in Indian cinema, the satellite rights of Rajinikanth and Shankar’s 2.0 have been sold for a staggering 110 Crore. Zee TV has bagged the TV rights of the film for this staggering price. It’s said that the deal includes the rights of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi versions.

Made with a whopping Rs 350 Crore budget, 2.0 is the most-awaited film of the year and most costliest Indian film ever made. Sequel to Rajini and Shankar’s blockbuster Robot (Enthiran in Tamil), the film features Bollywood star Akshay Kumar as the baddie opposite Rajini and Amy Jackson has replaced Aishwarya Rai from the original.

Ever since Shankar had announced sequel to Robot, the film has been in the headlines. Shankar has roped in Hollywood stunt choreographer Kenny Bates who worked for action-heavy flicks like Pearl Harbour, Transformers and Die Hard. While V Srinivas Mohan, of Baahubali fame, is the VFX designer, Oscar Award-winning musician AR Rahman has scored the music.

It can be noted that Srinivas Mohan had stated that the 2.0’s VFX are nothing less than a Hollywood film and also said that 2,0 has special effects much grander than my his works Robot and Baahubali.

Yesteryear actress Kasthuri has create a storm in Tollywood by accusing a senior top Telugu hero of sexually harassing her.

Kasthuri, who acted in Telugu films such as Nippu Ravva, Annamayya, Chilakkottudu, Aakasa Veedhilo, Maa Aayana Bangaram etc. said that a Telugu hero was the reason for the abrupt end of her career. She refused to reveal his name.

‘I have acted with him in only one film. When I refused to sleep with him, he started treating me badly on the sets. He has very high ego and he doesn’t like to hear ‘No’ from anyone. He even forced me out of two films for not surrendering to his sexual advances,’ Kasthuri revealed during an interview given to an English daily.

Kasthuri has reportedly given this interview after she recently returned to Chennai from the US, where she is settled.

Even though Bandla Ganesh has been inactive on film production front from last two years, his poultry business was always flourishing. He had plans to expand his business into UP but the historic win of BJP in the recently held Assembly elections look to have thwarted his plans.

Bandla is one of the top most businessmen in Telangana in the poultry field. His business grew to twenty five lakh chicken from a mere two thousand.

During a recent interview, he divulged his plans of setting up a new branch of his poultry business in Uttar Pradesh. He even said that he managed to buy 100 acres of land in the UP with the help of then CM and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and that he would start the construction of farm after Akhilesh wins the election and forms government again.

The election results came out the other day and BJP trounced its opponents in UP in an emphatic fashion. Political analysts opine that Akhilesh may not make a comeback even in next elections. With this, plans of Bandla to take his business to UP were effectively nullified.

As per the reports from film circles, Nagarjuna Akkineni is committing the same mistake that was done by hero Nitthiin in the case of ‘Akhil’.

It is known that Nag is producing his younger son Akhil’s second film under his own banner. ‘Ishq’ and ‘Manam’ fame Vikram Kumar has been chosen as the director after considering several names.

Reportedly, Vikram has penned a unique action script in the stye of Hollywood action films and that Nag has sanctioned Rs 40 crore budget for it. The reason could be Nag’s immense confidence in Vikram, who delivered a classic film ‘Manam’ for Akkineni family. Trusting Vikram is one thing and betting Rs 40 Cr on Akhil however is another thing altogether.

It may be recalled that Nithiin had spent more than Rs 40 crore for Akhil’s debut film ‘Akhil’, which was the highest for any debut hero. As there was huge hype, he managed to sell the rights to interested parties for high prices. In the end, even after collecting around Rs 25 crore share, Akhil ended up as a huge disaster.

Although an experience Nag is well aware of budget risks, he has once again allotted Rs 40 crore for Akhil’s second project. Almost half of this is reportedly reserved for action sequences. Nag might have decided to take this risk in order to relaunch his son in style but will the distributors dare to bet so high on Akhil after the earlier bruising?

A well-known director has made only a few films and yet he said to have had possessed large amount of black money. With government’s demonetisation came as a shocker, the director had converted large part of the black money during the demonetisation period. And now this has been leaked to industry circles only recently and in no time it said to had spread like wildfire. And this is now the talking point in filmnagar.

Apparently, the director had started his film with a big star during the same time. And it’s buzzed that he had focused more on the money conversion than on the movie. Many senior directors who have had come to know about him now are apparently expressing their shock.

The director in question had given a blockbuster to a star hero earlier and later suffered a major set back with a disaster following which he has lost his sheen and was going through a lean phase. However, he recently picked up and now working with a big star.

Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who claims to be an emotionless person, has surprised film lovers by revealing that he actually cried after learning what Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan said about him.

In a recent interview, when Bachchan was asked about how could he cope with the strange and inconsistent filmmaking of RGV, the megastar said, “Consistency is downright boring and static for some people like RGV. He is inconsistent because he is a restless creative mind, always willing to take risks in search of unexplored outputs.”

“RGV’s ‘inconsistency’ may not have given him the desired results he expected, but that won’t stop me from admiring and applauding his efforts. Every ‘inconsistent’ offer that RGV included me in, challenged me and it has been an exercise of positive learning,” added Big B.

He concluded that he would always be wiling to work with RGV irrespective of the results of his films. He even compared Varma with visionary legends like Stanley Kubrik and Spielberg.

After reading what Big B said about him, RGV confessed to have had tears in his eyes.

Interim, the duo’s latest collaboration ‘Sarkar 3’ is slated to hit screens on April 7, 2017.

1) Kittu Unnadu Jagratha: Last week’s release Kittu Unnadu Jagratha retained its number 1 spot at the ticket window, courtesy of the dismal show of new releases this week.

KUJ business remained dull in plexes, but it has been consistent at the single screens.

2) Badrinath Ki Dulhania: Bollywood film Badrinath Ki Dulhania had a fantastic first weekend in Nizam.

It was the first choice film for Hyderabad multiplex audience over the weekend. The film is also carrying good word of mouth.

3) Kong Skull Island: The latest King Kong movie has had a terrific first weekend. It has done superb business across the plexes and likely to have a long run during the summer holidays. Kids and families love this movie which is full of thrills and action.

4) Chitrangada: Anjali was expected to repeat Geetanjali feat as Chitrangada. However poor publicity didn’t grab the attention of paying public and the word of mouth didn’t help its prospects any further.

5) Nagaram: Sundeep Kishan, Regina starrer has been carrying positive word of mouth, but that is not translating into collections. It needs to pick up before it is too late.

Poor publicity seems to be taking a toll on this engaging thriller.

Vishnu Manchu best fits in for comedy flicks like Denikaina Ready and Eedo Raam Ado Rakam, both hits directed by same person G Nageshwar Reddy. Yet again, the combo of Vishnu and GNR will strike back for third film titled Achari America Yatra.

None other than Vishnu is to reprise Achari character in title and his trip to America generates humor. Script is known to have come out for utmost satisfaction.

As soon as Vishnu wraps up his current assignment in G Karthik Reddy direction, next to go on floors is Achari America Yatra.

Major shooting is likely to be held in the United States and schedules are presently in planning stages.

In what can be called as a safe combination, Achari America Yatra already started creating enthusiasm in film circles.

Third song from Katamarayudu album has been unveiled on Sunday evening. It is a colorful mass song that is going to be an anthem for all the drunkards.

The song which goes Jivvu Jivvu is reminiscent of Mandu Babulam from Gabbar Singh, but is not as catchy as the latter.

Anup Rubens tune is ordinary like the previously released two songs from Katamarayudu.

Traditional dappu beats are impressive, but the tune is not catchy at all. Lyrics penned by Varikuppala Yadagiri will put a smile on listeners faces, especially for people who love to drink.

Apart from lyrics and attractive beats, there is nothing special about Jivvu Jivvu song which will heavily rely upon Pawan Kalyan’s energy and his trademark teen maar steps for such numbers.

Actor Sri Vishnu is humble, modest and down-to-earth. The actor who recently tasted success with Appatlo Okadundevadu is now on a roll. Ahead of the release of his next film Maa Abbayi that’s releasing on Mar 17th, we get talking to Vishnu.

Maa Abbayi:

It’s based on a real-incident that happened few years ago in Hyderabad. The plot isn’t new. But the screenplay is novel. We made sure the treatment is fresh, different. This is the highest-budget film in my career so far. It has good span. Even I was skeptical about putting so much money on me. But the producer is so much confident on the film and so we. The film has come up really well.

I’ll be seen as confident youth in the film. As title suggests, it appeals to family audiences. The sister-brother sentiment stands out. There’s action element as well but it’s part of the story.

Appatlo Okadundevadu:

We had started the film with a passion to tell a different story. Seriously we didn’t had business goal in our mind when we started it and we made the film with love. But we were so confident about people receiving new, different films provided they’re well-made. And the result of Appatlo Okadundevadu was beyond our expectation. It’s successful. But had we released in better time and had we got good number of theatres, definitely we’d have got better result.

Until Appatlo Okadundevadu, in fact, even today most of the people don’t know my name yet. Many call me ‘Railway Raju’. Before Appatlo Okadundevadu too, I was called ‘Royal Raju’ that again was my name in my debut Prema Ishq Kaadhal. I’m so happy to be identified with the characters I play on screen. This means that I’m successful as an actor. In fact, I want audiences to notice me with my onscreen names only.

On Hiking Remuneration:

I had agreed this film even before the release of Appatlo Okadundevadu. So, certainly I haven’t hiked my remuneration.

Romantic Scenes:

Seriously, I wasn’t comfortable while doing the romantic scenes. It was really tough. (laughs)

Nara Rohith:

Yes, Rohith and I share great bond. But we talk mostly about films and nothing more. And no, we haven’t finalised yet about his Rohith’s special role in my ongoing film ‘Needi Naadi Oke Kadha’. We had thought to have Rohith but somehow we couldn’t do it in the previous schedule and we need to decide it before the next schedule.

Apart from this, I’m doing ‘Mental Madhilo’ and it’ll be interesting story.

Is Rakul going to join the exclusive list of heroines who’re opting for item songs, besides lead roles?

After top actresses like Tamannah Bhatia, Shruti Haasan and Kajal Aggarwal featured in special dance numbers, a new speculation has it that the makers of NTR’s upcoming film, tentatively titled as ‘Jai Lava Kusa’, are trying to rope in Rakul Preet Singh for an item song.

Yes, if the latest rumors are to be believed, the Winner lass who is an A-list Tollywood star is under consideration for a special dance number alongside Tarak and it is said to be an energetic one from musician Devi Sri Prasad. Rakul, being the very successful actress in a very short span, also acted with NTR in Nannaku Prematho which released last year.

On other hand, it is needless to tell how big Kajal’s item song (Pakka Local) in Janatha Garage attracted our audiences and made name for the Magadheera beauty. So, will Rakul Preet Singh follow her steps and opt a new career option? – you’d be answered soon.

Having shed his weight, NTR is all set to begin the film shortly. Tarak’s brother and hero Kalyan Ram will bankroll the project under NTR Arts banner and director Bobby is helming it.

Avasarala Srinivas, Adivi Sesh starrer and Indraganti Mohanakrishna directorial film launched few weeks back has got a title. The film is reportedly named as Ami Tumi.

Fresh from the superb success of Gentleman with Nani, this is the fresh project accepted by Indraganti Mohanakrishna with Vennela Kishore playing a special role.

Eesha of Anthaku Mundu aa Thruvatha is playing the first female lead while Aditi Myakal is the second heroine.

Said to be a full length laughter riot on the lines of Ashta Chemma, the film is nearing to talkie part completion by 23rd of this month.

If you are looking for Indraganti’s trademark entertainer, Ami Tumi promises to deliver the goods. Top technicians like Mani Sharma and PG Vinda are working on the project.