Dhurandhar franchise sets new record as 1st from India to gross ₹3000 crore worldwide

MUMBAI, April 14: Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge collectively have officially made it the highest-grossing franchise in the country. The films starring Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun, and others have collectively grossed over ₹3,000 crore worldwide. The Dhurandhar franchise hasn’t just beaten the Telugu film industry’s Baahubali and Pushpa franchises, but it’s also the only one to make these numbers.

When Dhurandhar was released in December last year, the film collected over ₹1307 crore gross worldwide. While many wondered whether the film would be a success, the Ranveer-starrer proved everybody wrong and became a massive hit. All this despite being released only in Hindi and getting banned in the Gulf states, apart from Pakistan.

On March 19, Dhurandhar: The Revenge hit screens in all South Indian languages and Hindi, with no competition, as films such as Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, Peddi, The Paradise, Dacoit, and more postponed March releases. According to trade website Sacnilk, the film has now crossed the ₹1712 crore mark worldwide. This takes its worldwide total to over ₹3019 crore, a first for a franchise in Indian cinema.

Dhurandhar had a net collection of ₹840 crore in India, becoming the first Hindi film to cross ₹1000 crore domestically. The film has collected ₹1083 so far in the country and counting. Pushpa 2: The Rule, KGF: Chapter 2, and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion are the only other Indian films to have collected over ₹1000 crore domestically.

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle dies at 92

MUMBAI, April 12: Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, considered one of the greatest vocalists in modern Indian music, has died at the age of 92. The singer was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital on Saturday after she experienced cardiac and respiratory issues. The singer had not been keeping well for the last few months and was brought to the hospital in a critical state. She was admitted to the ICU on Saturday night.

Bhosle's son, Anand, confirmed the news on Sunday afternoon. The last rites will be conducted tomorrow.

One of the most successful, popular, and prolific singers of Indian cinema, Asha Bhosle’s stature in Hindi film music was rivalled only by her elder sister, the late Lata Mangeshkar.

Born in 1933 into the musical Mangeshkar family, Asha began singing professionally at the age of 9. She recorded her first film song in 1943 and by the 50s, had carved a niche for herself in Bollywood. Over the next three decades, she was among the most sought-after performers by most composers.

While initially, she was typecast into singing just cabaret numbers or dances that would today be called item songs, Asha diversified, singing even ghazals sublimely in Umrao Jaan. She was a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award and a two-time winner of the National Film Award- for Dil Cheez Kya Hai from Umrao Jaan and Mera Kuch Saamaan from Ijaazat.

Bust of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled in Montana

By Deepak Arora

MISSOULA ((MONTANA): The first bust of Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the prestigious Mike Mansfield Center of the University of Montana in Missoula today. Governor of Montana Greg Gianforte and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta jointly unveiled the bust of the Mahatma. Leading officials from Montana state, including faculty and students of University of Montana, First Lady Susan Gianforte as well as members of the Montana World Affairs Council were present on the occasion....more

Dhurandhar 2 becomes 1st Bollywood film to mint ₹1000 crore in India

NEW DELHI, April 5: Dhurandhar: The Revenge has crossed ₹1000 crore net in the Indian market on April 5, its 18th day in the theatres. This marks its entry into an elite club that houses only two other films - Baahubali 2 and Pushpa 2.

In its first two weeks, Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar 2 earned ₹938 crore in India. On its third Friday, the film saw a jump of over 20% to earn ₹21.55 crore domestically. On Saturday, it did even better, earning over ₹25.65 crore. This took its net earnings to ₹985 crore after 17 days. The spy thriller then added ₹17 crore net (by 4 PM) to sail past the ₹1000 crore mark. Given its momentum, it will not be a surprise if Dhurandhar 2 crosses the ₹1100 crore barrier too before it ends its run.

Just how staggering a feat it is can be explained when you realise that Pathaan - Shah Rukh Khan’s record-breaking blockbuster - earned just over half that amount three years ago. Similarly, Aamir Khan’s Dangal, which held the Indian box-office record for over six years, earned a little over one-third of that amount. Dhurandhar 2 has out-earned two all-time blockbusters by a factor of 2 and 3, respectively.

Raja Ravi Varma’s Yashoda and Krishna painting sells for ₹167.2 crore at Saffronart, setting a new record for Indian art

MUMBAI, April 2: In Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic painting, Yashoda and Krishna, a quiet, intimate moment unfolds: an infant Krishna, rendered in luminous soft tones, leans into his mother Yashoda — a tender scene embodying both protectiveness and divinity. Painted in the 1890s at the height of his career, the iconic painting has now made history.

At a recent auction by a Mumbai-based auction house, Saffronart, Yashoda and Krishna fetched a staggering ₹167.2 crore ($17,978,495), setting a new benchmark as the highest-value work of modern Indian art ever sold. The sale far exceeded its pre-auction estimate of ₹80–120 crore, showcasing the living value of Indian art among collectors.

The buyer, Cyrus S Poonawalla, chairman and managing director, Serum Institute of India, described the acquisition as both a privilege and a responsibility. “This national treasure deserves to be made available for public viewing periodically, and it will be my endeavour to facilitate this going forward.”

Born in 1848, in Kilimanoor, Kerala, Ravi Varma is one of India’s most celebrated artists known for his depiction of Indian mythological subjects through oil paintings. Some of these female characters , such as Shakuntala, Sita, Damayanti, and Draupadi, have had a lasting influence, continuing to inspire a generation of artists.

Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvathi Bayi, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Travancore, says she is happy that Cyrus Poonawalla has been able to retain the work in India. “I am proud that my great-grandfather is getting the recognition he deserves. If you remember, at one time in the 20th Century, he was ridiculed as a poster painter. But now, he is honoured for his artistic legacy and skill… He did not paint to please critics or buyers. One must remember his contribution in popularising the sari and in preserving exquisite jewellery.”

The record-breaking sale surpassed the previous high set by MF Husain’s Untitled (Gram Yatra), which fetched over ₹118 crore ($13.8 million). “It remains to be seen how the collector will ensure that this work is able to be seen and appreciated by art lovers,” adds Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvathi Bayi.

“Great art has a way of reaffirming its timeless value… It is not just a milestone for the market, but a powerful reminder of the enduring cultural and emotional resonance of Indian art,” says Minal Vazirani, president and co-founder, Saffronart.

In many ways, the journey of Yashoda and Krishna from Varma’s studio to a 21st-Century auction house reflects the evolving nature of Indian art itself.

Adani Group Named Official Partner For UNESCO's World Engineering Day

NEW DELHI, Mar 5: The Adani Group has been named as an official partner for the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2026, an international day recognised by UNESCO and delivered by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). This marks the first time an Indian organisation has been selected by the WFEO to recognise the contributions of engineers on this global platform.

The partnership highlights the development of the Khavda renewable energy project in Gujarat, which the WFEO identifies as a defining example of India's energy transition. Currently, the world's largest renewable energy plant is under construction, and the project is being led by Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) in collaboration with specialised partners, including Adani Energy Solutions and Adani New Industries. The plant is situated on 538 square kilometres of barren land in the Kutch region, an area five times the size of Paris.

Sagar Adani, Executive Director, Adani Green Energy, said, "We are demonstrating that clean energy can be large-scale yet affordable, powerful yet inclusive. This is India's contribution to the world--a model where progress and sustainability move forward together. Our Khavda renewable energy plant stands as an emblem of India's climate action. It reflects the collective strength of Adani Green Energy, Adani Energy Solutions and Adani New Industries working in unison to advance an integrated renewable future."

WED 2026 is themed "Smart engineering for a sustainable future through innovation and digitalisation." The Adani Group's work across renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and large-scale transport and utility systems closely mirrors this vision, demonstrating how technology-driven engineering can enable sustainable development in real-world conditions.

At the heart of this collaboration is the Khavda renewable energy project in Gujarat, the world's largest, with a planned capacity of 30 GW by 2029, which the WFEO has highlighted as a defining example of India's green transition under its World Engineering Day 2026 program and has featured a short film showcasing the scale, ambition and its impact.