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Rashmika Mandanna has emerged as the No. 1 female star in Indian cinema in India Today’s latest ranking, placing her ahead of Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone. The magazine has also described Rashmika as a “national star,” highlighting her growing popularity and pan-India appeal.

Interestingly, Deepika Padukone, who also hails from Karnataka, has been placed at No. 2. While Deepika continues to have a massive presence in Bollywood, Rashmika has steadily expanded her reach across multiple Indian film industries and established herself as one of the most recognisable actresses in the country.

The ranking also throws up another interesting surprise, with Sai Pallavi placed ahead of Alia Bhatt.

According to the magazine’s list, the top five female stars in Indian cinema are:

Rashmika Mandanna
Deepika Padukone
Shraddha Kapoor
Sai Pallavi
Alia Bhatt

The ranking has naturally sparked discussion, particularly because Deepika has traditionally been regarded as one of India’s biggest female stars. However, star power can be measured in several ways, including box-office pull, popularity across regions, social media reach, brand value and the ability to connect with audiences nationwide.

Interestingly, remuneration tells a different story. Deepika reportedly commands a fee that is around 2.5 times higher than Rashmika’s for a film. Rashmika, however, appears to have a strong advantage in the brand space, with a larger portfolio of commercial endorsements.

A similar contrast can be seen between Sai Pallavi and Alia Bhatt. While Alia reportedly commands nearly twice Sai Pallavi’s remuneration per film and has several major brand associations, Sai Pallavi has generally maintained a more selective approach towards endorsements.

Therefore, while India Today’s ranking places Rashmika ahead of Deepika in terms of overall star power, it should be viewed as one publication’s assessment rather than an absolute measure of who is the biggest female star in India.

On the work front, Deepika Padukone is currently shooting for Raaka, starring Allu Arjun. She has also completed King, headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, which is scheduled to release in December 2026.

Rashmika Mandanna, meanwhile, is gearing up for her upcoming releases. She will be seen alongside Vijay Deverakonda in Ranabaali, slated for release on October 16, 2026. She will also headline Mysaa, her first female-centric action film, which is scheduled to hit screens on November 27, 2026.

With Rashmika continuing to strengthen her pan-India presence, the debate over whether she has truly overtaken established stars like Deepika is only set to get bigger.

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Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar is all set to explore a larger-than-life divine avatar with his upcoming film Kurmaavatar. The much-awaited teaser has now been released, offering a fascinating glimpse into a world filled with mythology, spirituality, Dharma and epic action.

Directed by Harsha Vardhan Kadiyaala, the film is produced by Poojitha K and K Sevitha under the banners of Panchavaktra Pictures and Rukvina Studios.

The teaser opens on a deeply spiritual note, with veteran actor Sai Kumar’s powerful voiceover setting the tone. It touches upon the importance of God, devotion and Dharma across different eras before gradually introducing a much larger conflict.

As the narrative progresses, powerful evil forces emerge with extraordinary abilities, posing a serious threat to the cosmic balance. The teaser then shifts gears with the arrival of Shiva Rajkumar, who appears as a powerful divine warrior determined to protect Dharma and restore balance.

Director Harsha Vardhan Kadiyaala appears to have taken a distinctive approach to the mythological genre. The combination of spiritual elements, intriguing narration, grand visuals and high-scale action gives the teaser an impressive cinematic feel.

Jagadeesh Cheekati’s cinematography stands out for its rich and grand visual treatment, while B Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score elevates the intensity of the teaser. The production design also adds to the film’s larger-than-life atmosphere, making Kurmaavatar look visually ambitious.

However, the biggest attraction is undoubtedly Shiva Rajkumar’s divine avatar. His commanding screen presence and powerful appearance as a warrior instantly grab attention. Raj Tharun also catches the eye in a mysterious role, while Sai Kumar, Athira Raj and Shivaji are expected to play significant parts in the narrative.

Going by the teaser, Kurmaavatar looks like an ambitious attempt to combine mythology, devotion and action on a grand scale. With Shiva Rajkumar leading the film in an entirely different avatar, the teaser has created curiosity about what the makers have in store.

Kurmaavatar’s teaser has certainly made a strong first impression, and the film could offer a visually rich mythological experience for audiences.

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Rashmika Mandanna’s Mysaa is gearing up to bring a fierce and action-packed avatar of the actress to the big screen, and its newly announced release date looks strategically timed.

Rashmika Mandanna is going all-out for her role in Mysaa, taking on an intense physical transformation for the Pan-India action drama. The actress has reportedly been performing several challenging stunts for the film and recently suffered an injury while shooting. She is currently taking time to recover before returning to the sets.

With only around 12 days of shooting left, Rashmika is expected to join the team soon as the makers work towards completing the final schedule. Meanwhile, the team has officially announced November 27 as the film’s release date.

The decision appears to be a smart one, especially considering the crowded release calendar around Dussehra, December and Sankranthi. By arriving on November 27, Mysaa gets an opportunity to establish itself at the box office before the major festive-season releases begin arriving.

The release date poster has further raised curiosity around the film. Rashmika is seen in an extremely fierce avatar, holding a massive spear while covered in blood and dust. Her intense expression, traditional attire, flowing hair and rugged appearance perfectly capture the raw and powerful world of the movie.

Adding to the impact, the backdrop features raging flames, smoke, sparks and a massive crowd, creating a highly charged atmosphere that hints at the scale of the action drama.

Rashmika plays a Gond tribal woman in Mysaa, a role that demands both emotional depth and significant physical strength. Her transformation and commitment to the character have already become major talking points among moviegoers.

Directed by debutant Rawindra Pulle and produced by Unformula Films, Mysaa has generated considerable intrigue with its striking first glimpse. With the final stretch of shooting remaining and a strategically chosen release date, the film is now shaping up as one of Rashmika’s most-awaited projects.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again urged Indians to focus on strengthening the domestic economy by prioritising Indian-made products, limiting unnecessary foreign travel and avoiding non-essential gold purchases.

During an official visit, Modi shared a video message on social media in which he highlighted India’s strong economic performance and reiterated his call for citizens to contribute to the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.

The Prime Minister pointed to India’s reported GDP growth of more than 7.8%, describing the performance as remarkable at a time when several parts of the global economy are facing challenges. He stressed that India’s economic progress should be supported by greater reliance on domestic products and services.

Modi once again promoted the idea of ‘Made in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’, while advising citizens to avoid unnecessary overseas leisure trips, foreign destination weddings and non-essential purchases of gold. According to the broader message, reducing spending that takes money out of the domestic economy could help strengthen India’s economic resources.

However, the appeal has also raised questions among sections of the public, particularly those whose livelihoods are directly connected to the gold industry. Goldsmiths, jewellery manufacturers, traders and workers associated with the sector depend heavily on gold purchases and jewellery-making for their income.

For these communities, a continued public campaign encouraging people to reduce gold purchases could potentially affect demand and, in turn, impact their livelihoods. This has led to a debate over how such economic messaging can be balanced with the interests of traditional industries and workers dependent on consumer spending.

Modi has repeatedly spoken about reducing India’s dependence on gold and encouraging people to spend more within the domestic economy. He has also promoted the idea of celebrating weddings in India rather than choosing foreign destinations.

The larger question now is how the public will respond to the Prime Minister’s latest appeal. While supporters may see it as a push towards self-reliance and stronger domestic consumption, others are questioning its possible impact on sectors such as the gold and jewellery industry.

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Maadhav is all set to make his acting debut with Maremma, a rooted rural drama that blends village emotions with mystery and suspense. With the film gearing up for its theatrical release on September 10, the makers have unveiled the much-awaited trailer, with Energetic Star Ram Pothineni launching it.

The story is set in a village where a disturbing series of events unfolds after a festival. Several buffaloes begin dying mysteriously, leaving the villagers terrified and desperate to uncover the reason behind the deaths. Their fears appear to settle after the birth of a male buffalo named Maari. The protagonist develops a strong bond with Maari and takes care of it as they grow together.

However, the peace does not last long. The village once again faces a similar crisis, triggering panic and raising several questions. The trailer cleverly keeps the core mystery under wraps while offering glimpses of the emotional bond between the protagonist and Maari.

Maadhav gets a strong platform to showcase his acting potential in his debut. He convincingly slips into the role of a rural youngster, with his natural body language and intense performance adding authenticity to the character. Deepa Balu plays the female lead, while Vinod Kumar and Vikas Vasishta appear in key roles.

Director Mancherla Nagaraj takes a grounded and realistic approach, avoiding the template of a routine commercial entertainer. The village setting and its atmosphere play a crucial role in the narrative. Prasanth Ankireddy’s cinematography captures the raw beauty of the rural backdrop, while Prashanth R Vihari’s background score adds tension and suspense to the proceedings. The production design further strengthens the film’s rooted setting.

Produced by Mayur Reddy Bandaru under the Moksha Arts banner, Maremma is shaping up to be an intriguing debut vehicle for Maadhav. With its unusual premise, rural backdrop and unanswered questions, the trailer manages to create curiosity ahead of the September 10 release.

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Lionel Messi has officially called time on his Argentina career, bringing an emotional end to one of the greatest international journeys in football history.

After more than two decades representing Argentina, Messi has announced his retirement from international football following the team’s heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on social media after reportedly giving the matter considerable thought. While admitting that walking away from Argentina was a painful decision, Messi believes the time has come to make way for the next generation.

Messi made his Argentina senior-team debut in 2005 and went on to become the most influential player in the country’s modern football history. He finished his international career with 207 appearances and 125 goals, while featuring in an incredible six FIFA World Cups.

For much of his career, Messi faced criticism for failing to win a major international trophy with Argentina. That narrative finally changed in 2021 when he guided Argentina to Copa America glory.

A year later, Messi achieved the biggest prize of his career by leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar. He added another major international trophy in 2024 when Argentina successfully defended their Copa America crown.

The 2026 World Cup offered Messi one final opportunity to end his international career with another world title. Argentina reached the final but suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Spain after extra time. The match ultimately became Messi’s final appearance in an Argentina shirt.

In his retirement message, Messi also praised Argentina’s emerging generation of players, saying they deserve their opportunity to represent the national team. Despite stepping away, he made it clear that his love for Argentina will never change.

Messi’s Football Journey Isn’t Over Yet

While his international career has come to an end, Messi is not retiring from professional football altogether. The Argentine superstar continues to play club football for Inter Miami, with his current contract extension running through the 2028 MLS season.

From painful defeats in major finals to finally lifting the Copa America and World Cup trophies, Messi’s Argentina journey has delivered unforgettable moments.

After 21 years, six World Cups and 125 international goals, one of football’s greatest international careers has reached its emotional conclusion.

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Karthi’s Sardar 2 is ready to take the action quotient several notches higher. The makers have unveiled the theatrical trailer for the much-awaited sequel to the 2022 blockbuster Sardar, and it promises a grand, stylish and high-octane cinematic experience.

The trailer showcases Karthi in multiple looks, delivering powerful performances, intense action sequences and punchy dialogues. Director P.S. Mithran appears to have expanded the scale of his storytelling, taking the franchise into a more international arena with bigger visuals, ambitious action and an intriguing spy-thriller backdrop.

The film’s visuals, background score and action choreography stand out in the trailer, creating an edge-of-the-seat atmosphere. At the same time, the story appears to delve deeper into the emotional side of its protagonist, with the guilt and psychological burden of a spy emerging as an important element.

Adding more excitement to the sequel is SJ Suryah, who plays the antagonist. His intense screen presence and the apparent mind games between his character and Karthi’s protagonist could become one of the film’s biggest highlights.

With its combination of mass action, spy thrills, stylish presentation and a strong face-off between Karthi and SJ Suryah, Sardar 2 looks like a major theatrical entertainer.

Malavika Mohanan and Ashika Ranganath play the female leads, while Sam C.S. is composing the music. The film is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on September 10.

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Kiran Abbavaram is set to take a major leap beyond Telugu cinema with his upcoming project Indraputra, also known as KA15. Following the decent success of Chennai Love Story, the actor is now gearing up for a much bigger and ambitious outing aimed at a pan-India audience.

Touted as a pan-India mythological action-fantasy, Indraputra was officially announced by the makers. The film is being produced by Zee Studios and Prerna Arora, while debutant filmmaker Srikanth Puppala is making his directorial debut with the project.

The film is envisioned as the first chapter of an expansive mythological universe, making it an ambitious franchise starter. Inspired by Indian mythology, the story is said to explore the eternal battle between dharma and adharma, promising a blend of fantasy, action and mythology.

Currently in the pre-production stage, Indraputra is expected to begin its regular shooting in October. The makers are planning a worldwide theatrical release next year, with the pan-India scale suggesting a wider release across multiple languages.

With an ambitious mythological world, a fresh director and Kiran Abbavaram stepping into a larger canvas, Indraputra could mark an important new phase in the actor’s career.

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Superstar Mahesh Babu’s 51st birthday celebrations brought plenty of excitement for fans, with special wishes and updates from across the film industry. The makers of Varanasi also unveiled exclusive new stills featuring the actor, but a special birthday tribute from filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga quickly became one of the biggest talking points.

Vanga shared an AI-created video featuring Mahesh Babu and recreated the iconic dialogue of legendary actor Krishna garu from Kirayi Kotigadu. The creative tribute received a strong response from fans and instantly grabbed attention on social media.

More importantly, the video has reignited curiosity around the much-awaited collaboration between Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Mahesh Babu. The filmmaker is reportedly planning a project with the superstar, which has been widely speculated to be titled Devil.

Although there has been no official announcement regarding the project yet, the latest birthday tribute has once again fueled discussions among fans. Expectations are particularly high given Vanga’s track record of delivering intense and unconventional characters.

As per reports, the Mahesh Babu–Sandeep Reddy Vanga project could take shape after Mahesh completes his work on Varanasi and Vanga wraps up Spirit. Reports also suggest that producer Asian Suneil Narang may potentially back the much-awaited project.

For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement. However, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s special AI tribute has certainly added fresh momentum to the buzz surrounding his potential collaboration with Mahesh Babu.

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Actress Tabu is all set to make a powerful impression with her role in Puri Jagannadh’s upcoming multilingual film SlumDog: 33 Temple Road, which stars Vijay Sethupathi in the lead. The makers have now unveiled a glimpse of Tabu’s character, generating curiosity around her role in the film.

Tabu plays Gauri Hegde, a Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, who is portrayed as a fearless, fierce and ruthless officer. The glimpse presents her in an intense action-packed avatar, showcasing a completely different side of the acclaimed actress.

Adding to the excitement, Tabu has reportedly dubbed her own dialogues in Telugu for the film. Her commanding screen presence and intense performance in the character glimpse have already raised expectations for her role.

Produced by Puri Jagannadh, Charmme Kaur and JB Narayan Rao Kondrolla, SlumDog: 33 Temple Road also features Samyuktha, Duniya Vijay, Brahmaji and VTV Ganesh in key roles. Harshavardhan Rameshwar is composing the music for the film.

With Tabu’s fierce character adding another layer to the story, it remains to be seen what role Gauri Hegde plays in Vijay Sethupathi’s world. The makers are yet to announce the release date of SlumDog: 33 Temple Road.

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