Top 5 Bollywood news today: From Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par OTT update to big changes in the Madhubala biopic 

1. Sitaare Zameen Par heads to Sony LIV after skipping the initial OTT window 

After speculation surrounding its digital future, Aamir Khan’s long-awaited upcoming film ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ will be available to watch on Sony LIV once it leaves theatres. The makers had previously decided to reject the current practice by many filmmakers of releasing their films through OTT platforms, leading to speculation about when and where audiences will finally be able to watch the film online. 

Fans who miss seeing ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ in theatres will now have their opportunity when it becomes available through Sony LIV. This film has already created buzz for being emotionally charged and meaningful, which is often what audiences associate with Aamir Khan’s storytelling style. 

2. Release date shuffle: Toxic forces Varun Dhawan’s film to move 

Release date changes are very common amongst Bollywood films, and the recent schedule changes highlight the competitive nature of the current film releases. The much-anticipated film ‘Toxic’ is now set for a June 4 release, and to avoid having an opening weekend competing with that film, Varun Dhawan’s upcoming romantic comedy ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ is now scheduled to release on June 12. 

This will allow both films sufficient time to generate revenue at the box office while allowing each film to be highlighted individually. 

3. Casting twist in the Madhubala biopic 

The long-awaited biopic of actress Madhubala has taken an unexpected direction with word that actress Kiara Advani will no longer play the title role. In her place, lesser-known actor Aneet Padda has been added to the cast. Fans and moviegoers have begun discussing this change, specifically regarding how someone who is often referred to as the “Venus of Indian Cinema” can live up to the high expectations that come with taking on the role of Madhubala. 

Only time will tell if this casting change impacts how the biopic unfolds on-screen. 

4. Dhurandhar: The revenge earns strong numbers in paid previews 

Prior to its official theatrical release, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ has already generated a lot of interest at the box office. This film has reportedly achieved significant numbers through paid previews, despite many cities having elevated ticket prices. Early ticket sales show that there appears to be a large amount of interest in this film based on its trailer and marketing campaign. 

If the early enthusiasm continues through the weekend, this film could have a good run at the box office. 

5. Sanjay Leela Bhansali orders major reshoots for Love & War 

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has developed a characteristic proficiency for perfectionism in all his previous works, and now, with his upcoming movie ‘Love and War,’ he is expected to meet that same perfectionistic standard through major reshoots for parts. Although this means that filming on Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal starrer will be done after finishing parts of the movie, the money spent on this remake has gone considerably above its initial budget, where it originally had grown up to over ₹425 crores, being an excessive budget above what Bhansali’s previous films had ever cost. 

Though filming on replacing scenes will increase the total cost of the movie significantly, they are still at or near the highest budget of any Indian filmmaker.