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Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How will Akshay Kumar up his sequel game ?
Akshay Kumar, once Bollywood's sequel king, faces challenges as franchises like *Housefull* and *Welcome* encounter financial and creative roadblocks. *Kesari 2* underperformed, and *Hera Pheri 3* is stalled due to cast exits. *Jolly LLB 3* remains a hopeful project, highlighting Bollywood's need for innovation beyond mere franchise reliance to resonate with evolving audience tastes. For years, Akshay Kumar was considered Bollywood's most bankable star, he has delivered hits across genres from comedies to action to drama to romance. In the post Covid era, sequels have become a go-to option for filmmakers to ensure maximum return at the box office. And in the race of sequels Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar were leading the race. Ajay has nearly half a dozen sequels in the pipeline at various stages of production and Akshay is not too far behind. But when it comes to Akshay his sequel game seems to be not going exactly as planned. Kesari Chapter 2: Ambitious But Burdened Kesari, backed by Karan Johar and directed by Anurag Singh was one of the biggest hits of 2019. Cashing on the sequel Karan and Akshay joined hands to bring Raghu and Pushpa Palat's book The Case That Shook The Empire based on Jallianwala Bagh Massacre to the big screen and titled the film Kesari 2. The film was mounted on a budget of over Rs 100 crore but it went on to collect Rs 92.72 crore as per Sacnilk at the Indian box office. The film thereby exposed the challenges of escalating sequel budgets without assured market pull. The film wont be losing money after taking into account non-theatrical revenue. Housefull 5: A Fading Charm The Housefull franchise has long been one of Akshay Kumar's most reliable brands, with its over-the-top humor and ensemble casts pulling in audiences over multiple installments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo However, Housefull 5, despite a strong opening weekend, showed signs of fatigue. The film has gone on to become the 6th biggest hit of Akshay's career but the massive budget it was made on does not justify the box office collection. The diminishing returns reflect both audience fatigue with the slapstick formula and perhaps a lack of freshness in the franchise's content. Welcome to the Jungle: Financial Crisis and Exit Drama Welcome to the Jungle, the third installment in the much-loved Welcome franchise, touted as a big-ticket multi-starrer and headlined by Akshay Kumar, ran into financial issues after the film went on floors. It has been months since the last time the film was shot. Reports surfaced that not only were the payments delayed to actors and their staff , several actors have walked out of the the production claims the film is on track and the film will start once the monsoons are over. The franchise that once delivered a riot of laughs and big box office numbers is currently stuck in limbo — and Kumar can do little until the producers resolve their financial woes. Hera Pheri 3: The Roadblock No One Saw Coming Hera Pheri was also backed by the same producer as the Welcome series. But the issue here was absolutely different. Paresh Rawal, one of the pillars of the series, decided to walk out of the film. He played the legendary Baburao Ganpatrao Apte aka Babu Bhaiya and with his absence , the film's production has come to a standstill. Now will he be convinced to come back to the fold or will he be replaced -only time will tell. Though Akshay claimed in an interview with Pinkvilla that he is hopeful that film will be made. He said "Whatever is happening is happening in front of my fingers crossed. I hope everything goes well." Jolly LLB 3: The Last Hope? Akshay Kumar's only stable and hopeful sequel on the horizon is Jolly LLB 3. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the legal dramedy will bring Kumar with Arshad Warsi . Both played the titular character in 2017 and 2013 respectively. As per reports the film is based on a real life incident revolving around farmers. The Bigger Picture: Akshay and the Sequel Trap Akshay Kumar's current sequel struggle is emblematic of a larger issue plaguing Bollywood — the over-reliance on franchise films without innovating the content. While nostalgia works, audiences today seek novelty even within familiar brands. Sequels need to evolve with audience tastes, not merely ride on past success. In Kumar's case, while the Housefull, Welcome, Hera Pheri, and Kesari franchises had solid foundations, their recent outings either overplayed the same tropes or got mired in off-screen controversies and financial chaos. Kumar currently has Bhoot Bangla with Priyadarshan and Vishu Manchu's Kannappa up for release.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Housefull 5' box office collection Day 16: Akshay Kumar's film mints Rs 170.16 crores
Akshay Kumar 's latest ensemble comedy 'Housefull 5' continues to perform strongly at the box office, with the film collecting ₹170.16 crore (India net) by the end of its 16th day. Housefull 5 Movie Review Directed by Tarun Mansukhani , the film has turned out to be a major commercial entertainer. Strong Opening Week Sets the Tone According to the Sacnilk website, the film had a thunderous start with a ₹24 crore haul on Day 1, which only picked up momentum over the first weekend. With ₹31 crore on Saturday and ₹32.5 crore on Sunday, 'Housefull 5' closed its first weekend at ₹87.5 crore. The weekday performance also held well, bringing the first week total to a solid ₹127.25 crore. Despite the expected drop post-weekend, the film maintained a decent pace throughout the weekdays and remained the top choice for family audiences and comedy lovers. Week 2 Sees Predictable Drop But Holds Decently In Week 2, 'Housefull 5' witnessed a 67.90% dip, collecting ₹40.85 crore over seven days. The second weekend managed to cushion the fall slightly with ₹6 crore on Friday, ₹9.5 crore on Saturday, and ₹11.5 crore on Sunday. However, the weekday numbers slowed down with collections ranging between ₹2.85–4.25 crore. Even in its third week, the film managed ₹2.06 crore on its third Friday (Day 15), with Saturday's numbers yet to be finalized, indicating that the film is still drawing crowds in selected centres. Star Power and Ensemble Cast Drive the Numbers With Akshay Kumar leading a large cast that includes Riteish Deshmukh , Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan , Nana Patekar , Jackie Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, and more, Housefull 5 delivers the trademark slapstick chaos that fans expect from the franchise. ETimes review for the movie reads, 'The film somewhat takes off in the second half but truly sheds its stagnancy only in the climax, a bit too late. This also marks the arrival of Nana Patekar. The senior actor, a master of the genre (control Uday… control of Welcome) shows how it's done. As a dhoti clad interpol chief based in London, rooted in Maharashtra, Patekar is terrific and infuses life into this overloaded, derailed cruise. Sajid Nadiadwala tries to blend comedy with murder mystery through his script and fails at both barring the climax. It's the last 20 minutes along with Nana's entry that truly entertain you. This is what you expected Housefull 5 to be… thrilling, unpredictable and funny. Sajid even manages to conceal the identity of the killer till the end, but the humour aspect falls miserably flat.' Akshay Kumar Hints at Paresh Rawal's Return to Hera Pheri 3: 'Fingers Crossed'
Business Insider
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Verizon review: A stellar option for families and friend groups with four or more lines
In the spectrum of US carrier choices, Verizon sits firmly in the same field as AT&T and T-Mobile as a premium major carrier operating its own network. As such, Verizon offers postpaid plans that come with none of the compromises from even the best cheap cell phone plans and more affordable prepaid plans from mobile-virtual-network-operators (MVNOs), like Mint Mobile, Tello, US Mobile, and even its subsidiary, Visible. To be sure, Verizon also offers prepaid plans, but they're awful value compared to the prepaid MVNO plans, including Visible. Indeed, major carriers are mostly known for their postpaid plans. Still, Verizon may not be for everyone from a value standpoint for those with three or fewer lines. Whether you choose Verizon should also depend on whether its network has coverage for your particular area and needs. After years of personal use, testing, and comparing against major carriers and MVNOs, I can safely say that my experience with Verizon's coverage, plans, and data speeds has been excellent. Specifically, Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan earns the top spot in our best cell phone plan and best unlimited data plans guide. Plan offerings and flexibility Verizon offers three premium-level postpaid plans and three budget-conscious prepaid plans. As things stand, the myPlan postpaid plans all come with a three-year price-lock guarantee (excluding taxes and fees) - not that you need us to tell you, given how much the Pete Davidson ads for it have been running lately. Lines Unlimited Welcome Unlimited Plus Unlimited Ultimate 1 $65 $80 $90 2 $55 per line $70 per line $80 per line 3 $40 per line $55 per line $65 per line 4 $30 per line $45 per line $55 per line Right off the bat, check out Visible instead if you're looking for fewer than four-line plans, or you're considering Verizon's prepaid plans for a lower monthly bill. Visible is a Verizon subsidiary that runs on the major carrier's network and offers significantly more value. Focusing now on Verizon's three postpaid plans, they all offer truly unlimited data and access to all of Verizon's 5G networks, including basic 5G (low and mid-band) and mmWave 5G, which Verizon markets as "5G Ultra Wideband." Unlike T-Mobile, each line can opt for a different plan, so you're not all stuck with the highest cost if only one of you needs the Ultimate version. Just note that Verizon's Unlimited Welcome plan offers 5G Ultra Wideband access at a limited 25 Mbps data speed. This is plenty for regular browsing and can handle streaming nicely, too. But if you're regularly downloading larger files away from WiFi, it'll take much longer than the more expensive plans. Only the mid-range Unlimited Plus and high-end Unlimited Ultimate plans include mobile hotspot and discounts on separate device plans (for smartwatches and tablets). Unlimited Plus comes with 30GB of hotspot data. Unlimited Ultimate has some small print worth noting regarding its inclusion of "unlimited mobile hotspot data," as there's a caveat that speeds are reduced to 6 Mbps once you go past 200GB of hotspot data. That's a large chunk of data, but if you're regularly working away from WiFi and do a lot of video calls, download large files, or want to stream video content, you might hit a cap. 6 Mbps after that is a huge reduction, but still enough for browsing the web, Zoom calls might get a bit choppy though. They all offer discounts for Verizon Home Internet customers (like Fios). With Verizon's current structure, you could pay as little as $35 monthly for Verizon's 300 Mbps Fios service, or $75 monthly for gigabit speeds combined with autopay and paperless billing discounts. They also all include bring-your-own-device (BYOD) discounts with increasing discount amounts for higher-tier plans. Verizon Mobile Plans Verizon's prepaid and postpaid plans include various options for unlimited data with premium features like prioritized high-speed data, extensive mobile hot spot data, and discounts for adjacent services that may justify the cost of a major carrier. Check price at Verizon One of Verizon's major draws is its perks, which include discounts on popular third-party services like the Disney Plus Bundle, a Netflix and Max combo, Apple One, Apple Music Family, and YouTube Premium. These perks will increase your monthly Verizon bill, as you pay for those services through Verizon. However, they reduce the cost of subscribing to those services. You can use these perks to reduce the cost of existing subscriptions, which can be a little confusing to manage via Verizon, as you need to transfer your subscription accounts to your Verizon account, but the option is there. Data speeds Verizon's advertised data speeds range between 11 Mbps, the slowest speed on its LTE network, and 634 Mbps, the highest speed on its 5G Ultra Wideband network. Verizon's basic 5G data speeds are advertised between 35 and 143 Mbps. Suffice to say that data speeds shouldn't be an issue for most people for almost any task, from basic web browsing and basic apps to streaming video and scrolling down media-rich social media apps. Speeds and coverage vary greatly depending on your location, whether at home, work, or in your hometown. We rarely faced any issues with Verizon's data speeds for data-heavy tasks, even with one or two bars of signal. The only time I faced issues was in area pockets known to have poor Verizon coverage, which I get to below. Coverage Verizon is known for its expansive and balanced coverage in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Still, there are areas where other carriers, like T-Mobile or AT&T, have better coverage. Our overall experience with Verizon has been very good, and it covers areas we frequent well. However, we can't possibly tell you if Verizon has good coverage for you. Your best bet is to ask neighbors, friends, family, and even social media what network they use and whether they're happy with it. While Verizon's coverage map can give you an idea, it's not always accurate — even if it shows your area has coverage, it doesn't reflect whether it supports sufficient data speeds. For example, I live in a specific pocket of a sprawling Connecticut mid-country suburb, and I face coverage issues with all carriers, including Verizon (I recognize the irony for a reporter like myself writing carrier reviews). While I can get two bars of Verizon LTE coverage at home, video streaming on data is impossible, and phone calls are just about acceptable. I am strongly reliant on WiFi for internet and WiFi calling at home. Screenshot of Verizon's coverage map. Indeed, I can forget about the lightest data usage at home, inside, or outside. Even sending data-based texts like iMessages or WhatsApp (not SMS texts) requires me to stand on a low wall outside the house, reaching for the sky with my phone, when there's an internet outage. Verizon will sometimes offer a promotion for a free network extender (usually $250). I've used a similar variant to the current model in the past, and while it provides a strong LTE signal for phone calls, texts, and data, it's reliant on an internet connection. That's not helpful to anyone if your ISP is facing an internet outage. The range extender I used in the past also required to be installed near a window so it could get a GPS connection, which isn't ideal depending on the location of your router. Overall, I don't recommend the network extender, especially at $250. On the flipside, Verizon has coverage in a remote area of the Adirondacks region in upstate NY I visit annually, which is one of the reasons I picked Verizon over others. Indeed, I can stream videos on Verizon's networks in this remote region. To be sure, this kind of experience can be had with any carrier, so as I mentioned earlier, it's best to find out whether Verizon works well for people in the areas you often visit. Customer support You can reach Verizon customer support via online chat, text message, at a first-party or authorized physical location, and over the phone. Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider Verizon's customer support is typical for a large company — remote support options usually start with automated or AI assistance, but you can say or type "representative" to get a real human being. It depends on the day, but it can take anywhere from less than a minute to "a while" to reach a human. Verizon offers a call-back feature that lets you hang up and keep your place in line, and a customer service representative will call you back when it's your turn. I've had all my minor issues in recent memory addressed, and it can take five minutes (after reaching a human) to a couple of hours, depending on the issue, day, or representative. Overall, I have been happy with Verizon's support. Should you sign up for Verizon? Anyone living in and visiting places with good Verizon coverage will be happy with its data speeds and overall experience. However, it might not offer the best value for every type of user or account. Verizon offers the best value for customers with four lines or more, making it a great option for families and friend groups. If you have fewer than four lines, you should check out Verizon's subsidiary, Visible. Our guide provides a detailed Visible vs. Verizon comparison. There's only one good reason to opt for a Verizon prepaid plan: the potential to get better support from a human being, whether on the phone, online, or at a physical location. Otherwise, Visible's prepaid plans offer significantly better value. Verizon offers the best perks in the industry with its discounts for popular third-party services. However, don't base your decision on perks alone. Rather, you should primarily pick a carrier based on coverage. Does Verizon have a senior plan? Yes and no. Verizon offers plans for seniors 55 or older who live in Florida only. These plans include unlimited talk, text, and deprioritized data. They also include a mobile hotspot, but at an unusably slow 600 Kbps (too slow to be of any use). In most cases, we'd rather recommend Verizon's Unlimited Welcome for seniors. For a single line, its $62 monthly cost is marginally less than Verizon's base $65 Unlimited Welcome plan. For two lines at $42 each a month, you could argue it's worth going for compared to the Unlimited Welcome's $55 a month per line for two lines. Either way, we'd rather recommend Verizon over Visible or other MVNOs for seniors due to Verizon's superior support options and availability. If T-Mobile is an option, we'd rather recommend the top pick in our best cell phone plans for seniors guide, T-Mobile's Essentials Choice 55 Plan for $45 a month for a single line or $60 total a month for two lines. Which is better, Verizon or AT&T? This is a question of coverage for your specific area and places you visit — I've personally experienced better coverage and data speeds with Verizon in the Northeast, but it might be different for you. If Verizon and AT&T both offer the coverage you need, however, Verizon has an edge for its perks. T-Mobile review to see if they're a better match for you. Verizon Unlimited Plus Plan Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan offers unlimited 'premium data,' so you don't have to worry about data caps or slower speeds when the network is congested. Other carriers also offer this in some of their plans, but Verizon has the best overall coverage, includes excellent perks, and it's not even the carrier's most expensive option. Check price at Verizon
Pink Villa
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Director Ahmed Khan breaks silence on Welcome to the Jungle's financial troubles: 'Coordinating dates of 36 actors is no small task'
Welcome To The Jungle is a massive Bollywood comedy with 36 prominent actors. It has faced multiple delays in its shooting schedule. Director Ahmed Khan recently explained the real reasons behind the hold-up. He also cleared up rumors about the alleged money problems. The film, led by stars like Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor, and others, is the third part of the popular Welcome series. It was set for a Christmas 2024 release but now, even a Christmas 2025 release is unsure. Director Ahmed Khan Gives A Clarification On The Multiple Shoot Delays Of Welcome To The Jungle The delay happened because the team couldn't shoot in Kashmir as planned. They were supposed to film there in June 2025, but unexpected issues forced them to cancel. Ahmed Khan said finding a new location that looks similar to Kashmir is tough, and coordinating the schedules of 36 actors is a huge challenge. He explained that getting everyone together at the same time takes a lot of effort, which is why the shoot has been postponed. The team is now working hard to find a new place to film and reschedule the actors' dates. Ahmed Khan Reveals If Financial Troubles Are A Reason For The Shoot Coming To A Hault There were rumors that the movie was delayed because of financial troubles. Some reports even claimed that actors were leaving the project due to unpaid fees. However, Ahmed Khan denied these claims. He said he doesn't handle the money side of things, as that's the job of producer Firoz Nadiadwala. The Baaghi 3 director made it clear that the delay is only because of the location issue and the difficulty of managing such a large cast, not because of any financial problems. Welcome To The Jungle has already completed around 70 percent of its shooting. The film also features a mix of well-known actors like Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, and others, along with comedians like Johnny Lever and Rajpal Yadav. The excitement is already very high. Welcome To The Jungle Was Announced For A Christmas 2024 Release Ahmed Khan Is Confident; He Asks Fans To Ignore Any Rumours The Welcome series is known for its funny storylines and entertaining characters, and this third installment is expected to deliver the same. Ahmed Khan is confident that the team will overcome the challenges. He said they are fully committed to making the film and are working on a new plan to finish the remaining scenes. The director also asked fans to ignore the rumors and stay excited for the movie. With such a big cast and the success of the earlier Welcome films, there's no doubt that Welcome To The Jungle will take a massive start at the box office. Update On The Shoot Schedule Of Welcome To The Jungle The team is now focused on finding a new filming location and getting the actors' schedules aligned. While no new shooting date has been confirmed, Ahmed Khan assured fans that Welcome To The Jungle is still on track to be a major Bollywood release. Fans of the franchise can look forward to more updates as the team works to complete this star-studded project. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates on Ahmed Khan and Welcome To The Jungle.
India Today
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ahmed Khan cites Pahalgam Attack, Kashmir schedule for Welcome to the Jungle delay
'Welcome to The Jungle' director Ahmed Khan clarified what has been causing a delay in the film's shooting schedule. In an interview recently, the choreographer-turned-director shared that they had to reschedule shooting following the tragic Pahalgam attack in May, and that led to a lot of spoke to Bollywood Hungama and said they were supposed to begin their third shoot scheduled for June, but couldn't return to Kashmir. "We have already shot two lengthy schedules. We were supposed to shoot in Kashmir in June for a third, long schedule. That would have brought us close to completing the film. But then the Pahalgam tragedy happened. The Kashmir schedule had to be cancelled," he 51-year-old mentioned that they are now scouting for a similar location, but scheduling the dates for 36 actors again would take time. "It could be any similar hinterland. We may shoot in Kullu or Himachal Pradesh. But going back to Kashmir is not feasible. We have to plan the schedule from scratch in another location. Coordinating the dates of thirty-six actors again is no small task. We're working on it," he asked to comment on the reports suggesting the shooting of the film was halted due to financial issues, Khan shared that only the producers have the answers to that. "I have no idea about that. All financial matters are handled by the producer, Firoz Nadiadwala," he concluded. advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team Ahmed Khan (@khan_ahmedasas)Earlier, various reports cited financial issues as the reason behind the delay in the shoot. Rumours also suggested actors backing out of the film in the absence of any new structure for the film is slated to hit the screens on December 26 this year. It is the third part in the popular 'Welcome' franchise. The film is headlined by Akshay Kumar, and features an elaborate cast, including Paresh Rawal, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff, Lara Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Johny Lever, and Suniel Shetty, among others. IN THIS STORY#Akshay Kumar
