Latest 10 Film Industry News Today Dated August 20, 2025
1. Soubin Shahir Shines as the Highlight Despite Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ Success
The film ‘Coolie’ starring Rajinikanth as the hero and Nagarjuna as the villain is performing exceptionally well at the box office. However, what stands out is that audiences are talking about Soubin Shahir after watching the movie. Although Upendra and Aamir Khan are in the film, it is Soubin Shahir’s role that viewers remember most. Soubin is already a star in Malayalam cinema, but now his range has completely changed, say many.
Usually, Malayalam movies don’t have dance numbers, especially for artists like Soubin, so this opportunity that came with ‘Coolie’ was a blessing, which he fully utilized. His new perspective shocked the Malayalam industry. Now newspapers and websites across North and South India are writing about him, and TV channels are dedicating special programs to Soubin.
Many are surprised by how quickly his popularity has grown in other languages. Some praise his performance, while others say Rajinikanth’s acceptance of highlighting Soubin’s role is remarkable. While some heroes try to avoid other characters overshadowing them by controlling edits, Rajinikanth gave full freedom for Soubin’s role to reach the audience as designed by Lokesh, showing his greatness, say his fans.
2. Rukmini Vasanth Gaining Tremendous Popularity in Kannada and Tamil Cinemas
Rukmini Vasanth is a much-talked-about name in the Kannada industry now. With a simple appearance but a captivating personality, this Bengaluru-based actress is a youth sensation. She currently has two to three Kannada films in hand, including ‘Kantara – Chapter 1,’ where she plays the role of Kanakavathi opposite Rishabh Shetty. The movie is set to release worldwide on October 2.
The character played by Rukmini in ‘Kantara – Chapter 1’ is said to be unforgettable. Expectations are huge, and many predict a box office tsunami. If this movie succeeds, Rukmini’s prospects will rise, and she may become busier across other languages too.
In this context, Rukmini has also done a Tamil movie, ‘Madarasi,’ marking her second Tamil film. She stars opposite Shiv Karthikeyan in a movie directed by Murugas. ‘Madarasi’ will release on September 5, and expectations are high. With two major films releasing just a month apart, if both hit, it will be tough to get Rukmini’s dates for future projects.
3. Leaked Photo from Prabhas-Hanu Raghavapudi Film Set Triggers Warning
The highly anticipated Pan-India film with star Prabhas and director Hanu Raghavapudi has fallen victim to leaks. A photo from the sets went viral, prompting the production house, Mythri Movie Makers, to issue a strong warning. They stated that sharing such leaked images would be regarded as a cybercrime and legal action would follow.
Mythri Movie Makers clarified on their official Twitter account: “Many people are sharing a set photo. While we work hard to give audiences a great experience, such leaks damage our team’s morale. Anyone sharing these photos will have their social media accounts reported and blocked, and legal proceedings will be initiated.”
The film, set in the 1940s historical backdrop, is currently promoted under the working title ‘PrabhasHanu.’ Imanvi is cast opposite Prabhas, with Bollywood veterans Mithun Chakraborty and Jayapradha in key roles. Shooting is progressing fast. Vishal Chandrasekhar is the music director, Sudeep Chatterjee handles cinematography, and Krishnakant writes the screenplay. The leak controversy is now a hot topic amid high expectations.
4. Bandhavi Sridhar’s Stunning Transformation from Horror Actress to Glamorous Star
The movie ‘Masooda,’ released in 2022, left a lasting impression on viewers due to its content and box office performance. Bandhavi Sridhar’s terrifying role as a ghost left audiences both scared and impressed. People believed she had the potential to become a great artist.
Now, Bandhavi has slimmed down and appears more elegant, surprising the youth. The very girl who scared everyone in the movie is now dazzling and turning heads, with numerous photo shoots posted on social media showing her in sarees and modern dresses.
Her recent photos have received great responses, with many commenting on her trendy look and beauty. Fans are encouraging her to enter as a heroine, and rumors suggest she might soon make her heroine debut. Reports say two projects are in discussion, and the timing for her lead debut is not far off.
5. Sitara Ghattamaneni Warns Fans Against Fake Social Media Accounts
Sitara Ghattamaneni, superstar Mahesh Babu’s daughter, has reacted strongly to the fake social media accounts operating in her name. She has urged her well-wishers, friends, and fans to be cautious. Sitara clarified she is officially active only on Instagram and does not have verified accounts on any other social media.
In a post on her official Instagram, Sitara wrote, “Many fake and spam accounts have been created using my name. To my friends, family, and fans, I want to say that Instagram is the only platform where I am active officially. Please be careful with other accounts in my name.”
Sitara is quite active on Instagram, sharing family moments, personal updates, and brand collaborations. She was introduced to the silver screen through the song ‘Penni’ from her father’s movie ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata.’
6. Neha Sharma Set to Direct a Bollywood Period Drama Produced by Ajay Devgn
Neha Sharma, who debuted in Telugu cinema with ‘Chirutha’ alongside Ram Charan, is now preparing to turn director in Bollywood. She is shifting gears from acting to direction, and the news has generated excitement in Bollywood circles.
Reports say her directorial debut is a period drama set in 1945, produced by renowned actor Ajay Devgn. The film features young actors Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mohit in pivotal roles. An official announcement is expected soon.
After her Telugu debut and other successful films in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Punjabi, Neha’s move to direction marks an important career milestone.
7. Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Son Mokshagna’s Debut: Nara Rohit Shares Details
Fans eagerly await the cinematic debut of Mokshagna, son of Nandamuri Balakrishna. After Mokshagna’s new look went viral on social media, speculation increased. Actor Nara Rohit provided clarity, saying Mokshagna is currently searching for a good script and is very enthusiastic about entering the industry.
In a recent interview, Nara Rohit said, “I recently spoke to Mokshagna. He’s looking for a good feel-good love story. If he finds one, his debut might happen by the end of this year or early next year. He changed his look completely for films, very different from his earlier appearance.”
Rohit also mentioned a past multi-starrer project with Balakrishna that was shelved due to scheduling conflicts and elections but expressed willingness to act with him in the future.
Nara Rohit’s own movie ‘Sundarakanda’ is releasing on August 27, directed by Venkatesh Nimmala.
8. Telangana Government Intervenes in Hyderabad Film Workers’ Strike
The ongoing film workers’ strike in Hyderabad, lasting 17 days, has prompted government involvement. The strike halted shoots not only for Telugu films but also for movies in other languages, raising concerns. The Chief Minister ordered senior officials to resolve the issue immediately.
Officials believe the strike threatens Hyderabad’s status as India’s premier film hub and negatively impacts the state’s film policy. Following discussions with Film Chamber representatives, further meetings with federation leaders and police are scheduled today.
9. Jr NTR’s Japanese Fan Flies to India Just to Watch ‘War-2’
Young Tiger Jr NTR’s massive fan base abroad, especially in Japan, is well known. Numerous stories show how much Japanese fans await his films. Recently, a young Japanese fan named Chriso traveled all the way from Japan to India just to watch Jr NTR’s movie ‘War-2.’
Chriso attracted attention at Delhi airport wearing a special T-shirt with Jr NTR’s photo. She told people she is a huge Jr NTR fan and came to India solely to watch ‘War-2.’ This is not her first visit for his movies, and she promised to return for future releases.
Movies like ‘RRR’ and ‘Devara’ helped Jr NTR build a huge fan base in Japan, with memorable incidents such as a fan learning Telugu to express her love for his films. This new event affirms his global stardom.
Directed by Ayaan Mukherjee, ‘War-2’ also stars Hrithik Roshan but received mixed reviews at the box office.
10. Ram Gopal Varma Criticizes Street Dog Relocation Plans
Famous director Ram Gopal Varma strongly criticized the approach towards street dogs. He questioned the love shown by dog lovers, suggesting if they truly cared, they should keep dogs in their home guest rooms instead. Varma called relocating street dogs to other areas a mere illusion that does not solve the problem.
On his X (Twitter) account, RGV posted, “Everyone chants ‘relocate the dogs’ as if it’s a mantra, but relocation merely moves the problem to another street. Emptying dogs from one area leads to new or more dangerous dogs occupying it in days.”
He noted India has about seven crore street dogs and asked where they would be sent. He called relocation a band-aid solution by clueless people unable to make tough decisions.
Criticizing dog lovers, he said, “They pamper foreign dogs in air-conditioned rooms but ignore the real threat faced by poor people on the streets. They should open their guest rooms for street dogs instead of giving relocation advice to the government.”
His earlier sharp comments about God’s creation excluding certain creatures were also widely noted.
