Deepika Padukone passes on The White Lotus role over mandatory audition process Actor Deepika Padukone is reportedly no longer being considered for a role in the acclaimed HBO series The White Lotus, after choosing not to participate in the audition process required by the makers. The development follows weeks of speculation suggesting that the actor might appear in the upcoming season of the show created by Mike White. According to a report by Variety India, an industry source indicated that the casting process became the key hurdle. The source was quoted as saying, “Auditions are a mandatory part of the casting process for The White Lotus. The makers were very keen on auditioning actors before signing them on. Deepika was not keen on auditioning and that was the reason why the White Lotus opportunity had to be passed. ”This is not the first time Padukone’s name has been linked to the series. She was reportedly approached earlier during the development of Season 3 as well, but the collaboration did not materialise at the time due to her pregnancy. Had the casting worked out, the project would have marked another international outing for the actor after her Hollywood debut in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, where she starred opposite Vin Diesel. While the film introduced her to a global audience, Padukone has largely focused on Indian productions since then. Neither Padukone nor the makers of the series have publicly commented on the reported development. As of now, there ... #HBO_series #Deepika_Padukone #White_Lotus #White #acclaimed_HBO #Lotus_role #Mike_White #audition_process #Padukone_passes #Lotus
Champions League draw: UCL 2025-26 round of 16 teams, format, schedule, live streaming infoAll you need to know about the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 round of 16 draw ceremony to be held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. All you need to know about the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 round of 16 draw ceremony to be held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. #Champions_League #League_2025-26 #UCL_2025-26 #UEFA_Champions #live_streaming #European_Football #2025-26_round #draw_ceremony #streaming_infoAll #League_draw
Bitcoin slides Friday as risk-off mood persists, but majors hold weekly gains #Bitcoin_slides #slides_Friday #mood_persists #weekly_gains #risk-off_mood
EXCLUSIVE: Malamaal Weekly 2 in the works; Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav approached After the romantic genre was revived in 2025 by Saiyaara, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat and Tere Ishk Mein, comic capers are expected to rule the roost in 2026 and 2027. Some exciting films will be released in the next two years like Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, Welcome To The Jungle, Dhamaal 4, Bhagam Bhag 2, Hera Pheri 3, Golmaal 5 etc. And now, Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that another much-loved title is set to return – Malamaal Weekly 2. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Talks have begun for Malamaal Weekly 2. The team, working on the film, has hit upon a great idea that is apt as the second part of the series. It is not a direct sequel. The characters and setting this time would be different, but just like the first part, it’ll be about a group of greedy villagers who go to insane lengths to get hold of a huge amount of money. ”The source continued, “Paresh Rawal has given his nod but is yet to sign the dotted line. Meanwhile, talks are going on with Riteish Deshmukh and Rajpal Yadav. ”Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav were also part of Malamaal Weekly, which was released 20 years ago in March 2006. The film revolved around the only educated man in a village who discovers that one of the villagers has won a lottery prize of Rs. 1 crore. But the winner has died. What follows is complete chaos as the villagers hatch bizarre schemes to hide th... #Rajpal_Yadav #Paresh_Rawal #Bollywood_Hungama #Ishk_Mein #Tere_Ishk #Malamaal_Weekly #comic_capers #Riteish_Deshmukh #romantic_genre #Weekly
Kerala HC Division Bench hears appeal against stay on The Kerala Story 2; verdict reserved The release of The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond hit a legal hurdle on Thursday after the Kerala High Court convened a special evening sitting to hear an urgent appeal filed by the film’s producers. The appeal was moved after a single-judge bench earlier in the day stayed the film’s release for 15 days and directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to examine complaints raised against it. What triggered the appeal At around 2. 30 pm, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas passed an interim order restraining the release of the film while asking the CBFC to consider revision petitions filed by the objectors within two weeks. The judge observed that there appeared to be a prima facie lack of application of mind by the CBFC while granting certification. The film, however, is slated for release on Friday, including in international markets, prompting the producers to seek immediate relief. Division Bench questions process A Division Bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan assembled at 7. 30 pm and heard arguments for nearly two hours before reserving its verdict. During the hearing, the Bench raised concerns about whether the single judge had the jurisdiction to hear the matter in the first place. “Order passed by any bench outside jurisdiction will be automatically nullified,” the Bench remarked. Justice Dharmadhikari also observed that the proceedings appeared to have... #Kerala #High_Court #Kerala_Story #Kerala_High #Story #Court_convened #Division_Bench #Bench #legal_hurdle #special_evening
How China’s universities joined the global elite Investment by Beijing has transformed the country’s institutions despite lingering questions about research quality and intellectual freedom #elite_Investment #intellectual_freedom #universities_joined #global_elite #lingering_questions #research_quality
Analysis: Block’s retreat to 2019 scale could be a hint of deeper shifts in payments economics #Block #Analysis #payments_economics #deeper_shifts #scale
Centre appoints SC judge as new head of panel probing Manipur ethnic violence #probing_Manipur #Manipur_ethnic #Centre_appoints #ethnic_violence #panel_probing
Sai Pallavi to replace Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2 after latter opts out over fee dispute Sai Pallavi is clearly on a roll. After reportedly locking in the coveted role of Sita in Ramayana, she is also set to star opposite Junaid Khan in Ek Din. And there’s more. Sai Pallavi has now been finalised to replace Deepika Padukone in Nag Ashwin’s much-anticipated sequel, Kalki 2. A member of the Kalki 2 cast confirmed the development, saying, “It is Sai (replacing Deepika). There was never any question of scrapping the role after Deepika’s exit. ”Deepika’s departure from the sequel reportedly followed a fallout with the team. According to sources, the actress sought a substantial hike in her remuneration for the sequel, along with specific working-hour conditions to accommodate her responsibilities as a new mother. An insider revealed, “Deepika wanted almost 35 percent more for the sequel than what she received for the first film. It became difficult to align on terms. She eventually exited, and now Sai Pallavi has stepped in. ”While there has been no official statement from the makers, the casting shift is expected to significantly alter the dynamic of the sequel, which remains one of the most awaited big-ticket projects in the pipeline. Also Read: Is Sai Pallavi replacing Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2898 AD sequel?... #Sai_Pallavi #Sai #Pallavi #Junaid_Khan #Deepika_Padukone #Deepika #replace_Deepika #fee_dispute #dispute_Sai #Kalki
Famed for its 100+ hour anime tactics RPGs, the Disgaea series is getting an action-centric spin-off Kyouran Makaism released in Japan last month, but will come to the west as Disgaea Mayhem. #Disgaea_Mayhem #Kyouran_Makaism #spin-off_Kyouran #Makaism_released #hour_anime #tactics_RPGs
Rinku Singh’s father passes away after battling cancerRinku Singh’s father was batting stage four cancer and passed way on Friday morning at a private hospital in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Rinku Singh’s father was batting stage four cancer and passed way on Friday morning at a private hospital in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. #Singh #Uttar_Pradesh #Greater_Noida #private_hospital #Rinku_Singh #Friday_morning #cancerRinku_Singh #batting_stage #battling_cancerRinku #Noida
