Sunny Deol fronts new Pan-India action thriller from top industry powerhouses A new action thriller backed by Excel Entertainment has officially gone on floors, marking the first collaboration between producers Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar and filmmaker A. R. Murugadoss with actor Sunny Deol. The yet-to-be-titled action thriller began filming on Friday, 27th February 2026, and the shoot is currently underway. The film also stars Jyotika in a pivotal role alongside Sunny Deol. Riding high on the success of Border 2, Sunny has reportedly dedicated his dates to complete this project during the summer of 2026. The film will be directed by debutant Balaji Ganesh, a Chennai-based filmmaker who has long worked as co-director with A. R. Murugadoss. Having been closely involved in story development, direction, and large-scale productions, Balaji now steps into the spotlight with his feature directorial debut, which is being positioned as a suspense-driven action thriller. The project brings together several industry names behind the scenes as well. The theatrical is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar and A. R. Murugadoss, with Kassim Jagmagia, Vishal Ramchandani, Aditya Joshi, Sunnil Jain and Yusuf Shaikh serving as co-producers. With a powerful production team, an experienced lead actor, and a fresh directorial voice, the film aims to deliver a large-scale action spectacle while introducing a new storytelling perspective to the genre. Also Read: Sunny Deol starrer G... #Sunny_Deol #Sunny #Excel_Entertainment #Farhan_Akhtar #Ritesh_Sidhwani #Deol #Deol_fronts #action_thriller #producers_Ritesh #thriller_backed
BAFTA-winning Boong to return to theatres on March 6 with wider release Boong, backed by Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures, is set to return to theatres on March 6 with a wider release. The makers have also unveiled a new poster to announce the date. The film recently achieved a milestone by becoming the first Indian feature to win a BAFTA, taking home the honour in the Best Children’s & Family Film category at the British Academy Film Awards. The win marked a significant international recognition for the project and placed it among major global contenders in the category. Sharing the new poster on social media, the makers captioned it: “A journey of innocence, love and resilience. Witness India's first BAFTA Award winning film, in cinemas on 6th March. ”Written and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, the film follows a young boy who sets out to surprise his mother with what he believes would be the most meaningful gift — bringing his absent father back home. The search gradually reshapes his understanding of family and expectations, leading to an unexpected emotional outcome. After earning international attention and securing the BAFTA honour, Boong now prepares for its theatrical return, with the wider release scheduled across cinemas on March 6. Also Read: BAFTA 2026: Priyanka Chopra, Vicky Kaushal, Kareena Kapoor Khan applaud Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and team of Boong for historic win... #March #Excel_Entertainment #Chalkboard_Entertainment #Suitable_Pictures #Entertainment #BAFTA-winning_Boong #theatres #wider_release #Chalkboard #Pictures
Producers Guild of India advises legal route in Don 3 dispute between Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment: Report The Producers Guild of India has advised the makers of Don 3 and actor Ranveer Singh to pursue a legal route to resolve their ongoing compensation dispute. The recommendation comes after efforts to mediate the matter reportedly failed to produce a resolution. According to a report by Variety India, the Guild stated that its role in such disputes is limited. With both parties maintaining their respective positions, members of the body suggested that the issue be handled by legal teams through appropriate channels. The development marks a formal step back from informal mediation, indicating that the standoff may now move towards litigation. The dispute arose after Ranveer exited Don 3, which is being produced by Excel Entertainment and helmed by Farhan Akhtar. Reports suggest that the production house is seeking Rs 40 crore in compensation, citing losses incurred during the film’s pre-production and development stages. Ranveer, however, is said to have disputed the extent of financial liability attributed to him. The report indicates that discussions between the actor and the producers continued until shortly before the release of Dhurandhar, after which he decided to step away from the project. While he allegedly offered to pay a certain amount as a gesture of goodwill, the offer was withdrawn when the compensation figure presented by Excel was deemed exces... #India #Singh #Guild #Ranveer_Singh #Producers_Guild #Excel_Entertainment #Variety_India #legal_route #India_advises #advises_legal
Ritesh Sidhwani to attend BAFTA 2026 as Excel Entertainment’s Boong earns nomination Excel Entertainment co-founder Ritesh Sidhwani is set to be part of the guest list at the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026, scheduled to take place in London on February 22. The BAFTAs, hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, remain one of the biggest nights in world cinema, drawing top names from across industries. This year, Sidhwani will reportedly be attending alongside a star-studded mix of Indian and international faces. The guest line-up is said to include Alia Bhatt and Riz Ahmed, while Hollywood heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan and Cillian Murphy are also expected to be present. Other names mentioned among the attendees include Marc Robinson, Adam Willis, Lauren Evans, Lee Groombridge, Nicolas Gonda and Charlie Noble. Sidhwani’s presence at the ceremony comes at a time when Indian production houses are increasingly gaining recognition on global platforms. For Excel Entertainment, the BAFTA buzz is even more relevant this year as the banner’s film Boong has reportedly secured a nomination in the Best Children’s and Family Film category. With the BAFTAs often serving as a key stage for international networking and industry spotlight, Sidhwani’s attendance is being viewed as another indicator of Excel Entertainment’s expanding global ambitions. The nomination for Boong further adds weight to the moment, signalling how Indian-backed projects a... #Film #Excel_Entertainment #Ritesh_Sidhwani #Film_Awards #co-founder_Ritesh #Ritesh #Television_Arts #Entertainment_co-founder #British_Academy #BAFTA_Film
Hrithik Roshan BREAKS SILENCE on being approached for Don 3 after Ranveer Singh’s fallout with Excel Entertainment. Amid mounting speculation surrounding the casting turmoil of Don 3, actor Hrithik Roshan has issued a clarification, stating that he was never approached for the film at any stage. Addressing the rumours directly, Hrithik said, “What started off as just a rumour has now taken on an entire life of its own, and it's important to set the record straight. I would like to categorically clarify that I was never approached for Don 3 at any given time. Requesting media to steer clear of any such unverified reports. ”His statement comes in the wake of ongoing reports about behind-the-scenes developments involving the much-anticipated third instalment of the Don franchise. Background: Don 3 Announcement and Exit In August 2023, Excel Entertainment officially announced Don 3, unveiling Ranveer Singh as the new face of the iconic franchise. A stylised announcement video generated considerable buzz, with the action spectacle slated to go on floors in 2026. However, recent developments indicated that Ranveer Singh had exited the project, triggering intense discussion within industry circles. Readers may recall that last week, Bollywood Hungama reported that the situation escalated to the extent that two closed-door meetings were held under the aegis of the Producers Guild of India, involving key stakeholders. Allegations and Counter-Narratives At the second meeting, Ran... #Hrithik_Roshan #Hrithik #BREAKS_SILENCE #Roshan #Ranveer_Singh #Excel_Entertainment #Don #Roshan_BREAKS #actor_Hrithik #BREAKS
SCOOP: Ranveer Singh cites Baiju Bawra 'no compensation' experience in Don 3 showdown; brings up Shah Rukh Khan angle over Rs. 40 cr demand Yesterday, Bollywood Hungama reported on what happened at the meeting between Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment and Ranveer Singh after the latter walked out of Don 3. Both parties blamed each other for various reasons. Bollywood Hungama had earlier reported the key developments from the meeting in detail. Now, a reliable source has revealed another important point that was discussed. The source told Bollywood Hungama, “The bone of contention was that Ranveer Singh should pay Rs. 40 crores to Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani for the losses incurred in the pre-production of the film. Ranveer argued that he was not liable to pay as he had not taken a single paisa from the producers. Hence, paying back such a hefty amount was out of the question. ”The source continued, “Ranveer Singh also pointed out that he was to work in a film called Baiju Bawra, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He prepped for the challenging role for almost a year and turned down several films as a result. Ultimately, Baiju Bawra was shelved and Sanjay Leela Bhansali then began working on Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. Ranveer revealed that he was not compensated for the year he spent preparing for the role. He further argued that it’s the nature of the business – at times, films don’t get made or... #Singh_cites #Rukh_Khan #Shah_Rukh #Bollywood_Hungama #Ranveer_Singh #Excel_Entertainment #Khan_angle #Baiju_Bawra #Farhan_Akhtar #Ritesh_Sidhwani
Inside the Explosive Don 3 meet: What really went down behind closed doors as Ritesh Sidhwani-Farhan Akhtar locked horns with Ranveer over Rs. 40 crores In August 2023, Don 3 was officially announced by Excel Entertainment, with Ranveer Singh unveiled as the new face of the iconic franchise. A slick announcement video followed, generating massive excitement. The action spectacle was slated to go on floors in 2026. However, some time ago, it came to light that Ranveer Singh had exited the project, triggering intense chatter within industry circles. Bollywood Hungama has now learned that the fallout has led to two closed-door meetings held under the aegis of the Producers Guild of India (GUILD), involving some of the most powerful names in the business. The first meeting took place nearly a week before the latest developments and was conducted under the banner of the Producers Guild of India. Senior producers, including Sajid Nadiadwala, were present. This initial discussion focused on understanding the circumstances surrounding Ranveer Singh’s exit and the broader implications for producers when a film collapses at an advanced pre-production stage. The matter escalated further on Saturday, February 7, when a second, more detailed meeting was held at Lands End, again under the aegis of the Producers Guild of India. Present at this meeting were Aamir Khan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Ramesh Taurani and Kumar Taurani, among other key industry stakeholders. Farhan Akhtar and Rites... #closed_doors #Explosive_Don #Ritesh_Sidhwani-Farhan #Ranveer_Singh #Producers_Guild #locked_horns #Excel_Entertainment #Ranveer #Producers #Don
