Yash Chopra Foundation launches YCF Scholarship 2026, offers up to Rs. 5 lakhs for children of Hindi film industry workers The Yash Chopra Foundation (YCF), the philanthropic arm of Yash Raj Films, has announced the second edition of its YCF Scholarship Program, aimed at supporting the higher education aspirations of children from Hindi film industry families. Launched for the academic year 2026–27, the initiative will provide financial assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per student. The scholarship is open to children of registered Hindi film industry workers and YCF Saathi members, many of whom form an integral part of the industry’s ecosystem. The selection process will be based on a combination of academic merit and financial need. The program covers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses across recognised institutions in India. While it continues to support creative and industry-aligned disciplines such as Film Studies, Media & Communication, Animation & Visual Effects, Cinematography, Direction, and Visual Arts, this year’s edition expands its scope to include postgraduate studies in Engineering, Medical & Paramedical Sciences, Business & Management, Law, and Information Technology. The scholarship will cover tuition fees for eligible courses at NAAC-accredited, AICTE-approved, or government-recognised institutions, with the aim of reducing financial barriers to higher education. Speaking about the initiative, Akshaye Widhani, CEO of YRF, said, “As... #Yash_Raj #film_industry #Yash #Hindi_film #Chopra_Foundation #Yash_Chopra #YCF_Scholarship #Foundation_launches #launches_YCF #YCF
Aditya Dhar vs Santosh Kumar Row: Legal action looms over Dhurandhar 2 script theft allegations A fresh controversy has erupted in the film industry, with filmmaker Aditya Dhar and writer Santosh Kumar at the centre of a growing legal dispute over alleged script theft related to Dhurandhar 2 aka Dhurandhar The Revenge. The matter has now taken a serious turn, with both sides preparing for legal action while publicly presenting contrasting claims. According to a source quoted by Hindustan Times, Aditya Dhar has already responded through his legal team and is considering further steps. “Aditya Dhar has already issued a notice to Santosh Kumar through his legal team, refuting the allegations and requesting him to refrain from making false claims. Despite the aforesaid, since Santosh continues to make baseless allegations, Aditya is in the process of initiating appropriate legal proceedings against him. "However, Santosh Kumar has strongly refuted the claim that a formal legal notice was issued. He maintained that the communication received was merely a response to his email and alleged that he was being pressured to stay silent. “It is not a notice, it is just a reply on my mail. They were harassing me, that I should not complain and that I am defaming them for my publicity. I told them I am going legal, so don’t send me messages, come to court," Santosh Kumar reportedly told the media. The writer further claimed that he attempted to reach out to the filmmaker and associa... #Santosh #Aditya_Dhar #Dhurandhar #film_industry #Dhar #Santosh_Kumar #script_theft #aka_Dhurandhar #Kumar_Row #theft_related
SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi to release in 2 parts The upheavals post-Dhurandhar continue to be felt in the Telugu film industry. And not all of them are deleterious. Rajamouli’s Varanasi, which is expected to be the most expensive Indian film ever made, has decided to go for a two-part format. The purported epic has a sprawling format. “3 hours-plus would not be enough for Varanasi. They are looking at extending it into a two-part format. This format has worked wonderfully for Dhurandhar. Rajamouli and his team feel this extended format would afford them the liberty to tell a more expanded story without looking anxiously at the clock,” a source close to the development reveals. This, however, is not going to be sequel. Just one film split into two. Also Read: SS Rajamouli recreates Varanasi in Hyderabad for Mahesh Babu’s next epic film, see pics... #format #Telugu #Varanasi #Telugu_film #film #film_industry #Rajamouli #upheavals_post-Dhurandhar #post-Dhurandhar_continue #parts
Ram Gopal Varma calls Seedance 2.0 the “asteroid” set to brutally murder film industry’s “arrogance”: “This is actually the liberation of cinema” Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has stirred a fresh debate on the future of cinema, calling AI tool “Seedance 2. 0” the “murderer of the film industry” while also describing it as a force of liberation. In a post shared on February 25, 2026, Varma argued that advanced AI filmmaking tools could dismantle the traditional structure of the movie business. Referring to blockbuster filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, he wrote that directors like Rajamouli command massive budgets due to their proven creative vision and track record. However, he questioned how many equally talented storytellers across India never get access to funding or industry networks. According to Varma, tools like Seedance 2. 0 have “kicked the gate down and set it on fire,” enabling creators from small towns to generate large-scale, cinematic visuals using descriptive prompts alone. He described it as “true democracy in motion,” suggesting that AI shifts power away from a select few and into the hands of the masses. Varma went further, predicting a structural collapse of the current filmmaking ecosystem. “A director’s primary job is to take a scene on paper and transfer it onto screen,” he wrote, listing the vast crew involved in the process. Advanced AI, he claimed, could eliminate the need for actors, technicians, production teams and even large budgets. “No more star issu... #film_industry #Ram #Ram_Gopal #Gopal_Varma #Filmmaker_Ram #Gopal #brutally_murder #fresh_debate #calls_Seedance #murder_film
Anurag Kashyap criticizes Kerala Story, calls Vipul Shah a greedy man While many powerful individual voices in the film fraternity have been denouncing the blatant Islamophobic tenor of The Kerala Story, the intrepid Anurag Kashyap is the first prominent personality from the Hindi film industry to speak up. Says Kashyap, “The Kerala Story is bullsh*t propaganda. ” Commenting on the viral beef scene from the trailer of The Kerala Story 2 where a woman is being shown being force-fed beef Kashyap added, “Aisa beef kaun khilata hai? Aisa koi khichdi bhi nahi khilata hai (Who feeds someone beef like this? No one is fed even khichdi in this manner). ”Continuing further while lashing out at the sequence and talking about the filmmaker, Kashyap adds, “They just want to make money and please everybody; divide people. The filmmaker is a greedy man. He just wants to make money. ”Also Read: Anurag Kashyap reveals why Vijay Sethupathi and Javed Akhtar have been mentioned under ‘Special Thanks’ in Kennedy... #Anurag_Kashyap #film_industry #Hindi_film #Kerala_Story #Vipul_Shah #calls_Vipul #blatant_Islamophobic #Islamophobic_tenor #criticizes_Kerala #film_fraternity
FWICE steps in for Rajpal Yadav, appeals to film industry for financial support amid legal crisis The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has formally extended its support to actor Rajpal Yadav, who is currently facing serious financial and legal troubles. Following reports of the actor being sent to Tihar jail after failing to meet court-mandated repayment obligations in a cheque bounce case, the apex body has appealed to members of the film industry to come forward and assist him. In an official statement, FWICE urged filmmakers, artists and well-wishers to offer monetary help to Yadav, stressing the need for collective support during what it described as a difficult phase in the actor’s life. The organisation clarified that contributions could either be made directly to Rajpal Yadav or routed through FWICE, assuring transparency in the process. “Members and well-wishers willing to offer monetary assistance may contribute directly to Shri Rajpal Yadav or route their support through FWICE. The Federation assures complete transparency, and any funds received will be responsibly consolidated and handed over to assist him in settling his dues at the earliest,” the statement read. Several personalities from the film industry, including Sonu Sood, Gurmeet Choudhary, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, have already expressed their support for the actor, who is widely respected for his work and distinctive comic timing. The legal issues trace back to a financial decision... #Yadav #Rajpal_Yadav #Rajpal #Cine_Employees #Western_India #India_Cine #film_industry #formally_extended #FWICE_steps #FWICE
