Lachmi Deb Roy

Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' continued to dominate the Indian box office, driving Hollywood's strong run, while Ajay Devgn-led ‘Dhamaal 4' proved its staying power with a resilient second-week performance despite the blockbuster competition.

Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan opens in cinemas today amid record-breaking advance bookings, with the superstar's political swansong already emerging as one of Indian cinema's biggest box-office events. Driven by unprecedented pre-sales and months of headline-grabbing controversy, the film enters theatres under extraordinary scrutiny, as industry watchers closely track whether the feverish buzz translates into a historic opening-day haul.

The rollout of Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' from India, including the director's high-profile visit to Mumbai, underscores Hollywood's growing focus on India as studios rethink their dependence on China. The shift reflects a broader strategy to tap one of the world's fastest-growing theatrical markets.

Christopher Nolan didn't just cast Tom Holland in The Odyssey—he quietly reshaped the destiny of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. By handing Holland one of the most coveted roles of his career, Nolan inadvertently bought Marvel the one thing blockbuster filmmaking rarely enjoys: time. That unexpected breathing room allowed Brand New Day to evolve into a more ambitious, creatively confident film.

The real battle isn't for box-office supremacy, but for cultural legitimacy. If recent epics proved that spectacle alone cannot sustain mythology, Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana remains the enduring reminder that reverence, not scale, is what gives an epic its staying power.

India's handloom heritage is transforming into a global fashion business, embracing craftsmanship, sustainability, and authenticity.

How 'male repeller' outfits became fashion's hottest business trend. Once a niche aesthetic, anti-fit has become fashion's newest growth story. By rejecting the male gaze in favour of comfort and individuality, it is reshaping aspiration and proving that clothes don't have to seduce to sell.

Nostalgia is already pricing itself into the box office. 'Awarapan 2' is running 81% ahead of 'Batwara 1947' in advance bookings, giving Emraan Hashmi's sequel an early commercial lead before the Independence Day weekend. Nearly two decades on, the original's cult equity is proving to be a potent box-office asset.

For decades, India's heritage weaves were culturally priceless but commercially undervalued. Now, designers such as Amit Aggarwal and Richa Maheshwari are recalibrating the proposition, moving heritage textiles beyond occasion wear and into contemporary wardrobes. The shift is turning craftsmanship, provenance and regional identity into luxury assets and offering consumers a more considered way to spend on fashion by investing in pieces with longevity, traceability and cultural value rather than simply buying into seasonal trends.

She's built a life of freedom and abundance, but can she also share it with someone?