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Paresh Rawal celebrates his 70th birthday today

You must have been living under a rock if you have not heard about the recent drama between Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar over the much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3. After Paresh Rawal revealed that he will no longer be part of the third instalment of the iconic comedy franchise, Akshay Kumar sued the veteran actor for ₹25 crore.

But today, as the legendary actor turns 70, let us set the drama aside and celebrate his incredible contribution to Indian cinema. Here is a special weekend watchlist dedicated to Paresh Rawal:

1. OMG: Oh My God! – JioHotstar

2. Hera Pheri series – Prime Video

3. Table No. 21 – Zee5

4. Andaz Apna Apna – Prime Video

5. Chachi 420 – YouTube.

6. Chup Chup Ke – Prime Video

7. Golmaal: Fun Unlimited – Prime Video

7. URI: The Surgical Strike – Zee5

8. Hera Pheri series – Prime Video

9. Nayak: The Real Hero – Prime Video

10. Welcome – Prime Video

The three sequels of the Housefull franchise were box office hits

Fifteen years, one franchise and Akshay Kumar. Going by a popular meme on social media, the Khans have seasons; Akshay Kumar is the man for all seasons and reasons (probably). At a time when single screens are on a decline along with streamers posing tough competition to multiplexes, Hindi film producers think 100 times before releasing a film in theatres. Despite his string of flops, except the recent Sky Force, Akshay Kumar continues to be a crowdpuller who promises a housefull and paisa-vasool theatrical experience.

The reality might be different; but there is still assurance. 

So, here comes Akshay Kumar alongside the biggest cast of recent times with Housefull 5 to light up your summer vacation. 

The trailer of the film was released on May 27. The film will release in theatres on June 6. The fifth chapter in the Housefull franchise was made on a reported budget of Rs 375 crore. Housefull franchise is marked by crass humour, slapstick comedy, cameos by yesteryear’s film icons and, obviously, a whole lot of the Akshay Kumar factor. 

Given the gigantic budget of Housefull 5, let’s have a quick recap of the previous installments – What was the budget they were alloted? How did they perform at the box office? What’s the box office prediction for Housefull 5?

Box Office On A Roll

The first Housefull film was released on April 30, 2010. Directed by Sajid Khan, the film stars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone and Jiah Khan in the lead roles. It was mounted on what could now be called a meagre budget of Rs 30 crore and minted Rs 124.50 crore. Along with Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh was also the face of the franchise, while the rest of the cast kept changing with each sequel. 

Two years later, the second film of the franchise was released with a bigger star cast. Housefull 2 (2012) was also directed by Sajid Khan. Besides Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh, the sequel stars Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Asin, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, Zareen Khan, Chunky Panday, Shazahn Padamsee and Boman Irani.

As the star value rose, so did the budget. Housefull 2 was made on a reported budget of Rs 60-64 crore and it earned Rs 186 crore.

it took four years for the third installment to arrive in theatres. Housefull 3 (2016) was directed by Sajid-Farhad. Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Lisa Haydon, Chunky Panday and Jackie Shroff led the star cast. 

The budget of the film, this time, crossed Rs 100 crore. It didn’t go to waste. The film collected Rs 195 crore at the ticket window. 

Then, Housefull 4 came in 2019. It was directed by Sajid Khan. Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde and Kriti Kharbanda round out the cast. Built on a budget of Rs 150 crore, the film raised over Rs 280 crore in box office collections. 

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Housefull 5 was made on a whopping budget of more than Rs 300 crore. Call it the Akshay Kumar mania or the charm of nonsense comedy that’s synonymous with the Housefull franchise, the new movie is expected to woo the audiences in theatres. 

Prediction For Housefull 5 Box Office 

Trade analyst Komal Nahta has pinned his hopes on the film’s box office figures. “The trailer looks good. The purpose of a comedy is to put a smile on people’s faces. The trailer made me laugh and smile,” he tells NDTV. 

The cast of Housefull 5 is one of the biggest ensembles in recent memory. Is it a boon or bane? “It’s definitely a plus point, I would say. The audience wants to watch good-looking faces on the screen. Even when there’s a huge ensemble cast, I feel, all the characters are given their due (screen) time,” says Komal Nahta to NDTV.

#MeToo Spot On The Housefull Franchise 

Ahead of the release of the film Housefull 4, the MeToo movement was at its peak. Filmmaker Sajid Khan and actor Nana Patekar were accused of sexual misconduct by several women on sets. Sajid Khan stepped down as director and was replaced by Farhad Samji. Nana Patekar eventually exited the project too.

But the industry has a short memory, it seems. Nana Patekar found a place in the fifth installment. 

Akshay Kumar And Box Office – Always Not A Khiladi Combo

Housefull 5 will mark Akshay Kumar’s third release this year. It was preceded by Kesari Chapter 2 and Sky Force. 

Based on the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Akshay Kumar stepped into the shoes of a real-life character C Sankaran Nair in Kesari Chapter 2. Akshay Kumar tried his best to bring the character to life on screen though he didn’t look like the character he portrayed. Dharma Productions took a big risk in the name of Akshay Kumar and it didn’t pay off (as per box office). The film minted Rs 142 crore, while it was made on a budget of Rs 150 crore. 

But Sky Force, set against the backdrop of the 1965 India-Pakistan War, may have given a little respite to Akshay Kumar. It minted between Rs 144-168 crore while it was made on a budget of Rs 120 crore. 

The question remains: why do producers continue to have faith in Akshay Kumar even when his recent films didn’t work?

After a string of flop films, when media wrote, “He’s gone”, Akshay Kumar hit back at the press conference of his 2024 film Khel Khel Mein – “Mein mara nahi hoon, kahi gaya bhi nahi, kaam karta rahunga (I am not dead, neither I am gone. I will work till my last breath).”

Fans believed in his promise and so did the Housefull 5 makers.

Aakanksha Singh has joined the list of celebrities like Anurag Kashyap, Jaaved Jaaferi, and AR Rahman as owner of Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra recently launched its first born electric vehicles in the Indian market in the form of the BE 6 and the XEV 9e. While still new to the market, the XEV 9e seems to be gaining popularity among celebrities. Until now, the list includes names like Anurag Kashyap, Jaaved Jaaferi, and AR Rahman. The latest addition to the list is Aakanksha Singh, who has recently taken delivery of her new electric vehicle. The update was shared on social media with pictures of the actress posing with her new possession.

Based on the pictures shared on the social media platform, the actress has chosen the Ruby Velvet colour of the vehicle. Besides this, the electric vehicle is also available in colours like Stealth Black, Everest White, Deep Forest, Tango Red, Nebula Blue, and Desert Myst. These paint schemes complement the design of the vehicle, which features a unique front design and a sloped roofline. All of this complements the 19-inch alloy wheels quite well.

Aakanksha Singh’s SUV comes with a list of features, such as an air purification system, a sunroof that protects against UV rays, a Harman Kardon audio system equipped with Dolby Atmos, a heads-up display (HUD) that includes augmented reality on the windshield, 5G connectivity, smart vehicle capabilities, integrated Amazon Alexa, a cooled center console, rear seats that can be split in a 60:40 ratio, and a telescopic, adjustable steering wheel, among other things.

To ensure occupant safety, the manufacturer includes Level 2 plus Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), Secure360, and further safety features. These consist of six airbags, an electronic parking brake, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and a system designed to detect signs of driver fatigue.

Mahindra XEV 9e is powered by a 79 kWh battery pack that has an ARAI-certified range of 659 km. The actual driving range of the electric vehicle exceeds 500 km. This battery powers an electric motor that delivers 286 hp and 380 Nm of peak torque, allowing the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. Alternatively, there is a 59 kWh battery variant that supports a 231 hp motor, which can be charged using a 140 kW DC charger.

Mr Zaki says his love for words and constant enthusiasm have driven his success. He also credits his three coaches – Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and Sohum Sukhantankar.

A 13-year-old Indian-American boy won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word “eclaircissement”. Faizan Zaki, who was last year’s runner-up, sealed his victory on May 29 by confidently spelling the challenging word without hesitation, then celebrated by pumping his fists and collapsing on stage as confetti fell.

The winning word “eclaircissement” is pronounced ek-lehr-see-sma and was described by Faizan as instantly recognisable. The word, of French origin, means “clarification” or “enlightenment,” commonly used to indicate the clearing up of confusion.

Faizan Zaki took home $52,500 (almost Rs 45 lakh) in prize money, adding to the $25,000 (over Rs 21.3 lakh) he won as runner-up last year. He plans to donate a large part of his winnings to charity.

This win was a remarkable comeback for Faizan.

In 2024, Faizan had an almost flawless run during the conventional rounds, never misspelling a word. He lost in the tiebreaker round, a fast-paced “spell-off” where contestants spell as many words as possible in 90 seconds. That year, Faizan Khan spelled 20 words correctly but was edged out by Bruhat Soma, who spelled 29 words correctly.

The 2025 finals featured nine talented spellers, including Faizan, 11-year-old Sarv Dharavane from Georgia, and 14-year-old Sarvadnya Kadam from California.

As the contest narrowed to the final three, Mr Kadam and Mr Dharavane missed their words consecutively, putting Faizan just two words away from victory.

Faizan stumbled briefly on the word “commelina”, which he ultimately corrected.

Faizan’s victory adds to the long-standing success of Indian-American spellers in the Bee, with 30 of the last 36 champions from this community. The legacy began with Nupur Lala in 1999.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and introduced new rules to reduce early tiebreakers, allowing a longer, more competitive final round.

Faizan Zaki has been spelling for most of his life. He first competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2019 when he was just 7 years old, getting in through a wild-card programme that no longer exists. He came back in 2023 and reached the semifinals, then finished as runner-up in 2024.

Faizan says his love for words and constant enthusiasm have driven his success. He also credits his three coaches – Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and Sohum Sukhantankar.

Ananya Panday recently posted about some of the treats she tasted that were dreamily delicious. Most of them seem to be decadent and sweet delights.

What do you think about when you’re working out at the gym? Do you direct all your focus towards the exercises, or do you let your mind wander? Many of us tend to do the latter. If you love food, chances are you would think about some yummy dishes you’ve had recently or which treats you’re going to reward yourself with for making it to the gym! Doing so may even motivate you to continue working out. If you can relate to this, so can Ananya Panday. The actress recently posted about what she was “dreaming” of while she was at the gym, and food was among the top subjects.

Ananya Panday is serious about her fitness, but she also enjoys eating tasty treats. In the past, she has often given us glimpses of her indulgences while travelling. From classic Indian delicacies to unique local dishes abroad, she has relished different kinds of delights. Her latest post features another range of yummy bites. One photo shows what appears to be French toast temptingly topped with pieces of chocolate. Some of them are partially melted, which makes the entire snack look more irresistible.

The next image is of two chocolate ball-like desserts. Not only are the globular shapes covered in rich chocolate, but they also have a chocolate topping that had dripped down their sides before it was set. The balls are topped with white flecks of some other ingredient. The chocolate treats don’t stop there. The photo that follows shows us another one! It seems to be a piece of a larger bar. Ananya Panday’s carousel also included a savoury delicacy. The key component was blue rice, which was encased in a circular covering made of what appears to be fried fish pieces.

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