Life & Style

Veteran Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has unveiled the trailer for his upcoming historical drama Batwara 1947, offering audiences a powerful glimpse into a story set during the Partition of India in 1947. Released on Tuesday, July 28, the trailer showcases Deol in a striking new role as a man determined to protect humanity amid one of the darkest chapters in the subcontinent’s history. Sharing the trailer on social media, the 68-year-old actor wrote, “Har insaan ka pehla mazhab MAA hai (Every person’s first religion is a mother). #Batwara1947 Trailer Out Now. 14th August in cinemas near you.” The film is set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition, when millions of people were displaced following the creation of India and Pakistan. The story follows a Muslim family that migrates to Lahore after independence and discovers that an elderly Hindu woman is still living in the house allocated to them. Sunny Deol plays Sikander Mirza, who arrives in Pakistan with his wife Hamida Mirza, portrayed by Preity Zinta, and their son Javed Mirza, played by Karan Deol. Upon reaching their new home, they meet an elderly Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, who refuses to abandon the house where she has spent her entire life. As tensions rise and others attempt to force the woman out of the property, Sikander chooses compassion over hatred. Defending her against growing hostility, he delivers one of the trailer’s most memorable lines: “Hindu woman? She is a mother. Do not label her with Hindu-Muslim. Our first religion is mother! The first word that we speak is mother.” The emotional dialogue has resonated strongly with viewers, many of whom praised the film’s message of humanity above religious divisions. The trailer also highlights the violence, fear and forced migration experienced during Partition while emphasising themes of empathy, sacrifice and coexistence. Soon after the trailer’s release, social media users shared positive reactions. One viewer commented, “No religion can be good or bad, only human can be good or bad.” Another fan wrote, “Goosebumps Yar… Only Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta can give 100% justice to this Movie.” A third praised the film’s overall presentation, commenting, “A powerful, emotional, and thought-provoking trailer that promises a grand cinematic experience. With Rajkumar Santoshi’s direction, Sunny Deol’s powerful performance, A.R. Rahman’s unforgettable music, and a talented ensemble cast, Batwara1947 has all the ingredients to become one of the most impactful historical dramas of the year.” Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film boasts an impressive cast featuring Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh and Khushi Hajare. Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman has provided the film’s music, adding to anticipation surrounding the project. Batwara 1947 is scheduled to release in cinemas on August 14, 2026, coinciding with Pakistan’s Independence Day. With its emotionally charged narrative and message of unity during a time of division, the film is already generating significant attention ahead of its theatrical release. 

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is reportedly struggling with an emotional family milestone after his daughter Suri Cruise chose to adopt the surname Noelle, a move that has fuelled fresh discussion about the father-daughter relationship. According to reports, Suri, whom Cruise shares with ex-wife Katie Holmes, has registered as a voter in Pennsylvania under the name Suri Noelle, following her move from New York. The decision marks another step away from using her father’s surname and has reportedly left the actor deeply affected. Sources close to the Mission: Impossible star told Radar that while Cruise respects his daughter’s right to make her own choices as an adult, the change has been emotionally difficult for him. “Tom is deeply saddened by this development. While he understands Suri is an adult making her own decisions, seeing his surname disappear from her legal identity has been incredibly painful for him. He never imagined things would reach this point,” an insider told the outlet. The source added that those around Cruise view the situation as an emotional setback rather than a legal issue. “Those close to Tom believe this is an emotional blow rather than a legal one. He still cares enormously about Suri and hopes that, one day, there will be an opportunity to rebuild their relationship.” The insider further claimed, “Right now, though, friends say he feels heartbroken and devastated by what this represents.” Cruise and Holmes welcomed Suri in April 2006, during one of Hollywood’s most closely watched relationships. The couple married later that year before Holmes filed for divorce in 2012. Since then, Suri has primarily lived with her mother, and reports have frequently suggested that she has had little public contact with Cruise over the years. According to the report, Suri’s decision to use Noelle is believed to be a tribute to her mother. The name, which means “Birthday of the Lord,” also reportedly symbolises a fresh chapter in her life as she continues her education and establishes her own identity away from the intense public attention surrounding her famous parents. Sources said Suri’s decision reflects a desire to move forward independently rather than remain defined by her family’s celebrity status. Choosing a different surname reportedly allows her to begin adulthood on her own terms while maintaining a close bond with Holmes. Neither Cruise nor Holmes has publicly commented on the reports regarding Suri’s voter registration or surname choice. Likewise, Suri herself has not issued any public statement explaining the decision. The reported development has nevertheless attracted widespread attention because of the long-speculated distance between Cruise and his daughter. While insiders maintain that the actor continues to care deeply about Suri, they say the latest change has been particularly painful because it symbolises how far apart their lives have grown. Despite the emotional impact, the source insisted that Cruise has not given up hope of reconnecting with his daughter in the future. For now, however, those close to the actor say he remains saddened by the decision and hopeful that time may eventually provide an opportunity for reconciliation. 

Entertainment giant HYBE has responded after BTS announced they would not participate in the upcoming Grammy Awards, clarifying that the group’s decision should not be interpreted as a company-wide boycott. The statement comes after the seven BTS members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — reportedly decided against participating following changes to the Recording Academy’s awards structure. The controversy centres on the Grammys’ reported introduction of dedicated K-pop categories, a move that many fans believe separates Korean artists from competing equally in the general-field categories. According to reports, BTS and HYBE view the changes as unfair at a time when the group is considered one of the strongest contenders for major Grammy honours. Addressing the issue, HYBE released a statement explaining its concerns over the reported rule changes. “It is difficult to accept that this Grammy’s screening change was made when BTS is most likely to win the main prize.” Despite expressing disappointment, the company stressed that BTS’s decision does not represent an official boycott by HYBE itself. “It’s not a boycott at the company level.” An official further clarified the company’s position, saying, “In the case of other artists, if they are willing to participate, they will proceed with the exhibition as scheduled.” HYBE also revealed that BTS carefully considered whether to participate before reaching their final decision. “BTS also thought about whether to participate until the last minute of this announcement, but they made this decision with the idea that a cautious move is necessary for the sake of the music industry and K-pop as a whole.” According to the statement, the group’s decision was made after considering what they believe are broader implications for K-pop artists rather than focusing solely on their own chances at the awards. Industry observers believe BTS’s move could influence conversations across the global music business. In recent years, all four major American music awards have introduced dedicated K-pop categories, prompting debate over whether such divisions recognise the genre or limit Korean artists from competing directly alongside international acts in major categories. While BTS has chosen not to participate, neither the group nor HYBE has encouraged other artists to do the same. The company has made it clear that performers under its management remain free to decide whether they wish to submit their work or attend the ceremony. The reported boycott is especially significant because BTS has historically been one of the Grammy Awards’ biggest international attractions. Their appearances have consistently generated massive global viewership, extensive social media engagement and strong fan participation, making their absence notable for both the Recording Academy and music fans worldwide. Neither the Recording Academy nor Grammy organisers have publicly responded to HYBE’s latest statement at the time of writing. Fans continue to debate the issue across social media, with many praising BTS for taking what they view as a principled stand, while others hope discussions between the music industry and award organisers will lead to greater equality for K-pop artists in future Grammy competitions. HYBE, however, has maintained that the decision reflects BTS’s own position and should not be viewed as a blanket boycott by the company or its other artists. 

Television presenter Holly Willoughby has admitted she is still learning the ropes of YouTube after launching her new digital series Together, revealing that her teenage daughter laughed at her attempts to sound like an experienced content creator. The former This Morning host recently premiered the first episode of her YouTube show, which features celebrity conversations in a relaxed setting. Actor Stanley Tucci, known for The Devil Wears Prada, appeared as the programme’s first guest. The launch has also drawn comparisons between Willoughby’s new venture and Meghan Markle’s lifestyle-style content. Speaking on Sara Cox’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show, the 45-year-old presenter described the release of the series as an emotional milestone. “Today is launch day, this is like I’m giving birth today!” Holly said, adding that moving away from traditional television to a digital platform still feels unfamiliar. She admitted that stepping into the world of YouTube has been a completely new experience after spending decades working in broadcast television. During the conversation, Sara Cox jokingly asked whether Holly’s children were annoyed that she had entered a platform usually associated with younger audiences. Laughing, Holly recalled her daughter Belle’s reaction while filming promotional messages encouraging viewers to subscribe. “My daughter was laughing at me as I was saying ‘subscribe and ding the bell and you’ll get notifications.’” She revealed that Belle quickly pointed out how unfamiliar she sounded with YouTube culture. “She was like, ‘mum, you really don’t know what you’re talking about,’ and I’m like, ‘no I don’t but I’m learning!’” Holly said. The presenter admitted that adapting to digital content creation has taken her outside her comfort zone, particularly after building her career through conventional television formats. Unlike her previous programmes, Together is designed specifically for YouTube, allowing Holly to have longer and more informal conversations with well-known personalities. The show’s debut episode featured actor and food enthusiast Stanley Tucci, whose appearance helped launch the series. Since its release, viewers have discussed the programme online, with some drawing comparisons between Holly’s approach and Meghan Markle’s recent lifestyle projects. According to the report, Together is produced by Hungry Bear Media, the production company owned by Holly’s husband, Dan Baldwin. The company has produced several successful British entertainment programmes and is now backing Holly’s latest move into digital media. Although she acknowledged that she is still adjusting to YouTube’s style and audience expectations, Holly appeared enthusiastic about embracing the new challenge. Her comments suggested that she is willing to learn from younger viewers—including her own children—as she builds a presence on the platform. The presenter has received support from many fans following her honest remarks, with viewers praising her willingness to laugh at herself while trying something new. Rather than pretending to know everything about the digital world, Holly openly admitted she is still figuring it out, a response many found both relatable and refreshing. 

Former The Real Housewives of Orange County star Jeana Keough is facing another difficult setback in her battle with tongue cancer, with her family revealing that the 70-year-old is now unable to speak as treatment continues to take a severe physical toll. The update comes just days after Keough’s family announced that she had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Her daughter, Kara Keough, has since shared an emotional account of her mother’s condition, describing the pain she is experiencing as “brutal.” Taking to Instagram Stories, Kara explained that radiation treatment has caused intense discomfort in both her mother’s tongue and throat. “The tongue and throat pain, paired with the mucus from radiation on the area, is just brutal,” Kara wrote. She added, “Poor mama has to spit into tissues all day.” According to Kara, Jeana has already undergone two surgeries after doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Alongside surgery, she has been receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy in an effort to treat the disease. However, the aggressive treatment has left the former reality television personality physically exhausted and struggling with everyday activities. Kara revealed that her mother has become “exhausted, struggling to stay awake, and becoming malnourished because the pain in her tongue and throat makes swallowing even the smallest bites or sips incredibly difficult.” The family had hoped to improve Jeana’s nutrition by having a feeding tube (G-tube) inserted after she reportedly went two weeks without eating a proper meal. Those plans, however, have now been postponed after doctors identified additional health complications. According to Kara, physicians discovered both a deep vein thrombosis and an infection in her leg, forcing them to delay the procedure. Explaining the situation, Kara wrote, “The feeding tube can’t be put directly into her stomach until there’s clarity on the infection.” As a result, Jeana’s cancer treatment has temporarily been placed on hold while doctors focus on treating the infection before proceeding with further care. Despite the difficult circumstances, Kara remained hopeful and asked supporters to continue keeping her mother in their thoughts and prayers. She shared the family’s current prayer requests, writing, “Prayer needs: that this infection clears quickly, that she can get the G-tube surgery imminently so that hangry Jeana doesn’t murder someone, and that we can quickly resume treatment so that this torment can be put in the rear view mirror.” The message combined honesty with humour, reflecting the family’s determination to stay optimistic during an extremely challenging period. Jeana first rose to fame as one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of Orange County, where viewers followed her personal and family life over several seasons. Since news of her diagnosis became public, fans and fellow reality television personalities have flooded social media with messages of encouragement and support. For now, Jeana’s family remains focused on clearing the infection, improving her nutrition and ensuring she is strong enough to resume cancer treatment as soon as doctors determine it is safe to do so. 

Actor and writer Syed Mohammad Ahmed has previously spoken about what he described as a difficult experience involving a younger male actor during the filming of a drama. Ahmed did not publicly identify the actor at the time. He said the alleged mistreatment had left him humiliated and made it difficult for him to complete the project. The matter has now resurfaced after a report by FHM Pakistan identified actor Fahad Sheikh as the person allegedly involved. The publication shared a video discussing the claim. The allegation has attracted attention on social media and within Pakistan’s entertainment industry. However, the claims have not been independently verified. Actor Shamoon Abbasi had earlier expressed support for Ahmed. He said he knew the younger actor involved and suggested that an apology should be offered. Abbasi had also indicated that the actor’s identity could eventually become public if no apology was made. According to the report, Ahmed and Sheikh worked together on two television dramas between 2020 and 2022. The report alleges that tensions arose between the two actors during their professional association. However, the details of the alleged incident have not been independently confirmed, and Ahmed himself did not name Sheikh when he first discussed the matter publicly. The renewed discussion has generated reactions among viewers and entertainment industry followers. Many social media users are calling for greater clarity from those involved. Fahad Sheikh has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication. The controversy comes amid broader discussions within Pakistan’s entertainment industry about workplace conduct, professional respect and the treatment of senior artists.