Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s debut production, Girls Will Be Girls, under their banner Pushing Buttons Studios, has been receiving widespread acclaim and appreciation. However, the journey to bring this film to life required significant effort from the duo.

During a recent media event, Fazal remarked, “We hail from a country known for its jugaad… its knack for finding solutions. In all honesty, we sought funds from various sources and even broke our fixed deposits to finance Girls Will Be Girls. But we succeeded.”

Richa also highlighted the importance of collaboration with other artists, which can empower many filmmakers to present their work. “For instance, we had the film edited in France and received a grant due to the film’s core concept,” added Richa, known for her role in Heeramandi.

To provide some context, Ali and Richa established their production company with the mission of supporting filmmakers struggling with financial limitations. Girls Will Be Girls marks their first venture.

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, earning two awards and much acclaim. It gained further recognition when Priyanka Chopra shared her thoughts on the film via her Instagram Stories, praising it as “an honest, beautifully crafted story of desire, rebellion, and coming-of-age. #GirlsWillBeGirls, written and directed by #ShuchiTalati – streaming now, only on @primevideoin.”

Featuring newcomers Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron in pivotal roles alongside Kani Kusruti, Girls Will Be Girls tells the story of a young girl attending a boarding school in a Himalayan town in North India.

At a recent press event, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal discussed the financial challenges they faced while bringing their first production to life. Richa noted, “We belong to a country renowned for its jugaad, that ability to find quick solutions. We reached out for funds from various sources and even broke our fixed deposits to finance Girls Will Be Girls. But ultimately, we succeeded.”

Ali added, “For example, this film was edited in France and received a grant due to its fundamental concept.”

To shed light on their initiative, Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha founded their production house with the intent of supporting filmmakers who face financial hurdles. Girls Will Be Girls is their inaugural project, directed by Shuchi Talati.

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it garnered two awards and received positive reviews. Notable actors like Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, and Aditi Rao Hydari expressed their admiration for the film after its release on OTT platforms.

In Girls Will Be Girls, newcomer Preeti Panigrahi delivers an outstanding performance, portraying a teenager in the throes of internal conflict. Her natural and spontaneous acting earned her the Special Jury Award for Acting at Sundance, highlighting her remarkable talent.

The film delves into the complexities of adolescence and societal pressures, centering on 18-year-old Mira’s journey of rebellion and emotional turmoil, intertwined with her mother’s unfinished coming-of-age story.

The eagerly anticipated sequel to De De Pyaar De, titled De De Pyaar De 2, has been officially confirmed for a theatrical release on November 14, 2025. The original film featured a talented ensemble cast, including Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, and Tabu.

The production teams, T-Series and Luv Films, shared the exciting announcement through social media, stating, “#DeDePyaarDe2 will be released on 14th November 2025. Directed by @anshul3112, and produced by #BhushanKumar, #KrishanKumar, #LuvRanjan, and @gargankur82. The screenplay is written by @tarun.j.85 and Luv Ranjan (sic).”

The sequel, helmed by director Anshul Sharma, is currently being filmed in picturesque locations across Punjab, Mumbai, and London. With Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar producing under T-Series, alongside Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg of Luv Films, the movie is poised for a mid-November release. Fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this beloved story.

In response to the announcement, fans shared their enthusiasm online. One user expressed, “Excited! The first part is my favorite,” while another requested, “Please reveal the cast soon!” A different fan added, “It’s a hit; just keep the music good.” One person urged, “Make sure the songs are blockbusters! We want to hear from Arijit Singh, Honey Singh, and Darshan Raval.”

According to reports, Luv Ranjan and his team have cast R. Madhavan in a significant role for De De Pyaar De 2. This collaboration will reunite him with Ajay Devgn following their intense encounter in Shaitaan. However, this time their on-screen chemistry is expected to take a lighter tone, adding humor to their rivalry, as per insider sources.

R. Madhavan is reportedly viewing this project as a refreshing change from his usual intense roles. After last appearing in the light-hearted romantic comedy Tanu Weds Manu, he is eager to join the fun of this sequel to the 2018 hit.

Both Madhavan and Devgn are said to be thrilled about the new energy that the filmmakers are bringing to the film. De De Pyaar De 2 will continue the story from the first installment, delving into the comedic situations that arise within Rakul Preet Singh’s character’s family. The sequel will explore the humorous dynamics of Ashish, a man in his 50s (played by Ajay), and Ayesha, a woman in her 20s (played by Rakul).

AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi hit out at Telugu superstar Allu Arjun for his insensitive actions and lack of responsibility following a tragic stampede at the premiere of his blockbuster film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ in Hyderabad.

While addressing the Telangana Assembly, Owaisi pointed out that despite the stampede resulting in the death of a woman, Allu Arjun continued to watch the movie and even waved to fans as he exited the venue.

Owaisi, without explicitly naming the actor, stated, “According to my information, when Allu Arjun learned about the stampede and the loss of life, he remarked, ‘now the movie will be hit.'”

The stampede occurred on December 4 when a large crowd gathered at the Sandhya theatre to catch a glimpse of Arjun and his co-star Rashmika Mandhana. This tragic incident led to the death of a 39-year-old woman and left her son severely injured. Authorities noted that the theatre management failed to make proper crowd control arrangements.

“Despite the stampede incident, he (Allu Arjun) still watched the film and waved at fans from his car on his way out. He didn’t even take the time to check on the victims or their families. I also attend public meetings with large crowds, but I ensure that no chaos occurs,” Owaisi added.

On December 13, Allu Arjun was arrested at his home amid dramatic circumstances related to the incident. A lower court initially placed him in judicial custody for 14 days, but he was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court on the same day. He had to spend a night in jail due to delays in the processing of the bail order.

During the Assembly session, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy accused Allu Arjun of attending the screening of ‘Pushpa 2’ despite police having denied permission. Reddy claimed that the actor did not immediately leave the cinema after the tragic incident, necessitating police intervention to escort him out.

Responding to the issue raised by Akbaruddin Owaisi, Reddy highlighted existing video evidence that criticized Allu Arjun for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowd despite the overwhelming number of fans present.

Reddy also noted that the theatre management had requested police security in a letter dated December 2, ahead of the event on December 4, but the police rejected the application, citing crowd management challenges.