The much-anticipated film starring John Abraham, titled The Diplomat, made a notable debut at the box office, amassing over Rs 4.03 crore net on its opening day, as revealed by the film’s producers on Saturday. The movie, directed by Shivam Nair with a script penned by Ritesh Shah, hit theaters on Friday, marking a significant entry into the cinematic landscape.

The production house T-Series took to their X handle to announce the film’s successful first-day earnings, posting an eye-catching promotional poster. The caption read, “A strategy that strikes gold. 4.03 crore NBOC,” highlighting the film’s strong financial start and engaging marketing approach.

Inspired by true events, The Diplomat showcases Abraham in the role of JP Singh, a dedicated diplomat who embarks on a mission to save an Indian woman named Uzma, portrayed by actress Sadia Khateeb, from the clutches of Pakistan. The film promises a thrilling narrative that intertwines elements of drama and international diplomacy.

The Diplomat has also garnered critical acclaim, with prominent director Anurag Kashyap praising John Abraham’s performance. Kashyap expressed admiration for the film while indicating a need for a compelling concept for his own future project, No Smoking 2, demonstrating the impact of Abraham’s latest role.

In terms of production, The Diplomat is a collaborative effort from various partners, including John Abraham’s JA Entertainment alongside T-Series, Vipul D Shah, Ashwin Varde, Rajesh Bahl from Wakaoo Films, along with Sameer Dixit and Jatish Varma of Fortune Pictures, and Rakesh Dang from Seeta Films. This range of production houses reflects the film’s extensive backing and collective expertise, contributing to its promising start.

As audiences flock to theaters, The Diplomat is expected to draw more viewers, further solidifying its place in the current film landscape while showcasing Abraham’s talents in a compelling narrative drawn from real-life diplomatic challenges.

Australian cricket legend David Warner is set to make his debut in Indian cinema with the Telugu film ‘Robinhood’, featuring actor Nithin in the lead role. Warner expressed his excitement about the project, stating he thoroughly enjoyed the shooting process.

The production company behind the film, Mythri Movie Makers, officially welcomed Warner to Indian cinema on their X timeline, emphasizing his transition from cricket to film. They shared a poster featuring Warner, along with a message that reads, “After shining and leaving a mark on the ground, it is time for him to shine on the silver screen. Introducing the widely loved @davidwarner31 to Indian Cinema with #Robinhood in an exciting cameo. Grand release worldwide on March 28th.”

In response, Warner took to his own X account, sharing his enthusiasm: “Indian Cinema, here I come. Excited to be a part of #Robinhood. Thoroughly enjoyed shooting for this one. Grand release worldwide on March 28th.”

The film ‘Robinhood’ revolves around Nithin’s character, a thief named Honey Singh, who embarks on a mission to steal from the rich in order to help the poor. His character is depicted as fearless and without ulterior motives, willing to confront anyone for the right cause.

Originally scheduled for release last year, the film’s premiere has been rescheduled to March 28 of this year. The project is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar, with Cherry serving as CEO and Hari Tummala as executive producer.

Directed by Venky Kudumula, ‘Robinhood’ features Nithin alongside Sree Leela. The film boasts music from National Award-winning composer G V Prakash Kumar, while Sai Sriram handles cinematography. The art direction is managed by Raam Kumar, and editing is done by Koti.

With a mix of action and entertainment, ‘Robinhood’ is poised to mark a significant entry for David Warner into the realm of Indian cinema, adding to the excitement surrounding its release.

Grammy-winning rapper Jay Rock, famed for his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, was arrested this week. The 39-year-old artist was taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department officers in the Watts area on Thursday at around 6 PM.

Born Johnny Reed McKinzie III, the LA native was apprehended on a felony weapons charge. He was initially found trespassing and drinking in public near the Nickerson Gardens housing complex. In an attempt to evade capture, he dashed away from his vehicle but was soon apprehended by the officers. A search of his vehicle uncovered a firearm, leading to his booking into a Los Angeles jail on charges of felony possession. He was held overnight after being booked just after 8 PM.

According to reports, McKinzie has ties to the housing complex, having grown up there alongside Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony Tiffith.

This isn’t Jay Rock’s first encounter with the law. He was previously arrested in 2009 in connection with a shooting in his neighborhood but was later exonerated. Additionally, he survived a serious motorcycle accident in 2016 that left him with a shattered pelvis and leg. Reflecting on that incident, he stated to Billboard, “I was just doing what real dudes do. I was on my bike. Accidents happen,” and credited his recovery to divine protection, saying, “It took me a couple weeks to get back out here ’cause you know, you can’t bring a strong one down.”

The impact of the accident is also featured in the title track of his 2018 album, “Redemption,” which includes collaborations with artists like SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Future, J. Cole, and Jeremih. In promoting the album, he shared how music transformed his life, explaining, “I was speaking on my experience, my trials and tribulations in the hood when I started rapping. The hood was always bringing me back and I was doing bulls**t. I just fell in love with the music, man. The music just took control. It really saved my life.”

Jay Rock is also a founding member of the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside fellow West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and ScHoolboy Q, all of whom signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Although the group has not released new music together in recent years following Lamar’s departure from TDE, the members continue to collaborate on solo projects. They reunited for a special concert titled ‘The Pop-Out: Ken and Friends’ in June 2024, celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month.

Amid rumors surrounding a potential TDE breakup following Lamar’s exit from the label in 2022, Jay Rock addressed these speculations in a 2023 interview with DJ Whoo Kid, clarifying, “We all good, though. The family, TDE family, despite what everybody’s saying — the breakup — everybody’s all good.” He emphasized his enduring bond with Kendrick Lamar, noting, “That’s my little brother. Ain’t nothing changed.”

Jay Rock has collaborated frequently with Kendrick Lamar on tracks like “Money Trees,” “Hood Gonna Love It,” and “King’s Dead,” the latter of which featured on the Black Panther soundtrack and won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. He also joined forces with Anderson. Paak for “Lockdown” and made headlines for participating in protests against the death of George Floyd.