Entertainment

Veteran actor Mukul Dev dies at 54, Bollywood left in shock

Mukul Dev, a respected name in Indian cinema and television, passed away at 54. His friend Deepshikha Nagpal and the industry express their grief.

Published

9 months ago

May 24, 2025

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Bollywood actor Mukul Dev, widely recognized for his impactful performances in films like R… Rajkumar, Son of Sardaar, and Jai Ho, passed away on Friday night at the age of 54. The news of his death has sent ripples of grief across the film fraternity. As of now, the exact cause of his sudden demise has not been disclosed, and a formal statement from his family is still awaited.

Deepshikha Nagpal’s emotional farewell: “Still can’t believe it”

Actress Deepshikha Nagpal, a long-time friend and co-star of Mukul Dev, was among the first to confirm the tragic news. Taking to social media, she shared an emotional tribute through an old photograph, captioned simply: “Can’t believe this. RIP.”

Speaking to a media outlet, Deepshikha revealed that she and Mukul shared a close bond that went beyond professional camaraderie. “We had this group. We used to chat often. But this time, there was no sign he was unwell,” she said, visibly shaken. She added that even after hearing the news, she called his number, hoping it was just another rumor. “I still feel it must be fake news,” she said, echoing the disbelief shared by many fans and colleagues.

Deepshikha also clarified that while there were whispers of Mukul being admitted to the ICU, no verified medical details had been confirmed. “Nobody knows the reason behind his sudden death. So no point in spreading rumors. The worst thing is—he’s no more. That’s the biggest loss,” she said.

A career marked by versatility, from cockpit to camera

Born in New Delhi into a Punjabi family, Mukul Dev was the younger brother of actor Rahul Dev. His father, Hari Dev, served as an assistant commissioner of police and introduced young Mukul to Afghan culture—leading to his fluency in Pashto and Persian.

Interestingly, before acting beckoned, Mukul had trained to be a pilot at the prestigious Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi. However, the lure of performance led him to the world of television and cinema.

His first tryst with the stage happened while he was still in school, where he performed a Michael Jackson impersonation in a Doordarshan-sponsored dance show—an act that earned him his first pay cheque and sparked a life-long love for the performing arts.

From TV’s Vijay Pandey to Bollywood’s versatile artist

Mukul began his television journey in 1996 with the serial Mumkin, where he portrayed Vijay Pandey. His charming screen presence quickly made him a household name. He went on to host the Bollywood countdown comedy show Ek Se Badh Kar Ek and fronted the first season of Fear Factor India, showcasing his range beyond acting.

His cinematic debut came with Dastak, where he played ACP Rohit Malhotra—a film that also introduced Miss Universe Sushmita Sen to Bollywood. Over the years, he became known for roles that spanned genres—from comedy to action, thrillers to drama.

Among his notable works were appearances in Son of Sardaar, R… Rajkumar, Jai Ho, and more recently, Anth The End, which marked his final screen outing.

Remembering a life lived with purpose

While Mukul Dev may have kept a relatively low profile in recent years, his contributions to the industry were never forgotten. He was respected not only for his talent but also for his humility and warm personality.

As tributes continue to pour in from industry peers and fans alike, one thing remains clear: the Indian film industry has lost a multifaceted talent far too soon.

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Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 12 crosses Rs 286 crore, eyes Rs 300 crore milestone

Border 2 box office collection reaches Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days, putting the Sunny Deol-led film close to the Rs 300 crore milestone.

Published

3 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

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Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.

On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.

Border 2 box office performance so far

The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.

The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.

Second weekend boosts collections

The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.

Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.

With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.

Border 2 review

In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.

About the film

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.

Entertainment

Why Dhurandhar on Netflix runs shorter than its original theatrical cut

Dhurandhar’s Netflix release sparked confusion over its shorter runtime. The difference is linked to muted dialogue and an updated theatrical cut.

Published

4 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

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Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.

Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

What caused the runtime difference

The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.

The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.

What viewers noticed on Netflix

Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.

Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.

Is Netflix streaming a censored cut

Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.

Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.

In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.

Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 1 crosses Rs 30 crore

Border 2 opens to Rs 30 crore on day one, becoming the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh.

Published

1 month ago

January 24, 2026

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Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.

According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.

Strong show count and urban traction

Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.

The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.

Career-best opening for key cast members

Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.

For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.

Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.

Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.