On Saturday night, Bollywood singer Jasleen Royal surprised fans by opening a Coldplay concert at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, enhancing the British rock band’s performance with her unique flair. She commenced the show with a heartfelt rendition of her song “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.”

The highlight of the evening occurred when she joined Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, for a duet of “We Pray,” a track from their latest album, “Moon Music.” The night was filled with surprises, as Chris Martin infused an Indian essence into the concert. He entertained fans by reading placards from the audience, expressing gratitude with “Shukriya” and exclaiming “Jai Shri Ram,” which elicited enthusiastic applause. Martin even engaged the crowd by inquiring about the meaning of the phrase.

Jasleen took to Instagram to share moments from the evening, posting clips from her performance and rehearsals. Accompanying a snippet with Chris Martin, she expressed her gratitude with the caption, “Thank you Mumbai, I love you.” She dazzled the audience in a shimmering black outfit, complemented by smoky makeup and wavy hair.

The concert, organized by BookMyShow Live, was a sensory delight featuring Coldplay classics like “Fix You” and “A Sky Full of Stars.” In a playful moment, Martin gave a shoutout to Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, joking, “Hold on, we have to finish the show because Jasprit Bumrah wants to come and play backstage. He says he needs to bowl at me now.” Despite Bumrah’s absence, the mention delighted the audience.

Before the concert, Martin and his partner, actor Dakota Johnson, added a spiritual dimension to their visit by wearing traditional Indian attire during a trip to the Shri Babulnath Temple.

Coldplay’s India tour is set to continue with performances in Mumbai on January 19 and 21, followed by two shows in Ahmedabad on January 25 and 26. Additionally, local authorities issued a notice to Chris Martin regarding safety measures, stating that children should not be allowed on stage or into the venue without proper hearing protection, and that sound levels must not exceed 120 decibels.

The climax of Bigg Boss 18 is set for an explosive finish with the finale airing live on January 19. Fans of the show are eager to see which among the top 5 contestants will clinch the title in what promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the season. Hosted by Bollywood icon Salman Khan, the finale will be available for streaming on Colors TV and Jio Cinema starting at 9:30 PM, expected to last for an exhilarating three hours.

This season’s top finalists are Rajat Dalal, Vivian Dsena, Karanveer Mehra, Chum Darang, and Avinash Mishra. With a unique blend of talents and personalities, these finalists have captivated the audience, each bringing something special to the competition.

The build-up to the finale has seen a flurry of activity, with fans ardently supporting their favorite contestants. Voting trends currently show Rajat Dalal leading with a significant margin, holding 41% of the votes, closely followed by Vivian Dsena with 29%. The voting lines remain open on the JioCinema platform until noon on the day of the finale, allowing fans to make their final push for their preferred contestant.

The anticipation for this finale is heightened by the exclusive insights from Google Gemini AI, which predicts Rajat Dalal as the likely winner, given his strong viewer engagement and popularity throughout the season.

As the final moments draw near, the excitement and tension are palpable, promising to make this finale a memorable event in the history of Bigg Boss. Don’t miss the chance to witness the end of an era live, as the contestants face off one last time to win the prestigious title and close out yet another thrilling chapter of this beloved reality series.

Kangana Ranaut’s new film, Emergency, which explores the tumultuous period of 1975-1977 during former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s Emergency rule, has opened to disappointing box office figures.

According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the political drama garnered just Rs 2.35 crore (nett) in India on its opening day.

The film recorded a total Hindi occupancy rate of 19.26%, with the highest attendance during evening shows. Emergency premiered alongside Azaad, a film featuring Ajay Devgn’s nephew Amaan Devgan and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani, and it was screened in approximately 2,500 shows nationwide.

While the opening numbers for Emergency surpassed those of Kangana’s previous films—her 2023 release Tejas made Rs 1.20 crore, and Dhaakad (2022) earned Rs 55 lakh on its first day—it still ranks among her lowest openings. Her most successful debut remains Tanu Weds Manu Returns, released in 2015, which earned Rs 8.85 crore.

This film is Kangana’s first attempt at solo directing, although she later remarked that it was a “wrong decision.” The cast includes Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, and Mahima Chaudhary in significant roles, and the film has elicited a mixed reaction from audiences and critics alike.

Sana Farzeen from India Today rated Emergency 2.5 stars, noting in her review that the pacing can be frustrating and that viewers might find themselves searching online for clarification on historical events depicted in the film.

She criticised the songs as unnecessary distractions, with some being presented in a way that unintentionally adds humour. Conversely, she pointed out that the violence depicted is graphic, with an emphasis on close-ups.

On a positive note, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the Emergency as “an important documentation of a time in Indian history” and commended Kangana for her portrayal of Indira Gandhi.