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Babygirl film review: Nicole Kidman sparks a fiery blend of power, submission

Given the film’s focus on sex, strong performances are crucial. Dickinson successfully navigates a character whose combination of youthful awkwardness and bedroom confidence could have been challenging to portray.

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Nicole Kidman’s performance in her latest film, Babygirl, is engaging from the outset, but it feels distinctly like acting—at least, her character’s portrayal does. Kidman plays Romy Mathis, a New York CEO, who, during an opening scene, experiences an orgasm while having sex with her husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas). However, as the film progresses, we come to realize that this initial experience was merely a façade.

The film sharpens the conversation surrounding opportunities for older women actors. Demi Moore may soon take home an Oscar for her poignant depiction of the struggles of middle age in The Substance, while Kidman finds herself in a prominent role that involves Botox, submissive fantasies, and sexual encounters that serve as pivotal plot points.

Babygirl tackles provocative themes, addressing the experiences of senior women in corporate environments, age-gap relationships, and S&M dynamics, all presented without a clear agenda. It playfully asks, “How inappropriate do you find this?” Next, we see Romy at her workplace, which focuses on automated parcel delivery. A group of interns has joined the team, one of whom, Samuel (Harris Dickinson), appears unfazed. Their exchanges carry tension; when Romy asks him to get her a coffee, he obliges but warns her against drinking it after lunch. This moment leaves Kidman momentarily stunned—Is it old-school sexism, a health tip from a blunt Gen Z, or a flirtation with hidden implications? Director Halina Reijn (of Bodies Bodies Bodies fame) skillfully captures the subtle undercurrents in their interactions.

Once the extramarital affairs begin, the power dynamics shift, with Samuel taking a more dominant role. One might think we’re entering another Fifty Shades of Grey territory, but the film presents these escapades with more real-world stakes and a touch of humor, acknowledging the absurdity of the situation. The film subtly questions its own narrative—Are we really engaging in this?

In its satirical take on corporate life, Babygirl occasionally holds back, but it certainly has its moments of directness. Romy’s casual reference to her upbringing in “communes and cults” suggests a mindset suited for sexual power games—or perhaps for certain styles of leadership. The question of “Who’s in charge?” continues to shift throughout the film, though one answer remains conspicuously obvious: Romy’s Midtown office is actually the headquarters for A24, the film’s studio backers.

Given the film’s focus on sex, strong performances are crucial. Dickinson successfully navigates a character whose combination of youthful awkwardness and bedroom confidence could have been challenging to portray.

However, Kidman’s nuanced interpretation brings depth to Reijn’s concepts. Interestingly, Babygirl contains much less nudity than one might anticipate, yet it remains provocative enough to prompt reflection on why actors like Kidman and Demi Moore find themselves regaining prominence in Hollywood. Is it liberating, or is there something more complex at play? Babygirl may leave this open to interpretation, but it’s clear that Reijn intended for the film to resonate, provoking thought and discussion long after the credits roll.

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.

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

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.

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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.

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Dhurandhar

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.

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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.

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

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.

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