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.

A video of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Tej Pratap Yadav, son of former Union Minister Lalu Yadav, has gone viral on social media, showing him pressuring an on-duty police officer to dance during Holi celebrations at his residence in Patna.

In the clip, Yadav is seen threatening the officer with suspension if he refused to dance, leading to widespread criticism from political opponents.

The video captures Yadav, smeared with colors, singing a song and instructing the policeman to dance. He is heard saying, “I will play a song, and you will have to dance. If you don’t, you will be suspended.”

Yadav further added, “Ek ganna bajayenge, usme tumko thumka lagana hai, bura mat mano Holi hai. Aaj nahi thumka lagaoge toh suspend kar diye jaoge” (We will play a song, and you will have to dance to it. Don’t feel bad, it’s Holi. If you don’t dance today, you will be suspended). The policeman eventually complies, dancing as Yadav sings.

The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain condemning Yadav’s behavior. “He asked his bodyguard to dance; otherwise, he would suspend him. He has no power or authority to suspend anyone. This is Nitish Kumar’s government, not Jungle Raj. Using such language is unfortunate. RJD leaders have not evolved,” Hussain stated.

Janata Dal (United) (JDU) spokesperson Arvind Nishad also criticized Yadav, linking the incident to the past governance of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi. “The order given by MLA Tej Pratap Yadav to the police personnel assigned to his security to dance while on duty is a reminder of the Lalu-Rabri regime. His threats and actions are inappropriate. The way Holi was celebrated during their rule and how he recreated that chaos truly brings back memories of those days. In today’s governance, it is unimaginable how someone can behave in such a manner,” Nishad remarked.