Have you heard? Karan Johar has trust issues after The Traitors

Playing the nepotism card

Karan Johar says he has developed trust issues, and blamed his upcoming show, The Traitors, for it. Karan, who has turned host for the reality series that explores themes of scheming and betrayal, said, “I am still scared of these people. I am not able to meet them properly because I know their cunning mind. They are my friends and industry colleagues, but I would keep my distance from them.” He also jokingly added that he finds it tough to trust his close friend Maheep Kapoor now, after he saw how clever she was on the show. He revealed that it was “exhausting” to play a strict host. “The whole day you are being so strict, a disciplinarian. You are following the format, being aggressive and angry. I am not like that on a daily basis, though many would believe I am,” he said.  Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra is one of the contestants on the show. At the trailer launch event in Mumbai on May 30, he shared, ‘“As this show is being hosted by Karan, I want to say that I will be using my ‘Nepo-husband’ card.” Other contestants on the show include Apoorva Mukhija, Karan Kundrra, Ashish Vidyarthi, Uorfi Javed, and Jasmin Bhasin, among others.

Bhai’s Mollywood style actioner

Salman Khan and Mahesh Narayanan

Salman Khan is reportedly in talks with Malayalam filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan for an action thriller. According to latest reports, the director discussed a film idea with the actor, who has expressed interest in hearing a full script narration in the coming months. The buzz is that the superstar’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri will back the project under her banner. If greenlit, filming is expected to begin early next year, after Salman wraps up his war drama with Apoorva Lakhia (Bhai at the border, May 2). Mahesh is known for directing critically acclaimed Malayalam films like Fahadh Faasil’s Take Off (2017) and Malik (2021), and this project would mark his Hindi cinema debut.

Stardom in my stars

(From left) Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the poster of Saiyaara

Ahaan Panday, cousin of Ananya Panday, is set to make his Bollywood debut in Yash Raj Films’ Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri. The teaser was released on May 30, and Ananya couldn’t contain her excitement, calling Ahaan a “star” and showering love on him.

Ananya Panday and Alia Bhatt

She shared the teaser on her Instagram Story, writing, “My brother is a star. This looks amazing! Intense! Can’t wait. [sic]” The film, starring debutants Ahaan and Aneet Padda, is set to release on July 18, and promises a fresh take on young love, rich with emotion, music, and soul. Alia Bhatt also took to social media to give a shoutout to Mohit, who is her cousin. She wrote, “A Mohit Suri love story introducing two beautiful actors? I am seated!!! This one is hitting the spot and how!” Aneet, who has previously featured in Salaam Venky (2023), and Big Girls Don’t Cry (2024), has been receiving a lot of love from the audience.

No apology, no film release

Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan is facing intense backlash over his remark that Kannada “was born out of Tamil.” IANS has reported that the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has threatened to block the release of his upcoming film, Thug Life, unless he issues a public apology. Pro-Kannada groups have also filed police complaints against him. Tensions escalated when Kamal’s portrait was set ablaze in Bengaluru, prompting a suo moto FIR. Despite the uproar, the actor has refused to apologise, stating his comment came from a place of love. The film remains scheduled for a June 5 release, though its fate in Karnataka is uncertain.

‘Taking care of myself’

Kusha Kapila

Kusha Kapila has broken her silence on her drastic weight loss, revealing the emotional and physical toll behind her transformation. In a candid vlog, she shared her struggles with body image issues, which began at age 12, and how she starved herself to lose weight. She shared that the extreme diet led to rapid weight loss, but also compromised her health. She said, “You don’t realise it, you just look at before-and-after makeovers and think that the attention you get is the best thing in life.” At 33, Kusha feels like she’s finally taking care of herself, saying, “I needed to take care of myself, because nobody else was coming.”

This article first appeared on Mid Day