Latest news with #Pulkit
Pink Villa
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Maalik Teaser Review: Rajkummar Rao's gangster drama has strong hangover of Ranbir Kapoor's Animal, Read details
After Bhool Chuk Maaf, Rajkummar Rao has transformed into a terrific and violent gangster in Maalik. Directed by Pulkit, Maalik is an upcoming action drama that is expected to set new bars for the actor. The makers have released the trailer on their respective social media handles, and fans cannot help but hail it as a 'blockbuster.' Rao appears deadly, bloody, and cunning, one can't take eyes off him. While fans are more than excited for the film, here's how Maalik delivers vibes similar to Ranbir Kapoor's Animal. When Animal was released in theaters, one of the factors that made it an instant hit among the audience was the way violence was displayed on the big screens. From bloodshed to deadly fight sequences, the movie pushed the boundaries of violence in Indian cinema. And now, Maalik is giving similar vibes! The teaser shows a glimpse of how gritty the Rajkummar Rao starrer will be. Rao has embraced a ruthless gangster persona and his brutal transformation is worth every penny. From the opening scenes of the teaser to the massy dialogs, Maalik will undoubtedly offer intense action. So, there is no second thought about Rajkummar Rao being as ruthless as Ranbir Kapoor's Rannvijay in the Pulkit directorial. Also, both Animal and Maalik lead them down paths of aggression and dominance. These flicks cannot be tagged merely as action dramas as they are more complex. Just like Animal, Maalik also aims to show the inner conflict of men. Well, the former was a game changer for the Indian film industry, hence, we expect the latter to deliver similar thrill and madness. Talking about the Maalik teaser, it features Rajkummar in a never-seen-before avatar. Set in Allahabad, it follows a gangster who rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld and establishes his dominance. His thick beard look has added more reality to his daring role and his transformation has wowed netizens. Backed by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, the movie is slated to hit the big screens on 11 July 2025. Besides Rajkummar, it also stars Manushi Chillar and Prosenjit Chatterjee.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Maalik' teaser: Rajkummar Rao unleashes his darkest avatar yet in gritty gangster drama
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Rajkummar Rao is back in a never-seen-before avatar—and this time, he's deadly. The teaser of 'Maalik', directed by Pulkit, has taken the internet by storm as Rajkummar Rao showcases his darkest, most dangerous transformation yet. Set in 1988 Allahabad, the teaser introduces viewers to an underworld drama laced with blood, power, and fear. From cold stares to brutal action sequences, Rajkummar Rao dominates the frame as the gangster 'Maalik'. A Glimpse into the underworld Bhool Chuk Maaf | Song - Ganga Kinare The teaser, released on X and shared by Rajkummar himself on Instagram, is packed with grit and intensity. His caption reads, 'Paida nahin hue toh kya, ban toh sakte hai!! Teaser out now. #Maalik ko milne aa jaana 11 July ko sirf cinema gharon main!' The short clip reveals a world ruled by violence, where Rajkummar Rao's character doesn't just survive—he commands. Guns blaze, bodies fall, and Maalik walks ahead unfazed, portraying a man who built his own legend from the shadows. Fans say - Another hit loading Rajkummar's post was soon flooded with comments. One comment read, 'Lesgoooo The Actor Raj.' Raj Kundra wrote, 'Maalik another hit loading!.' Another one wrote, 'Cinema hall me aag lagne wali hai.' Manushi Chillar penned three flaming emoji's on the actor's post. Pulkit's vision and the promise of July 11 Directed by Pulkit, 'Maalik' promises a tightly woven narrative filled with action, raw performances, and a gripping storyline rooted in the 1980s Indian heartland. Known for taking up unconventional roles, Rajkummar Rao appears to have nailed yet another complex character, and the teaser hints that 'Maalik' may be one of his most impactful performances to date. With its dark tone and atmospheric setup, the film is already among the most anticipated of the year. 'Maalik' is set to hit theatres on July 11, 2025. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ankita Bhandari murder case: Life term for son of ex-BJP leader, 2 others
A court in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district Friday sentenced Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two others to life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari. She was killed while working as a receptionist at a resort run by Pulkit. His employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were also handed life terms. After the sentencing by the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ankita's father Virendra Bhandari told The Indian Express that the family was hoping that the accused would be handed the death sentence. 'The accused will be in jail, but what about those people who are outside? We had raised the issue of a VIP, but his name has not come out yet… We had sought the transfer of the case to the CBI, and even filed an application that other suspects be probed, but it was disposed of,' he said. Pulkit was sentenced under IPC section 302 (murder) to rigorous life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000; under section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) to five years and a fine of Rs 10,000; under section 354A (sexual harassment) for two years and a fine of Rs 10,000; and under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act for five years and a fine of Rs 2,000. Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta were sentenced under IPC section 302 to rigorous life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000, as well as under IPC section 201 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. After the court verdict, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to social media and called Ankita a 'daughter and sister of the mountains'. 'We are extremely saddened by the incident, following which we had taken a resolution to provide her justice. Soon, we directed the police to arrest the accused, and an SIT under a female IPS was constituted. Because of this, the accused were not provided bail. They (the accused) have been proven guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. We were also in touch with the family members, ensuring justice to Ankita Bhandari,' he said. Rajya Sabha MP and BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said the verdict has brought satisfaction to the people of the state. The Congress, however, staged a protest, demanding more severe punishment and an investigation into the alleged 'VIP link' in the case. Senior Congress leader and spokesperson Suryakant Dhasmana said, 'There has been ongoing talk of a VIP being involved in the background of this gruesome case, something Ankita herself hinted at in chats with her friend. Yet, the investigating police team has not managed to identify or reach this VIP — a serious shortcoming in the investigation.' Ankita's body was recovered from a canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022. She was reported missing for at least six days before her body was found. According to the prosecution, Ankita was last seen in CCTV footage from the barrage at Pashulok, riding pillion behind Pulkit on a scooter. The other accused, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were following them on a motorcycle. In the absence of a direct eyewitness to the crime, the court cited the 'last seen theory' in the case. 'It is settled law that to sustain a conviction on circumstantial evidence, the chain of circumstances has to be so complete that the finger of accusation unerringly points towards the guilt of the accused and rules out innocence… It is the quality of evidence and not the number that matters. A criminal trial is not a race in which the winner is determined with reference to the length run by the prosecution or the defence. It is also not a numbers game where the number of circumstances would determine guilt or otherwise,' the court said. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
Ex-BJP minister's son convicted for Ankita Bhandari's murder: case that rocked Uttarakhand
A court in Uttarakhand's Pauri Friday pronounced three accused in the 2020 murder case of Ankita Bhandari guilty. What is the case? On the night of September 18, 2022, Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, was killed by three persons, including her employer, Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya. Police said Pulkit had allegedly killed Ankita after she resisted his orders to provide 'special services' to some of the guests at the resort. Her body was found in the Chilla canal on September 24, a day after the trio confessed to killing her. On Friday, Pulkit Arya was found guilty of IPC sections 302 (murder), 201 (concealing evidence), 354A (molestation and outraging the modesty of a woman) and the Immoral Trafficking Act. Other accused Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta were charged and convicted under murder, concealing evidence, and the Immoral Trafficking Act. Who was Ankita Bhandari? Bhandari belonged to a poor family in Pauri, who moved to the town for her education. Her father, Birendra Bhandari, worked as a security guard. Though she was enrolled in an institute for hotel management, she had to drop out after a financial setback during Covid. When Bhandari's friend Pushp (later a witness in the murder case) informed her about an opening at a resort in Rishikesh, she decided to take it up and landed the job. A month into the job, she had informed Pushp that the accused were pressuring her to 'provide special services for a VIP' in exchange for Rs 10,000. Pushp informed the court that at 8:32 pm, the deceased last spoke to him and revealed that the accused was with her and she was 'sensing some fear'. The FIR in the case, as quoted in the court, said, 'The accused wanted to speak to the father of the deceased… (and) the deceased was further troubled due to this reason. One morning, the deceased was found missing from the resort. She was not in her room. During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused was molesting the deceased in the resort; they were pressuring her to give extra services to the guest, to which the deceased was not agreeable. The applicant (Ankit Gupta) and the co-accused had a sense of fear that perhaps the deceased might reveal it to others. According to the prosecution, on 18.09.2022, the applicant, along with the co-accused, took the deceased out of the resort, they killed the deceased and pushed her into a canal. The dead body of the deceased was recovered on 24.09.2022.' What was the aftermath? After the case gained attention across the country, the three accused, Pulkit and his associates Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were taken into custody. At the same time, the district administration demolished a section of the resort, sparking a controversy amid allegations that it was a bid to 'destroy' crucial evidence. Following Pulkit's arrest, the Uttarakhand BJP expelled his father, Vinod, and elder brother from the party. Vinod Arya had enjoyed the rank of a minister of state in the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led BJP government. The night Bhandari was killed, the accused informed the local Patwari (as the area falls under revenue police jurisdiction) about her disappearance, but no case was registered. Patwari Vaibhav Pratap did not inform anyone about the case and went on leave, and after the matter came to light, the case was transferred to the regular police on September 22. Pratap was suspended and later arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case for negligence and on suspicion of siding with the accused. The incident had raised concerns on the revenue police system in the state, and Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri had written to the CM, seeking the replacement of the Revenue police with regular police. In December 2022, a 500-page chargesheet was filed by the prosecution. After the Special Investigation Team (SIT) chargesheet, a petition was filed at the Uttarakhand High Court for the transfer of the case to the CBI. However, the court rejected it, expressing satisfaction with the probe. On Friday morning, Ankita's mother, Soni Devi, broke down and said, 'I request that the accused be hanged… I plead with my sisters that they support her (Ankita's) mother and father…' Her father, Birendra Bhandari, said, 'The way my daughter Ankita Bhandari was murdered by the three men, I have been reiterating – 'death for death'. We hope that all three are sentenced to death. As long as the accused are not hanged, we will have to protest and take to the streets.' He said that in 2023, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had said that a nursing college would be built in Ankita's name, but this has not happened.
News18
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma Begin Rahu Ketu Shoot In Kasol
Last Updated: Pulkit Samrat share some behind-the-scenes glimpses from the sets on his social media handle. The iconic duo of Hunny and Chucha, Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma, is back to tickle your funny bone with their next outing, Rahu Ketu. Helmed by director Vipul Vig, the comedy-drama is currently in production, with the latest schedule kicking off in the scenic hills of Kasol, Himachal Pradesh. Pulkit recently took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes glimpses from the sets, instantly sparking fan frenzy. Alongside a carousel of on-set pictures, the actor captioned the post, 'Kasol schedule on, Rahu Ketu in action now!" With the beloved pair reuniting, expectations for another laughter riot are already sky-high. In the first picture, both actors are seen posing with the director against a vibrant fairground backdrop, complete with a giant Ferris wheel in the distance. The next snapshot is a cheerful selfie featuring Pulkit Samrat and his co-star Shalini Pandey, radiating on-set camaraderie. The next post shows Pulkit holding the film's clapboard, with Varun casually standing behind him. In the following picture, the duo strikes a pose together, standing side by side with cheerful expressions. Wrapping up the carousel, the Fukrey actor shared a solo shot of himself proudly holding the clapboard. Pulkit looked dapper in a floral overshirt layered over a blue T-shirt, paired with black pants. Varun kept it cool in a blue overshirt, dark blue T-shirt, and matching black trousers. In no time, the comments section was swamped with reactions from fans and celebs alike. Richa Chadha commented, 'Cute plz enjoy and love to brother chooches." An Instagram user wrote, 'Lessss go." Another one commented, 'Best of luck." Discussing the project, Varun earlier said, 'This is a fascinating movie with an entertaining plot to present on screen." Reuniting with Pulkit on set is like a reunion. Comedy is my happy place, and Rahu Ketu is giving the audience a fresh idea. I'm really excited for everyone to see the chaos we're going to produce!" as quoted by Lokmat Times. Besides this, Pulkit will also be seen in the upcoming romantic drama, Suswagatam Khushamadeed, along with Isabelle Kaif. The film was earlier scheduled to be released on May 16. However, a new release date is yet to be announced by the makers. The actor also has an upcoming sports thriller web series, Glory, with Divyenndu Sharma in his kitty. Varun, on the other hand, will be next seen with Shehnaaz Gill in the film Sab First Class. First Published:
