15/04/2026

LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 15, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

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I NDIAN action movie Dhurandhar: The Revenge has swept domestic box-office records as the highest-earning Bollywood Hindi-language film, its producers said recently, and is vying for other top spots. Beloved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the high-octane and violent movie is the second chapter in the tale of an undercover Indian intelligence agent in arch-enemy Pakistan. Decried as chest-thumping nationalism by critics, it has been lapped up by its many fans. It is the first Hindi film – and only the third Indian movie – to cross the landmark 10 billion-rupee (RM424.2 million) mark in domestic takings, achieving the feat after 18 days. It has also become the the highest grossing Indian film in North America, the first to exceed US$25 million (RM98.9 million) in takings. “ Dhurandhar has become a massive cinematic phenomenon. I have been in the film business for about four decades now, and the frenzy for this film has amazed me,” said veteran film distributor Raj Bansal. Starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, the sequel to the 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar – shot simultaneously – jumped to box-office success since its March 19 release. The nearly four-hour long film has grossed over 160 billion rupees worldwide, according to its film producer Jio Studios. ‘Hooting, screaming’ Heavily-muscled star Ranveer has been a particular draw, with Raj describing wild scenes in the cinema as the long-haired action hero battles his enemies on screen. “Middle-aged women watched the first day, first show, despite knowing about hardcore violence and brutal action in it. There is a lot of hooting and screaming in theatres,” he said. French President Emmanuel Macron used the film’s title track in a social media video during his India visit. But in domestic takings, it remains third behind two Telugu-language hits – the 2017 epic Baahubali 2: The AMERICAN actor Jensen Ackles said no character is safe in the fifth and final season of The Boys , the blood soaked superhero satire that recently arrived on Prime Video. “This is the culmination of four seasons now coming into the big finale. All bets are off,” the Supernatural actor told Reuters. Ackles, who plays the volatile super-powered Soldier Boy, said show creator Eric Kripke had forged a final season that pushes alliances to the breaking point and exposes vulnerabilities fans may not expect. The main cast returns for the final season, including Erin Moriarty as Starlight, Laz Alonso as Mother’s Milk and Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko Miyashiro. Season five marks the long anticipated showdown between the egotistical antagonist Homelander – who now believes himself a god – and Billy Butcher, the brutish leader of the vigilante group known as The

Indian hit movie Dhurandhar breaks Bollywood records A woman walks past a poster of Dhurandhar: The Revenge , displayed outside a cinema in Mumbai. – AFPPIC

analysts suggest it will not overtake Dangal , Baahubali 2 or Pushpa 2 . Still, some producers have pushed their film releases to wait for the box office queues for Dhurandhar to die down. “Nobody is daring to face the film,” said Raj. – AFP

o Spy action-thriller crosses 10 billion-rupee mark in domestic takings

Conclusion and 2024 action drama Pushpa 2: The Rule . It remains well behind the highest grossing Indian film of all time, the

200 billion rupees. But while the film continues a strong run, maintaining high daily numbers into its third week, trade

2016 Hindi-language wrestling drama Dangal , which enjoyed enormous popularity in neighbouring China, pushing its worldwide earnings above

Brutal battles beckon: ‘All bets are off’ in final season of The Boys

humanity,” Urban said. Antony Starr, plays Homelander, said his character has moved in the opposite direction. “Evolution is paused. Arrested development has prevented him from growth,” Starr said. He described Homelander as emotionally and morally bankrupt. “Which is good for the show. Because it means he’s going to make a mess,” he added. The Boys has spawned spin-off series, including Gen V , The Boys Presents: Diabolical and the upcoming prequel series starring Ackles called Vought Rising , which was announced in 2024 at San Diego Comic Con. No official premiere date has been announced. Kripke said he is open to creating even more spin-offs in the future as long as they make sense within the franchise and add something that goes beyond the initial plot of The Boys . who

Boys. The series is distributed by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios. The Boys plot to deploy a deadly virus capable of wiping out all super powered beings, a last-ditch effort to end Homelander’s grip on the world. “That’s the harrowing situation we’re in when season five begins. Homelander is well on his way to trying to become immortal – and it’s up to The Boys to stop him,” said Jack Quaid, who plays Hughie Campbell. The final season delivers on the rivalry between Butcher and Homelander that has driven the show since its debut in 2019. Karl Urban, who portrays Butcher, said the character’s newly acquired powers come at a cost. “He becomes very cold, calculated and turns into Terminator-like, while the other Butcher (when he doesn’t use his powers) is really just struggling to hold onto the last vestiges of his

Urban plays Butcher, the brutish leader of the vigilante group known as The Boys. – REUTERSPIC