Kartik jumping from creature to corpses

Actor Kartik Aaryan is keen on proving his versatility and has his schedule packed with back-to-back projects. Having wrapped up Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri with director Sameer Vidwans, he is now focused on Anurag Basu’s yet-to-be titled romantic drama, and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba’s creature comedy Nagzila. He also has Captain India, directed by Chak De! India (2007) filmmaker Shimit Amin in his kitty, which is slated to go on floors in March 2026. Now the buzz is that Kartik is in advanced discussions with Shershaah (2021) director Vishnuvardhan for a new feature film. The project is understood to be a zombie thriller, a genre that the actor has been waiting to explore. He has reportedly responded positively to the filmmaker’s vision and is expected to start shooting in July 2026. However, the actor is committed to completing Basu’s film before the year ends, and before moving on to his upcoming line-up. Interestingly, he isn’t the only star exploring the zombie space, as Ranveer Singh is also said to be planning one with Jai Mehta after he wraps up Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3.

Manoj’s double dhamaka

Manoj Bajpayee

Nearly 10 months after its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, Manoj Bajpayee will return to cinemas with National Award-winning director Raam Reddy’s Jugnuma (The Fable) releasing in India on September 12. His last theatrical outing was Joram (2023). The momentum for Manoj continues, as the trailer of his Netflix thriller Inspector Zende dropped on Monday as well, while season three of his hit web series, The Family Man, is gearing up to stream later this year. Anurag Kashyap, who is presenting the film, is reuniting with the actor after Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). He described Jugnuma as “deeply humane yet magical in the way it unfolds”, praising the performance as “restrained, enigmatic, and profoundly moving — unlike anything we’ve seen before.” Executive producer, Guneet Monga Kapoor, said the film “felt like a mirror” that “unsettled me, comforted me, and reminded me of cinema’s deepest purpose. This film feels like a modern classic in the making.”