Sizzling Samachar: ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ wraps filming, promising fresh magic and excitement; Ajay Devgn's ‘Maidaan’ confirms Eid 2024 release amidst Box Office clash

Welcome to your daily dose of entertainment news on OTTplay, I'm your host Nikhil. News from Hollywood up next.

‘Mortal Kombat 2’ wraps filming, promising fresh magic and excitement

Filming for Mortal Kombat 2 has concluded, according to a post by actor Lewis Tan from the film's wrap party. The highly anticipated sequel stars Karl Urban as Johnny Cage and is directed by Simon McQuoid. The original film received mixed reviews, but Urban's addition to the cast and the return of beloved characters like Scorpion played by Hiroyuki Sanada have generated hope for an improved sequel. The plot reportedly involves a mysterious incident at WizTech, with an adult Justin Russo choosing a human life over his wizard powers. The film aims to deliver a fresh and exciting storyline, reigniting the magic of the original video game series. While Mortal Kombat 2 awaits a release date, fans can catch the original on Prime Video.

Ajay Devgn's ‘Maidaan’ confirms Eid 2024 release amidst Box Office clash

Ajay Devgn's much-anticipated sports drama, Maidaan, has officially announced its release on Eid in April 2024. Directed by Amit Sharma, the film promises to be a cinematic experience with Devgn portraying the role of Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. The announcement sets the stage for an exciting box office clash, as Maidaan will go head-to-head with another major release, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The clash is expected to generate significant industry buzz and captivate fans. Maidaan aims to shed light on the untold story of Indian football's golden era, showcasing Rahim's profound impact on shaping the sport in the country.

Shah Rukh Khan opts out of romantic comedy, avoids Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Inshallah’

In a surprising move, Shah Rukh Khan has decided to steer clear of romantic comedies and has reportedly declined to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Inshallah. Sources reveal that during their recent meeting, Shah Rukh Khan conveyed his decision to Bhansali, stating that he is not keen on revisiting the romance genre, feeling he has extensively explored it on-screen. Shah Rukh Khan, acknowledging his fruitful collaboration with Bhansali, has expressed a desire for a more unique and larger-than-life project. Insiders share that SRK is open to teaming up with Bhansali but wants a script that justifies the collaboration of these two powerhouse entities. The actor is looking for a project that goes beyond the conventional romantic comedy and envisions a potential 1000-crore blockbuster. Meanwhile, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is adapting his plans and is currently in the process of casting for his upcoming romantic film. The director is reportedly in talks with leading actors to bring his epic tale of romance to life.

CBFC orders cuts in Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Fighter’ over “sexually suggested visuals”

In a breaking development, the Central Board of Film Certification has directed the makers of the highly anticipated film Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, to make several edits, including the removal of 'sexually suggested visuals.' The CBFC's decision comes just days before the film's scheduled release on January 25. As per the cut list, the CBFC has instructed the addition of an anti-smoking static message in Hindi. Furthermore, an abusive word in two dialogues, at 53 minutes and 1 hour 18 minutes, has been muted or replaced. Notably, the most significant cut involves the removal of eight seconds of 'sexually suggested visuals,' which have presumably been substituted with more appropriate shots. Additionally, 25 seconds of audio in a TV news visual scene were removed, replaced by 23 seconds of alternative audio. Following these modifications, Fighter has been granted a U/A certificate, and its runtime, as per the censor certificate, is mentioned as 166 minutes, translating to 2 hours and 46 minutes. It's worth noting that this isn't the first time that a film featuring Deepika Padukone and directed by Siddharth Anand has faced CBFC cuts due to explicit scenes. Their previous collaboration, Pathaan, underwent similar alterations to certain scenes featuring partial nudity and sensuous dance movements.

Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna starrer ‘Animal’ to release on Netflix with extended cut

In a surprising turn of events, the much-discussed Bollywood film Animal, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, is set to release on Netflix on Republic Day 2024. The film, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has already achieved significant success with a worldwide box office collection of Rs 915 crores. What makes this OTT release even more intriguing is the inclusion of an extended cut. While the theatrical version has a runtime of three hours and 21 minutes, the Netflix version will run for three hours and 29 minutes. The extended cut features a scene between Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, which was excluded from the theatrical release. Sandeep Reddy Vanga believes that this additional scene will enhance the narrative for the audience. Animal has been a topic of debate due to its portrayal of violence and misogyny. The film narrates the story of Balbir played by Anil Kapoor, a father who neglects his son Ranvijay played by Kapoor in his childhood. When Balbir gets shot, his son seeks revenge on those he believes are responsible. The OTT release of Animal on Netflix is anticipated to reach a global audience, and its reception on the streaming platform will be closely watched.

Well that's all we got for this episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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• Written by Apurva Dutta