India is making a bold move to cement its position as a global leader in the creators’ economy with the announcement of a USD 1 billion fund, unveiled by the Central government on Thursday, March 13. This landmark initiative comes as the country gears up to host the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025, drawing participation from over 100 countries. A $1 Billion Boost for Creators Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the USD 1 billion fund. “This fund will be dedicated to ensuring that the energetic creators, who are using the latest technologies, will be able to access capital, hone their skills, upgrade their production levels, and reach the global markets,” Vaishnaw stated during a high-profile event in New Delhi. The fund aims to support creators in fields like animation, gaming, VFX, and digital content, ensuring they have the resources to produce world-class work.Managed through a public-private partnership, this financial injection is expected to propel Indian content onto the international stage, aligning with the government’s “Create in India” vision. The announcement has sparked excitement among industry experts who see it as a game-changer for India’s $28 billion media and entertainment sector, projected to grow to $54 billion by 2026. WAVES Summit: A Global Stage for Media and Entertainment The WAVES Summit, set to take place in Mumbai, is being positioned as a landmark event akin to the World Economic Forum in Davos. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, alongside Vaishnaw and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, hosted envoys from over 100 nations to promote the summit. “The world is already witnessing economic and political rebalancing. This is now moving to its technology and its cultural facets as well. Real globalization is not about a single narrative or one truth; it is about capturing the enormous diversity of our people on our planet,” Jaishankar said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a Roundtable of top media CEOs during the event, highlighting its significance. Fadnavis added, “Mumbai, the entertainment capital of India, was the perfect permanent venue for the WAVES Summit, like Davos is for the World Economic Forum and Cannes is for the eponymous film festival.” Indian Institute of Creative Technology Takes Root in Mumbai In a parallel development, Vaishnaw announced the establishment of India’s first Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. The Maharashtra government has allotted land in Film City, Goregaon, for this state-of-the-art facility, with a budget of Rs 391 crore (approximately $47 million). The IICT will focus on training and research in emerging creative technologies, equipping the next generation of creators with world-class skills.“This is a confluence of tech, media, and entertainment,” Vaishnaw noted, crediting Prime Minister Modi’s foresight for driving these initiatives. The institute is expected to become a cornerstone of India’s creative ecosystem, complementing the $1 billion fund. “Create in India” Challenge: Unleashing Creative Talent A precursor to WAVES, the “Create in India” Challenge has already captured global attention, receiving over Rs 25 lakh (2.5 million) submissions. Vaishnaw revealed that more than 80,000 creators have advanced to the next stage, with 1,000 finalists set to showcase their work at the summit. “The vision behind this initiative was to bring together the creative world and modern technological usage to create unique content,” he said, highlighting the challenge’s role in identifying and nurturing talent. WAVES Features: Bazaar, Creatosphere, and Global Dialogue The WAVES Summit will feature several key components. The WAVES Bazaar will serve as a marketplace for content showcases and buyer-seller meets, fostering business opportunities. The Creatosphere will offer young creators a platform to connect, learn, and collaborate through masterclasses, workshops, and networking sessions. Meanwhile, Jaishankar and Vaishnaw will host the Global Media Dialogue, with plenary sessions and panel discussions led by industry luminaries, as confirmed by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju. Mumbai: The Epicenter of India’s Creative Future With over 100 countries participating, WAVES is poised to establish Mumbai as a global media hub. The summit’s scale and the $1 billion fund signal India’s intent to lead the creators’ economy, blending its rich cultural heritage with technological innovation. As the countdown to May 1 begins, the world is watching India’s creative renaissance unfold.Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan REACTS to PM Narendra Modi’s announcement of WAVES 2025, calls it “occasion that champions and fosters creativity”: “It is with great anticipation that I look forward to”

Sonam Kapoor, who was announced as the ambassador for French luxury house – Dior late last year has now joined global icons – Oscar nominated actress Rosamund Pike, Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen along with house ambassadors Camille Cottin and Deva Cassel for a unique film parody launching the new D-Journey bag by Dior. Subverting the tone of infomercials, British actress Rosamund Pike is the spokesperson for Dior in this parody film, presenting all the assets of this new must-have bag, the ideal companion combining glamour and freedom of movement.“Finding the perfect bag can be a real challenge.” This is the slogan delivered at the beginning of this parody which has been produced by the House for the launch of the D-Journey created by Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Dior spring-summer 2025 ready-to-wear collection. In the parody film, Bollywood star and global fashion icon Sonam Kapoor plays the role of an overwhelmed editor-in-chief, along with Olympic tennis champion Zheng Qinwen fresh off the court, Camille Cottin and Deva Cassel, in the middle of rehearsals or meditation, and the model Anyier Anei during a fitting, wittily praising the many talents and facets of their D-Journey: from its infinite versatility to its incomparable practicality.Also Read: Sonam Kapoor, Anand Ahuja announce collaboration with Topaz Detailing as it debuts in India 

Binny and Family is all set to return to the theatres on Thursday, May 15, 2025, following its notable success earlier this year. The re-release, announced by producers Ektaa R Kapoor, Mahaveer Jain, Shashank Khaitan, and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba in collaboration with PVR, will coincide with World Family Day, an international observance dedicated to celebrating family unity.The decision to bring Binny and Family back to the big screen comes after the film received an overwhelmingly positive response from both critics and audiences during its initial run. Its popularity was further highlighted in March 2025, when screenings earned a standing ovation, underscoring its continued resonance with viewers.The re-release on May 15, 2025, aligns with the themes of World Family Day, offering audiences another opportunity to engage with the film. PVR will facilitate the theatrical rollout, making it accessible to cinema-goers across the country. Additional details about the re-release, such as specific screening locations or promotional plans, have not yet been disclosed.’BINNY & FAMILY’ TO RE-RELEASE IN THEATRES ON 15 MAY 2025… Standing ovation for #BinnyAndFamily, again in March 2025.After receiving an overwhelming response from both critics and audiences, #EktaaRKapoor – #MahaveerJain – #ShashankKhaitan – #MrighdeepSinghLamba – #PVR are… pic.twitter.com/kD8HM5zy8b — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) March 13, 2025 Further updates regarding Binny and Family’s theatrical re-release are expected as the date approaches.Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Sanjay Dutt-starrer Jung to re-release on its 25th anniversary; re-release poster out

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a long-standing complaint against renowned singer Kailash Kher, accused of hurting religious sentiments with his song ‘Babam Bam’ dedicated to Lord Shiva. In a ruling dated March 4, 2025, and made public on Thursday, a division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Shyam Chandak stated that there was “no deliberate or malicious intent” on Kher’s part to outrage religious feelings. The decision quashes a 2014 complaint filed by Narinder Makkar in a Ludhiana court, which alleged that the song’s video contained vulgar elements offensive to devotees of Lord Shiva. Court Finds No Evidence of Malicious Intent The complaint against Kailash Kher stemmed from his 2007 song ‘Babam Bam’, part of the album ‘Kailasa Jhoomo Re.’ Narinder Makkar, a self-identified Shiva devotee, claimed the song’s video depicted “scantily dressed women” and scenes of kissing, which he deemed vulgar and offensive to his religious sentiments. Makkar sought action under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 295A and 298, which address deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings with malicious intent. However, the Bombay High Court ruled that the song’s lyrics were “nothing but praise of Lord Shiva and the attributes of his mighty character,” finding no grounds to support the complainant’s claims.The court stated that for an offense under IPC Section 295A to be established, there must be a clear, deliberate attempt to insult religious beliefs—a threshold not met in this case. “Every action which may be to the dislike of a class of people may not necessarily lead to outraging religious sentiments,” the bench noted, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between personal dislike and intentional harm. A Decade-Long Legal Battle Ends Kailash Kher’s legal battle began in 2014 when Makkar filed the complaint before the Ilaka Judicial Magistrate in Ludhiana, Punjab. At the time, bailable warrants were issued against Kher after he failed to appear in court, prompting the singer to approach the Bombay High Court for relief. The High Court granted interim protection in 2014, ensuring no coercive action would be taken against him, a safeguard that remained in place until the final ruling this month.In his plea, filed through advocate Ashok Sarogi, Kher argued that he was solely the singer of ‘Babam Bam’ and had no role in the video’s choreography or direction, which was handled by Sony Music Entertainment. Sarogi further noted that the video had been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before its release, reinforcing that its content was not intended to offend. The court agreed, stating, “What is important to note in this whole scenario is the absence of the deliberate and malicious intention on the part of the petitioner, who is just singing the song.” Bombay High Court Critiques Intolerance in Society The bench took the opportunity to address broader societal issues, quoting author A.G. Noorani to underline the importance of tolerance in a free society. “Intolerance of dissent from the orthodoxy of the day has been the bane of Indian society for centuries. But it is precisely in the ready acceptance of the right to dissent as distinct from its mere tolerance, that a free society distinguishes itself,” the court stated. This observation reflects the judiciary’s stance on balancing freedom of expression with religious sensitivities, a recurring theme in similar cases.The court also pointed out procedural lapses in the case, noting that prosecution under IPC Section 295A requires prior sanction under Section 196(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which was not obtained. This procedural oversight further supported the decision to quash the complaint.Also Read: Anupam Kher shares hilarious video with Kailash Kher showcasing their playful bond, watch

Aamir Khan will turn 60 years tomorrow, on March 14. The superstar loves to interact with the media on his big day and this year too, he called journalists for a meet and greet. Everyone expected that just like every year, Aamir will talk to the media about his life and films. But this year, he dropped a bomb all of a sudden. The superstar introduced his partner Gauri Spratt to the media, leading to a frenzy.Aamir Khan at first spoke to the media about his birthday, ad with Ranbir Kapoor and a lot more. Later, during an off record conversation, he suddenly told the journalists that he wants to introduce his partner. This is when Gauri walked in and as expected, the journalists were in for a surprise.During the question and answer session with the media, Aamir Khan also spoke about his recent meeting with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. On this Aamir Khan said, “We met aise hi. We met after a very long time. It was a lovely afternoon that we had together.”Did they talk about turning 60 this year? Aamir Khan answered, “No, we didn’t talk about our birthdays at all. Hum yahan ki baatein kar rahe the. We gossiped about you all (the media)!”Also Read: Aamir Khan to announce Sitaare Zameen Par’s release date on his 60th birthday