AGP Executive Report

Live Music: Shilpa Rao’s set at Mumbai’s Bollywood Music Project was cut short, with her mic switched off; she said she was deeply hurt, organisers apologised and a film workers’ group condemned the treatment. Artist Dignity: Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal has apologised to Daler Mehndi, and Mika Singh’s team says it hopes the dispute can now be put behind them. Remembering Jogen Chowdhury: The celebrated painter and former Rajya Sabha member has died at 87, prompting tributes to his distinctive work and mentorship. Film Industry: A reported CBFC data breach may have exposed documents from more than 500 films, including scripts and censor-board records; the board says it is investigating. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 has grossed about ₹666 crore worldwide and set a new UK box-office record for a Tamil film. Visual Arts: NGMA in Delhi has opened a retrospective tracing Anupam Sud’s six-decade career. Literature: Gulzar brought poems and stories about Mumbai to the Godrej Mumbai LitFest, reflecting on the city’s changing identity and migrant life.

Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 surged 66.6% on its second Saturday, taking India net earnings to ₹369 crore; Vijay Deverakonda’s Ranabaali crossed ₹50 crore, while Malayalam film Titans rose 20%. Big-Screen Ambition: S.S. Rajamouli says Mahesh Babu’s Varanasi is five to six times bigger than RRR; filming wrapped in 275 days. Industry Watch: After shootings targeting Tiger Shroff and Rohit Shetty, film bodies called for stronger set security. Naseeruddin Shah and Payal Kapadia also backed protesting students at Kolkata’s film institute. On the Festival Circuit: Dharamshala International Film Festival returns October 29–November 1 with films from India and abroad. Mumbai LitFest brought Gulzar, Shashi Tharoor and Pavan K. Varma into conversations on the city and Indian philosophy. Culture & Heritage: A Bengaluru festival paired Balinese performance with Yakshagana in a Ramayana collaboration; Hema Malini opened Braj Raj Utsav with a classical dance presentation. Hyderabad’s P.T. Reddy Art Museum preserves around 600 works and 100 sculptures.

Film Institute Protest: Naseeruddin Shah and filmmaker Payal Kapadia have backed agitating SRFTI students in Kolkata. Classes are suspended, hostels have been closed and students report water and mess problems as the dispute with administrators continues. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 has surpassed the lifetime India earnings of its predecessor, becoming the second-highest-grossing Tamil film in the country. Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana has crossed ₹10 crore in advance bookings, 12 days before its November 5 release. Live Music: Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 Delhi concert is back on after police cleared it following a security review. Books and Culture: Ahmedabad’s international book festival has opened with more than 700 stalls and 125 publishers, offering events through November 1. Art: Paintings by Bengaluru artist Rumale Chennabasaviah preserve a view of the city’s flowering trees and quieter streets from decades past.

Film News: SS Rajamouli says his next epic, Varanasi, is five to six times larger in scale than RRR. Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone are preparing a major song shoot for King, while Prabhas’s birthday brought a new Fauzi teaser and a Kalki 2898 AD sequel update. Box Office & Rights: Jailer 2 has crossed ₹600 crore worldwide, and Drishyam 3 continues its strong run. The Delhi High Court has asked Doosra’s makers to respond to Sourav Ganguly’s personality-rights plea and arrange a screening, but refused to halt the film’s release. Live Music: Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 Delhi concert is back on after police clearance following a security review. Art & Craft: Tanishq’s Dubai exhibition is showcasing more than 800 rare high-jewellery pieces, including its Rahul Mishra collaboration. Creative Freedom: The removal of photographs from Raihan Vadra’s Bikaner House exhibition has sparked debate over censorship and artistic freedom; meanwhile, a new Society of Indian Screen Editors aims to raise recognition for the craft. Young Readers: Bookaroo returns to Srinagar on November 1 with 22 sessions for children, spanning stories, music, drama and art.

Film & Rights: The Delhi High Court has asked the makers of Doosra to respond to Sourav Ganguly’s personality-rights plea and arrange a screening, but has not halted the film’s release. In a separate dispute, the Madras High Court temporarily barred Miracle Movies from making claims about Ravi Mohan’s Bro Club rights. Live Music: Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 Delhi concert is back on after police approved it following a review of safety and crowd-management plans. Anyma’s Mumbai show has shifted to November 22 after November 21 was declared a dry day. Art & Expression: Shashi Tharoor criticised Bikaner House for removing protest photographs from Raihan Vadra’s exhibition, saying the decision damaged India’s image as a freedom-loving democracy. Cinema: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 has crossed ₹600 crore worldwide, while Kannada hit Premada Oorali has become the sixth-highest-grossing Kannada film globally. Storytelling: Filmmakers in Hyderabad discussed how AI could open filmmaking to new creators and help take Indian mythology and folklore to global audiences.

Bollywood Security: The shooting targeting Tiger Shroff has prompted fresh concern for film stars’ safety. Police have arrested 10 people, while claims linking the attack to a gangster network remain unverified. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 reached Rs 606.05 crore worldwide in eight days. Ranabaali, starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, collected Rs 63.65 crore in its first week. Concert Setback: Delhi Police denied security clearance for Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 show at JLN Stadium, citing security concerns. Art & Expression: Bikaner House asked Raihan Vadra to remove photographs of protests from his exhibition, citing venue policy. Vadra alleges censorship, fuelling debate over artistic freedom. Music & Film: Anoushka Shankar brought Indian classical music to new listeners at Beijing’s music festival, while A.R. Rahman presented music from Ramayana in Chennai. Anushka Sen was named India’s global ambassador at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Art and Expression: Photographer Raihan Vadra says Bikaner House asked him to remove around 74 protest images from his Delhi exhibition, sparking accusations of censorship; the venue says the works breached its policies. Live Music: Delhi Police denied security permission for Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 concert at JLN Stadium, citing threat inputs and festive-season demands. The Aura Tour date remains uncertain. Artists’ Rights: Ila Arun and Sudesh Lehri criticised the public treatment of Daler Mehndi at a Uttarakhand event, saying concerns should have been handled privately. On Screen: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 reached ₹578.3 crore worldwide in seven days, becoming 2026’s second-highest-grossing Indian film so far. Global Reach: Anushka Sen, named India’s global ambassador for the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival, said Indian stories deserve a wider international audience. Culture: Falguni Pathak wrapped nine nights of Mumbai Navratri celebrations, while President Droupadi Murmu called for greater training and financial autonomy for traditional artists.

Box Office: Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s Ranabaali has reached ₹59.65 crore worldwide after six days, despite a midweek dip. Theatre: Visakhapatnam’s four-day Rasagjna National Multilingual Theatre Festival opens today, with performances in Telugu, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali and Kannada. Art & Craft: Artist Doyel Joshi’s Bvlgari installation brings together 4,500 terracotta diya-inspired forms, made with potters and craftswomen. Exhibition Row: More than 70 protest photographs were removed from Raihan Vadra’s Delhi exhibition, according to the artist; about 40 works remain on display. Artists’ Support: President Droupadi Murmu called for greater training and financial autonomy for traditional and rural artists. Big-Screen Buzz: Ramayana: Part 1, due in cinemas November 5, has sold over one lakh advance tickets and collected about ₹6.07 crore in India. Global Stage: A new South Asian arts festival, featuring Indian and diaspora artists across music, dance and visual art, is planned for London next June.

Film Industry: Mumbai Police say the shooters who attacked Tiger Shroff’s car were targeting another Bollywood star, prompting tighter security for actors. Global Spotlight: Anushka Sen has been named India’s global ambassador for the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival, saying Indian stories deserve a worldwide audience. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 has crossed ₹500 crore worldwide, while Kannada hit Premada Ooralli has climbed to sixth among the industry’s biggest grossers. Ramayana Buzz: Advance bookings for Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s epic are nearing ₹5 crore, with Mumbai cinemas adding early-morning and midnight shows; Yash has urged audiences not to fixate on minor VFX flaws. Music and Culture: Echoes of Earth brings TribalNeed and Shanka Tribe to Mumbai on October 24 for live music and conversations about art, the city and its ecosystems. Visual Arts: Hyderabad artist Priti Samyukta won third prize at the Tashkent International Art Biennale for textile works inspired by memory and quilt-making traditions.

Bollywood Security: Delhi Police arrested four alleged weapon suppliers in the Tiger Shroff shooting case, as Mumbai tightened security around other stars. Festivals & Film: Yami Gautam joined Delhi’s Dussehra celebrations and urged families to share traditions with children; West Bengal has declared Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s upcoming Ramayana tax-free, with Mumbai tickets reaching ₹2,350. Music: Shah Rukh Khan will host the UNIFYD festival in Abu Dhabi next March, featuring Arijit Singh, Sonu Nigam and Karan Aujla. Rolling Loud India also announced a December lineup led by Burna Boy, Metro Boomin and Karan Aujla. Arts & Heritage: Serendipity Arts will bring a South Asian festival to London museums and cultural venues in 2027, while an Ahmedabad exhibition revisits India’s forgotten porcelain tradition.

Bollywood: Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh introduced their newborn daughter, Devi Padukone Singh, in a family photo with elder daughter Dua. Film Industry Safety: Police recovered bullet shells and live cartridges after gunmen fired at Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai; three suspects are in custody, renewing concern over security for film stars. Box Office & Fandom: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 is nearing ₹500 crore worldwide, while cricketer Sanju Samson booked a theatre to watch it with family and teammates. On the Film Slate: Aadi Saikumar will lead the period thriller Aadi Rudrra, planned in five languages. Nepal has denied screening permission to Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan’s Udta Teer. Music & Legacy: Mumbai named a road after late composer Bappi Lahiri, while Badshah, Mika Singh and Palash Sen backed Daler Mehndi amid criticism of his recent performance. Festivals & Cinema: Bastar’s 75-day Dussehra honours Goddess Danteshwari without burning a Ravana effigy. Sharjah Film Platform will screen 26 films, including Indian work, and host a retrospective of Oscar-nominated director Abderrahmane Sissako.

Bollywood Safety: Three suspects in the firing at Tiger Shroff’s car have been handed to Mumbai Police on 48-hour transit remand. Shroff escaped unharmed, but his driver was injured. The attack has reignited fears over threats to film personalities and drawn calls for stronger protection. Dussehra Stage: Yami Gautam is set to perform the symbolic Ravan Vadh at Delhi’s Luv Kush Ramleela, themed “Respect for Women.” In Mumbai, a road near Bappi Lahiri’s Juhu home has been named in the late composer’s honour. Music & Festivals: Rolling Loud India has announced a Mumbai lineup featuring Burna Boy, Metro Boomin, Skepta and Karan Aujla. Arts Recognition: The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar has honoured 106 young performing artists, including Nagaland’s Hito Kiho and Ovungbeni Ovung. Kashmiri folk theatre artist Rayees Wathori also received the award for his work preserving Bhand Pather. Industry Moves: Shreya Ghoshal has joined the Recording Academy as a Grammy voting member, while Warner Music India has acquired the Gemini Music catalogue and signed new South Indian partnerships.

Bollywood Safety: Tiger Shroff escaped injury after gunmen opened fire on his car in Mumbai; his driver and another person were hurt, and three suspects were detained. A group claiming links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility, prompting fresh calls for stronger protection for film personalities. Music: Shreya Ghoshal has joined the Recording Academy as a Grammy voting member, saying she hopes more Indian artists gain global recognition. Warner Music India also acquired Tamil film soundtracks from Gemini Music and signed new partnerships with filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon and Malayalam studio Magic Frames. Film: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 grossed a reported ₹425.9 crore worldwide in four days, setting a record opening weekend for a Tamil film. Festivals: Weverse Con unveiled its first India lineup, with ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM and TOMORROW X TOGETHER among the acts set for Delhi in March 2027. Rolling Loud India also announced December performances by Burna Boy, Metro Boomin and Skepta. Arts and Community: Delhi Police filed charges against seven people over the fatal mob assault on Manipuri music teacher Chongtham Vikram Singh. A stampede at a Durga Puja pavilion in Kolkata killed 19 people and left 25 injured.

Film Industry Safety: Tiger Shroff escaped injury when gunmen opened fire at his car in Mumbai’s Juhu area; his driver and a bystander were hurt. Police have formed 15 teams to investigate, while a gang’s claim of responsibility remains unverified. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 took in Rs 55.85 crore net in India on Sunday, reaching Rs 424.25 crore worldwide in four days. Festival Tragedy: A stampede during Durga Puja in Kolkata killed 19 people and injured 25; authorities have launched an investigation into crowd safety. Music: Tamil composer Deva, known for shaping the sound of Tamil cinema and Rajinikanth’s iconic intro music, has died at 75.

Festival Tragedies: A truck struck devotees at a temple in Gwalior, killing 13. In Kolkata, 19 people died and 25 were injured in a Durga Puja pandal stampede; authorities are investigating crowd-control failures. Living Traditions: Kashmiri rabab makers are working to keep the craft alive across generations. Bengaluru’s Natya Parampara Utsav will celebrate classical dance on October 29. On Screen: Prabhas’s Spirit is set for a Diwali 2027 release, potentially facing Ramayana 2. International filmmakers also met Uttarakhand’s chief minister to discuss a four-film Beatles project, planned to shoot in Rishikesh in February 2027. Music Legacy: Tamil composer Deva, who helped define the sound of gaana and created iconic Rajinikanth themes, has died at 75; musicians and film colleagues paid tribute. Bollywood and the Courts: Imran Khan has challenged an FRRO notice directing him to leave India by October 28.

Cinema: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 surged to Rs 317 crore worldwide in three days, while Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s Ranabaali struggled to build momentum. Marathi thriller Gondhal, India’s Oscar entry, is set for a pan-India release on November 13. Music: Tamil composer Deva, 75, has died; Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and other film figures paid tribute to the maker of many memorable hits. Art: Hyderabad’s ‘Showkeen’ brings landscapes by Vinod Sharma together with works by M.F. Husain, Amrita Sher-Gil, S.H. Raza and other masters. In London, Amar Kanwar’s major Serpentine exhibition explores memory, history and democracy. Festivals: A stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata killed at least 17 people and injured dozens after heavy rain triggered a crowd surge. Delhi’s first Weverse Con, announced for 2027, will feature K-pop acts including TXT, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM and Hwasa.