AGP Executive Report

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.

Tamil Music: Veteran composer Deva, who brought gaana into mainstream Tamil cinema and created Rajinikanth’s signature entrance music, has died at 75. Tamil Nadu will accord him state honours. Live Music: Delhi will host India’s first Weverse Con Festival on March 27–28, 2027, with ENHYPEN, TXT, LE SSERAFIM and Hwasa among the acts. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 has crossed ₹200 crore worldwide, while Ranabaali opened to ₹9.25 crore net in India. Prahaar and Nayyi Navelli had slower starts. Indian Cinema: Marathi thriller Gondhal, India’s official Oscar entry, will release nationwide on November 13 in six languages. Durga Puja: Jaya Bachchan joined Kajol and family at the Mukerji pandal in Mumbai. Streaming: Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte’s crime thriller Akka premieres on Netflix October 30.

Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 roared past ₹200 crore worldwide in two days, with overseas earnings helping drive its strong opening. India’s Oscar Entry: Marathi thriller Gondhal will release nationwide in six languages on November 13 after being selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. Music Festivals: Shah Rukh Khan’s UNIFYD festival will bring Arijit Singh, Sonu Nigam and Karan Aujla to Abu Dhabi in March 2027; Delhi will host India’s first Weverse Con Festival that same month, with ENHYPEN, TXT and LE SSERAFIM among the acts. Celebrity Rights: Kriti Sanon has asked the Delhi High Court to protect her identity from AI-generated impersonations and unauthorised commercial use; the court sought further legal research ahead of another hearing. Actor’s Legal Fight: Imran Khan plans to challenge a notice directing him to leave India by October 28 after he joined a Mumbai protest.

Live Music: Shah Rukh Khan has unveiled UNIFYD, a one-day Indian music festival in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2027, featuring Arijit Singh, Karan Aujla and Sonu Nigam among 15-plus acts. Epic Cinema: A new trailer for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana spotlights the Ram-Ravana clash, with upgraded visuals and music by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman; the film is due November 5. Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 opened strongly, earning a reported ₹125.25 crore worldwide on day one. Its Prime Video release is expected November 12, though that date is unconfirmed. Streaming and Anime: Crunchyroll has launched a manga service in India with more than 250 titles, while its October schedule adds Hindi, Tamil and Telugu anime dubs. Indian Indie Film: Punjabi feature Birds in the Dark won both the New Currents and audience awards at Busan, a major win for director Shashank Walia’s debut. New Releases: Ranabaali, starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, and Yami Gautam’s Nayyi Navelli opened in cinemas to mixed early reactions. Music: Indian rock guitarist Mahesh Tinaikar, a founding member of Indus Creed, has died at 63.

Box Office: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 opened with ₹59.7 crore net in India and a worldwide gross of ₹125.25 crore, a powerful start for the Tamil action sequel. New Releases: Prahaar, starring Rajkummar Rao as prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, reaches cinemas today; an early review praises its courtroom drama and Rao’s performance. Music & Culture: India’s acting envoy in Bangladesh celebrated music’s role in cultural ties at a Dhaka concert honouring Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey. Actor Imran Khan: After Mumbai Police ordered him to leave India by October 28 over joining a protest, Khan is preparing to challenge the notice in Bombay High Court. Kiran Rao questioned the police action, while Saba Azad called it “absolute BS.” Music Loss: Mahesh Tinaikar, founding guitarist of Rock Machine and Indus Creed, has died at 62. K-pop Backlash: HYBE’s Weverse Con India promotion drew criticism from Indian fans who said its portrayal relied on cultural stereotypes ahead of the festival’s 2027 Delhi debut.

Film & TV: Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 has opened in cinemas, with early reviews praising its star power while noting flaws. Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna reunite in period drama Ranabaali, due October 16. Bollywood: Imran Khan plans to challenge an order directing him to leave India by October 28 after joining a Mumbai protest; the notice puts his long-awaited screen return in question. Epic Cinema: The international trailer for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, is being launched in Bengaluru as its global campaign begins. Media Industry: At Mumbai’s CII Big Picture Summit, the information and broadcasting secretary urged Indian companies to build global reach and own original content. A CII paper says the sector must grow about 15% annually to reach $100 billion by the early 2030s. Arts & Music: Peter Nagy, whose Nature Morte gallery helped shape India’s contemporary art scene, has died aged 67. Sitarist and teacher Pt. Arvind Parikh turns 99 on October 19, marking a career devoted to performance and nurturing musicians.

Film & Streaming: Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan will share the stage on The Great Indian Kapil Show on October 17. Drishyam 3 has crossed ₹500 crore worldwide, while Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 opened with a strong first-day ticket rush. Contemporary Art: Peter Nagy, the Nature Morte founder credited with bringing Indian contemporary art to a wider audience, has died at 67. Music & Performance: In New Delhi, didgeridoo player William Barton and sitarist Shubhendra Rao brought Indigenous Australian and Indian classical traditions together. Pune will host a free October 18 programme pairing Marathi poetry with classical and semi-classical music, including Kathak. Tribute: Film and theatre figures gathered in Mumbai to remember Nana Patekar at a prayer meet celebrating his contribution to cinema and Marathi theatre. Indian Cinema Abroad: Tamil and Assamese films feature among the Indian works drawing attention at the Busan International Film Festival.

Film Rights: The Bombay High Court declined to halt Queen Forever, allowing Kangana Ranaut’s sequel to proceed for now as Phantom Studios’ dispute over the original film’s intellectual property continues. New Projects: Banita Sandhu has reportedly joined Akshay Kumar’s sci-fi thriller Samuk as a British-born Indian environmentalist; the filmmakers have yet to confirm her casting. Indian Cinema Abroad: Indian films are making a strong showing at Busan, with nine features screening and a project by director Tribeny Rai winning two Asian Project Market prizes. Box Office: Drishyam 3: The Conclusion has crossed ₹500 crore worldwide, while its domestic run continues. Arts: Peter Nagy, the Nature Morte founder who helped bring Indian contemporary art to global audiences, has died at 67. Live Performance: Poet Nayab Midha has completed the North American leg of Rajkumari, her spoken-word production that began in India in 2023.

Indian Art: Peter Nagy, the artist and Nature Morte founder who helped bring contemporary Indian art to wider attention, has died at 67. His gallery in Delhi said he had been ill. Cinema: Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 is nearing ₹500 crore worldwide, while Anupam Kher has been revealed as the voice of Jatayu in Ramayana. Theatre: Delhi’s BRICS Theatre Festival has opened, with India presenting Samudra Manthan. Art Market: Tyeb Mehta’s Rickshaw Puller fetched a record ₹69.1 crore in a single-work auction, spotlighting a new sales model for Indian art. Tributes: Veteran actor Nana Patekar and Marathi actor and Lavani artist Madhu Kambikar have also died.

Film & Streaming: Zee5 has released the trailer for Sumo Didi, a biopic about India’s first professional female sumo wrestler, Hetal Dave, premiering October 23. The Delhi High Court fined Mirzapur: The Movie’s makers ₹50,000 over the use of the song “Shoorveer”; the producers had already removed it. Ramayana unveiled Anupam Kher as the voice of Jatayu, while Drishyam 3 has passed ₹315 crore net in India and is nearing ₹500 crore worldwide. Art: Mumbai’s centenary show Satish Gujral: The Modernist Returns brings together more than 100 works by the celebrated artist. In Hyderabad, Kalakriti Art Gallery’s group exhibition I Know What I Am Doing explores power, caste, gender and memory through November 17. Theatre: The BRICS Theatre Festival has opened in Delhi, with India presenting Samudra Manthan. Live Music: Ameya Dabli’s Karma Burn – A Sacred Symphony blends devotional music, orchestration, dance and immersive visuals for a Mumbai premiere at NMACC.

Diaspora Music: Hyderabad playback singer Praveen Kumar Koppolu and vocalist Vishnu Priya Mallela are set to perform in Auckland next weekend, with proceeds supporting a temple under construction. Auckland’s Tamil community also brought Navaratri Golu to a wider audience, sharing its dolls, stories and traditions. Box Office: Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 has crossed ₹300 crore in India and is nearing ₹500 crore worldwide, becoming his biggest hit. Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 is due in theatres on October 15, with its Hindi release confirmed. Dance: The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art’s Delhi festival, curated by Leela Samson, runs October 15–18 with 14 performances exploring love through India’s dance traditions. On Stage: Visakhapatnam’s first Comic-Con drew more than 12,000 fans for comics, anime, cosplay and Telugu hip-hop. Remembering: Veteran Marathi actor and Lavani artiste Madhu Kambikar has died at 73, leaving a legacy in regional theatre and folk performance.

Box Office: Drishyam 3 has crossed ₹300 crore net in India in 10 days, becoming Ajay Devgn’s highest-grossing film and Hindi cinema’s biggest threequel. Film & TV: Ekta Kapoor has confirmed The Dirty Picture 2, inspired by another real-life figure, while Bipasha Basu has started filming a Hansal Mehta series—her first screen role in six years. Sumo Didi, the biopic of India’s first professional female sumo wrestler, arrives on ZEE5 Global on October 23. Indian Cinema: Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, is set for a worldwide release on November 5. Ananya Panday will co-host the 2027 IIFA Awards in Abu Dhabi. Music & Dance: A Tyagaraja kriti inspired a new dance production honouring the saint-composer, while Mizoram’s Neuhof School Band won Yamaha Teens Rock 2026. London also marked Bhupen Hazarika’s centenary with a musical tribute. Living Traditions: Navratri’s Golu doll displays bring stories of deities, epics and everyday life into homes across South India. In Memoriam: Marathi actor and Lavani performer Madhu Kambikar has died at 73.