Just like many around the world in 2020, a number of big-budget movies in the Hindi film industry have had their release dates pushed back to 2021 due to the pandemic.
But with a bumper list of titles now pegged for release next year, here are some of the most anticipated Bollywood films heading for the big screen:
'83'
A sports drama that takes its name from the year that India won the Cricket World Cup, 83 boasts a cast that includes Ranveer Singh (as Kapil Dev), Deepika Padukone (as Dev's wife Romi Bhatia), Tahir Raj Bhasin (as Sunil Gavaskar), Harrdy Sandhu (as Madan Lal) and Saqib Saleem (as Mohinder Amarnath), among others. The on-screen recreation of the historic moment in Indian cricketing history, coupled with Singh's on-point depiction of Dev, has made this one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
'Pathan'
The star cast of this film alone has garnered a lot of public interest. Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone are brought together on this project for the first time. Shooting for the film, which was stalled due to the pandemic, is set to start again soon, and according to Indian media, chunks of it will be shot at locations in Abu Dhabi in early 2021. Not much is known about the plot of this Yashraj film, except that Shah Rukh Khan plays a special agent, joined by Salman Khan as Tiger (from the Ek Tha Tiger series), while Abraham will play the antagonist.
'Shamshera'
A big-budget period action drama set in the 1800s, Shamshera tells the story of a dacoit tribe who fight for their rights and independence against the British. It stars Ranbir Kapoor in a double role, Vaani Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, and was originally due for release in summer 2020.
'Brahmastra'
Real-life couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt make their first appearance on the big screen together in this three-part fantasy action film, the first instalment of which is due out in 2021. Also starring Amitabh Bachchan and Nagarjuna, director Ayan Mukerji has claimed that Kapoor’s character was inspired by the famous poet Rumi, and that the script has been six years in the making. The film will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telegu, Kannada and Malayalam.
'Gangubai Kathiawadi'
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next film is a biographical crime drama that sees Alia Bhatt take on the role of Gangubai Kothewali, who features as a chapter in Hussain Zaidi's book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai. It tells the story of a young girl sold into prostitution in Mumbai's Kamathipura by her boyfriend, and how she rises up in the ranks to eventually become the woman in charge.
The combination of Bhatt and Bhansali makes this film particularly exciting. The young actress has a flair for getting into the skin of every role – whether as the flamboyant spoilt rich girl Shanaya in Student of the Year, or the stoic secret spy in Raazi, but Kothewali is unlike any role she has done before.
It will be also interesting to see how Bhansali, known for his opulent and detailed sets, will showcase the mean, gritty streets of Mumbai.
'Laal Singh Chaddha'
Aamir Khan takes on the titular role in this Indian adaptation of Forrest Gump. Popular South Indian actor Vijay Sethupathi makes his Bollywood debut with this film, which also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan. The original script has been overhauled to give the story an Indian context, but Khan was quoted saying that even though the original film came out more than two decades ago, certain themes are still relevant today.
'Takht'
A period drama set during the Mughal era, Takht tells the story of the enmity that develops between two brothers Aurangzeb (Vicky Kaushal) and Dara (Ranveer Singh) as they fight for the throne. It boasts an ensemble cast featuring the who's who of Bollywood, including Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Janhvi Kapoor. Directed by Karan Johar, it will be interesting to see how this big budget drama performs at the box office, especially since Johar was at the receiving end of backlash as a result of a nepotism debate that sparked following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June.
'Sooryavanshi'
A Rohit Shetty action comedy, it is the fourth in a series of the director's cop dramas. The first and second, Singham and Singham Returns, featured Ajay Devgn; the third, Simmba, saw Ranveer Singh take on the lead role, and in the latest, Akshay Kumar dons the uniform. An out-and-out entertaining caper, these films are known for over the top fight sequences and dramatic (and some very cheesy) dialogues, but they seem to do very well at the box office.
'Rashmi Rocket'
Not much is known about this sports drama, which sees Taapsee Pannu take on the role of an athlete, but it has been generating a lot of buzz as the actress is training hard to prepare for her role in this film. Rashmi Rocket will be chaired by Akarsh Khurana, who also directed Irrfan Khan in 2018's Karwaan.
'Maidaan'
Another sports drama, this Ajay Devgn biographic sports film is based on the golden era of Indian football – from 1952 to 1962. Devgn takes on the role of former player and football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who is regarded the architect of modern Indian football.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Company%20Profile
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
