When Donald Trump mused online about either striking a deal with Iran or quickly annihilating it, the diplomatic response was entirely unexpected. The Embassy of Iran in Zimbabwe chose to reply not with a traditional statement, but with a high-octane clip from Indian action cinema.

Trump talks about annihilating Iran.

But he knows Iran is not defenseless.

Since we informed they have recently been watching Bollywood instead of Hollywood. pic.twitter.com/v6Le8zkH5X

— Iran Embassy in Zimbabwe (@IRANinZIMBABWE) September 23, 2026

The embassy shared a tense sequence from the blockbuster Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari on X. In the scene, the heroic protagonist, played by Nandamuri Balakrishna, single-handedly fends off a hail of bullets from hostile forces before delivering a signature punch dialogue. In its accompanying text, the embassy claimed that Iranian officials had recently shifted their viewing habits from Hollywood to Indian cinema. They added that Trump ought to know that Iran is far from defenceless. While the post mistakenly tagged the Telugu film as a Bollywood project, the cultural reference struck a chord across social media.

Surreal collab

Online users reacted with delight and irony at the surreal geopolitical crossover. Comments like “Tollywood was not prepared for this collab” and “Balayya goes global” flooded the platform. Indian cinema fans were surprised to see a mass action hero, who also happens to be a legislator from the state of Andhra Pradesh, cited as a metaphor for defence capabilities. Balakrishna is known for his high-voltage punchlines and swagger in action-heavy titles such as Legend, Simha, Akhanda, and Daaku Maharaj.

Other movie references by the Embassy’s handle

This incident is not an isolated experiment for the Iranian Embassy’s social media team. The account has frequently deployed pop-culture tropes to deliver political commentary. In recent months, they compared international figures to Marvel villains Thanos and Ebony Maw, posted about tactical reality using Hollywood tropes, and framed diplomatic tensions through references to Gladiator.

Meanwhile, Balakrishna is acting in Dada, a mass-action entertainer co-starring Manchu Manoj and Kajal Aggarwal. The film is slated for a Christmas 2026 release.

Also Read: Balakrishna’s Son Mokshagna to Make Acting Debut; Vassishta Mallidi to Direct

Modha Rathri may begin with the awkwardness and chaos of an arranged marriage gone wrong, but beneath its rural humour is a story about two strangers grappling with circumstances neither of them expected. For debutant director Raja Karuppasamy, however, the emotional journey of making the film appears to have extended well beyond what audiences eventually saw on screen.

Starring Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in the lead roles, Modha Rathri arrived in theatres on August 21 and subsequently premiered on Netflix on September 18. The film has continued to find an audience on OTT, with appreciation from prominent names including Dhanush, Silambarasan and Kamal Haasan adding to the attention around the film.

Karuppasamy has now offered a glimpse into the more personal side of the production, particularly the experience of filming the climax with Anishma. In a lengthy Instagram note, the filmmaker recalled how emotionally exhausting the sequence proved to be for both of them, revealing that they were left in tears after the cameras stopped rolling.

“Should I say Thank You or should I say Sorry?” Karuppasamy began, admitting that neither phrase seemed adequate to convey what Anishma had brought to the film. He specifically mentioned her dance, the final scream and the emotional release that follows the climax, noting that what may appear to audiences as individual moments were considerably more intense for the people who lived through their creation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Raja Karuppasamy (@raja_karuppasamy)

‘We didn’t even know whether you had to console me’

The director’s most striking recollection concerned what happened immediately after the climax was filmed. “I still remember after the climax, both of us were crying… We didn’t even know whether you had to console me or I had to console you,” he wrote.

For Karuppasamy, the moment became a reflection of Anishma’s commitment to Muthuselvi, the character she portrays in Modha Rathri. He praised the actor for immersing herself so completely in the role that the emotional demands of the sequence appeared to spill over even after the scene had been completed.

His note also went beyond her work in front of the camera. Karuppasamy described Anishma as one of the most dedicated artists he has worked with and spoke about the support she extended to him and his team throughout the making of the film. He credited her with offering the same warmth off camera, particularly during difficult moments when some people close to him were unable to provide that support.

The filmmaker ultimately thanked Anishma for “giving your soul and life” to Muthuselvi, a sentiment that offers an insight into how deeply he associates her performance with the film’s emotional centre.

Modha Rathri follows two strangers who enter into an arranged marriage despite neither of them wanting the union. A confession on their wedding night sets off a chain of events that takes them away from the expected celebrations and plunges both families into confusion and chaos. While the premise allows the film to explore its comic side, its characters are also forced to confront vulnerability, disappointment and the consequences of decisions made in a moment of emotional turmoil.

For a first-time filmmaker, the response to Modha Rathri has therefore brought more than the satisfaction of seeing his film reach audiences. Karuppasamy’s latest note suggests that some of its most difficult moments remain deeply personal memories, particularly the climax that left both its director and leading actor struggling to hold back their emotions.

Also Read: Photos: Shah Rukh Khan, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and More Celebs at Lalbaugcha Raja

The Hurun India Rich List 2026 is out, with Shah Rukh Khan continuing to be the richest Indian actor on the list. According to the latest rankings, the actor’s reported net worth stands at Rs 10,000 crore, placing him ahead of several other prominent names from the Hindi film industry.

Shah Rukh Khan’s reported wealth includes his various business ventures, including Red Chillies Entertainment and Knight Riders Sports. Amitabh Bachchan follows him on the list with a reported net worth of Rs 4,000 crore. Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan have also featured, with reported net worths of Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 2,500 crore, respectively.

While Shah Rukh continues to hold the top spot among Indian actors, his latest reported wealth marks a decline from the previous edition of the Hurun India Rich List. In the 2025 edition, his net worth was estimated at Rs 12,490 crore. This means the latest figure reflects a reported decline of Rs 2,490 crore over the year.

Earlier this year, the Hurun Global Rich List had estimated Shah Rukh Khan’s net worth at Rs 10,800 crore. The latest Hurun India Rich List figure of Rs 10,000 crore is therefore also lower than that estimate.

Despite the reported change in his wealth, Shah Rukh Khan continues to occupy the highest position among actors featured in the 2026 India Rich List.

The latest edition also marks Salman Khan’s first appearance on the list. Meanwhile, Juhi Chawla and Karan Johar, who featured in the 2025 edition, do not appear in the 2026 ranking.

With a reported net worth of Rs 10,000 crore, Shah Rukh Khan continues to lead the list of Indian actors featured in the Hurun India Rich List 2026, even as the latest estimate is lower than the figure reported for him last year.

Also Read: Photos: Shah Rukh Khan, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and More Celebs at Lalbaugcha Raja