Aamir Khan is reportedly in conversation with producers Allu Aravind and Madhu Mantena for Ghajini’s sequel. The Hindi version features Aamir while the Tamil version is led by Suriya. New reports suggest that the Hindi and Tamil versions will go into production simultaneously.

Suriya, in conversation with a leading news portal, has confirmed that he will return to lead Ghajini 2. He also shared that he is on board with Allu Aravind’s idea for the upcoming film.

Reports also maintain that Aravind and Mantena want to shoot the films around the same time. Aamir and Suriya expressed concerns over one film releasing before the other and impacting the audiences’ enthusiasm.

It looks like the makers are planning to release the Hindi and Tamil versions of Ghajini 2 on the same day. So far, the scripts for the films have not been finalised. Further details are awaited.

The centre is likely to initiate the process of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir over five years after the region was stripped of its statehood and special status, sources said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi last evening. During the meeting, Mr Shah assured the centre’s full support to the newly elected government, sources said.

“The meeting that lasted half an hour was held in a very cordial atmosphere. The home minister assured the centre’s full support to the newly elected government and to initiate the process of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” sources said.

In its first meeting last week, the J&K cabinet had passed a resolution demanding the restoration of statehood.

Read | Omar Abdullah Passes Resolution For Restoration Of Statehood In J&K Cabinet

“The restoration of statehood will be the beginning of the healing process, reclaiming constitutional rights and protecting the identity of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” said the resolution, which Lt Governor Manoj Sinha cleared.

Mr Abdullah is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening in New Delhi and submit a copy of the resolution.

Besides statehood, the resolution also emphasises on the J&K government’s commitment to protect the identity and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity and the constitutional rights of people remain the cornerstone of the newly elected government’s policy,” according to the resolution.

Under the scrapped Articles 370 and 35A, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had exclusive land ownership and job privileges. After the formation of the new government following over six years of President’s rule in J&K, there is a yearning for the restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards on land and job rights for the locals.

Read | On J&K’s Statehood Demand, Ram Madhav Says Yes, Then Adds A Caveat

Mr Abdullah’s upcoming meeting with the Prime Minister is being seen as major step in ensuring a smooth functioning of the J&K government as the Lt Governor retains the powers to decide on key matters related to the police and law and order.

The Chief Minister has also made it clear that he doesn’t want any confrontation with the Centre and would work for a constructive relationship with the centre for good governance and development of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Jammu and Kashmir, with its complex security situation and proximity to the border, cannot afford a confrontation between the state government and the centre. I’m looking forward to a constructive relationship in the true spirit of federalism,” Mr Abdullah had said after taking over as the Chief Minister.

Former Congress leader Zeeshan Siddique has slammed the party after the Maha Vikas Aghadi named a candidate from Mumbai’s Vandre East seat, which he won in the 2019 state polls. The 34-year-old leader has said “old friends” have announced their candidate from the seat and added that “supporting was never in their nature”.

The Congress expelled the 32-year-old leader earlier this year after he was accused of cross-voting during the Maharashtra legislative council election. Mr Siddique had denied the charge. The young leader is the son of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Sidiqqui, who was shot dead earlier this month.

“I heard old friends have announced their candidates from Vandre East. Supporting was never in their nature,” he said in a post on X. “Maintain relations with those who give respect, no point in surrounding yourself with a crowd, now the people will decide.”

In the 2019 polls, Zeeshan Siddiqui defeated the Shiv Sena’s Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, former Mayor of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, to win Vandre East.

The Vandre East seat has gone to Congress ally Shiv Sena (UBT) as part of seat-sharing within the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has named Varun Sardesai as its candidate. Varun Sardesai is the nephew of party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

On the other hand, the Vandre East seat has gone to NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction as part of seat-sharing within the BJP-led Mahayuti bloc. While the NCP is yet to announce its candidate, it is likely to field Zeeshan Siddiqui to benefit from the sympathy wave in the aftermath of his father’s murder.

Baba Siddiqui, 66, was shot dead outside Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra on October 12. A total of 14 people have been arrested and police are probing different angles, including contract killing and business rivalry, to establish what was behind the murder. A former Maharashtra minister, Baba Siddiqui was Congress MLA from Vandre from 1999-2009. After the seat was dissolved and bifurcated, he represented Vandre West from 2009-14. Earlier this year, he quit the Congress and joined the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP.