Union minister Pralhad Joshi said today that while he does not hold with violence, he did agree with the demand that shop signages in Karnataka should be predominantly in the local language. Speaking to NDTV hours after pro-Kannada groups went on a rampage in state capital Bengaluru, the MP from Dharwad questioned why shopkeepers insist on writing signages only in English.

“Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England,” he told NDTV when asked if the sub-nationalism invoked by the Congress has worried the BJP.

“If there has been violence that cannot be approved but these people (shopkeepers) should also understand the sentiment and the necessity,” he added.

The civic rules in Bengaluru maintain that 60 per cent of a signage has to be written in the vernacular language of the state.

But with many shops, especially in malls, bypassing the rule, pro-Kannada groups — who for long have been demanding vernacular signages — vandalised more than 20 shops in the city today.

Besides shopping centres in MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road and St Marks Road, protests were also held along the Kempegowda International Airport.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who brought the language row in October remarking that “everyone living in this state should learn to speak Kannada”, said he was aware of today’s developments.

“We will take action against those who took the law into their own hands and went against the law,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.

BBMP chief Tushar Giri Nath said commercial stores under the the civic body’s jurisdiction has to comply with the rule by February 28, failing which they could face legal action, including suspension of business licences.

Salman Khan celebrated his 58th birthday today. The star marked the occasion with his close friends and family, including his niece Ayat, with whom he shared a birthday cake. Now, he has treated his fans to an appearance at his home, Galaxy Apartments.

On Wednesday night, Salman Khan stepped out on his balcony. He waved at a sea of fans who were gathered out to greet him. He wore a grey t-shirt and was joined by his father, Salim Khan.

Check out the photos here:

As 2023 comes to a close, we’re looking back at the year through movies. Hindi cinema witnessed some interesting developments. Between lavishly-mounted blockbusters, hard-hitting narratives and scene-stealing cameos, a lot has happened. Among the many highlights, we also saw several fresh pairings on screen. First-time collaborations are always exciting. Fans have been waiting to see many of these pairs for a while now. Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor’s chemistry was anticipated weeks before their film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar arrived in theatres. Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara’s pan-Indian team-up was quite the event as they got together for crowd-pleaser Jawan. Meanwhile, Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma showed off their crackling chemistry on screen after teasing their off-screen romance for weeks.

As the year ends, here are some of the new on-screen pairings in movies:

Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

Well before Luv Ranjan’s 2023 rom-com, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar got its title, fans caught a glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor filming for a song sequence. That was enough to kickstart a frenzy and raise the anticipation around their first onscreen collaboration. And the stars delivered. The film sees Ranbir play Mickey, a womaniser who helps couples break up in exchange for a small fortune. Shraddha plays Tinni, a chartered accountant who is equally emotionally unavailable as Mickey. Sparks fly when the two meet in Spain for a bachelor’s party. Say what you will about the uneven film but you cannot fault it for the lack of aforementioned sparks. The stars were at their best as they danced and romanced through the film’s run-time. 

Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara in Jawan

Atlee’s Jawan saw two powerful stars – Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara coming together for a sensational collaboration. The film opened to packed theatres, like most SRK-led titles and some of it had to do with the combined charm of the fresh on-screen pairing. Chaleya showcased their stunning chemistry as they matched steps together. They packed in a bunch of emotions that made audiences root for the on-screen couple. The makers also capitalised on their charm. The two had great witty banter going on. The cherry on top of the massy cake was that SRK and Nayanthara’s characters had an enemies-to-lovers arc in the film and let’s be honest, who can resist that?

Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma in Lust Stories 2

Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma surprised fans and paparazzi when they first started making appearances together. Their cosy snaps ahead of Lust Stories 2’s release sparked relationship rumours that were later confirmed by the pair. In their short directed by Sujoy Ghosh from the star-studded anthology, the two play exes with a turbulent past. Long suppressed feelings boil over as they give in to their desires despite the initial tension between them. Both Tamannaah and Vijay deliver excellent performances and their chemistry is palpable as expected. Their first stint left viewers wanting more.

Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in Animal

Animal released 25 days ago and fans still can’t help but talk about the film. One of the most anticipated aspects of the film was Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna’s fresh pairing, another pan-Indian collaboration on the big screen. The Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial sees them play Ranvijay and Geetanjali, respectively. From kissing in planes to exchanging vows in a remote mountain region, their budding romance oozes fiery chemistry. While their relationship takes a dark turn very quickly, their onscreen partnership meets expectations and more.

Ranbir Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in Animal

Ranbir and Rashmika’s isn’t the only pairing that caught fans’ attention. Triptii Dimri’s small yet impactful role in Animal became a major highlight of the film. While some of their scenes are mired in controversy, the two continue to make headlines for their intimate scenes. Their electrifying screen presence left audiences vying for more. Ranvijay and Zoya will be etched in the memories of movie-goers’ minds at the very least.

Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu in Dunki

Shah Rukh Khan’s third film of 2023, the Rajkumar Hirani-directed Dunki wasn’t just a first for the actor-director duo. The film also saw the fresh pairing of SRK and Taapsee Pannu. Before the film’s release, Taapsee made mentions of being starstruck by the King of Romance. On the big screen, SRK’s Hardy looks endearingly smitten by Taapsee’s Manu. Their dynamic is as charming as it is heartfelt. The film’s song O Maahi perfectly encapsulates their onscreen romance and it works.

Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke 

In Laxman Utekar’s small-town rom-com Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan made for quite the dynamic duo. While the film opened to mixed reviews, it was easy to see why the makers went with the first-time collaborators. Both Vicky and Sara have a penchant for comedy that shines through even in their off-screen interactions and it translates on the screen. It’s safe to say that their easy chemistry was one of the highlights of the film. 

Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in Bawaal

Nitesh Tiwari’s Bawaal saw Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan come together for an emotional roller-coaster ride. Their love story plays out across various exotic locations and the actors make for a good-looking pair. They are convincing as awkward newlyweds and as their characters get to know each other better, it only gets better. While the film leaves a lot to be desired, it’ll be interesting to see what Janhvi and Varun can cook up together if given another project in the future. 

Ayushmann Khurrana and Ananya Panday in Dream Girl 2 

Ayushmann Khurrana and Ananya Panday’s pairing in the sequel of Dream Girl was one of the more unique pairings of the year. The two came together for a delightful Mathura-set comedy. Ayushmann’s comedic skills and Ananya’s charm made for a great combination. While they didn’t have many scenes together, we can see why the makers ran with it.

Salman Khan and Pooja Hegde in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan

Some pairs surprised audiences. Salman Khan and Pooja Hegde’s fresh on-screen pairing in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was one of the most-talked-about collaborations of the year. Once the film was released, fans couldn’t help but get fascinated by their chemistry.