After making waves with her role in Tiger 3, Katrina Kaif is gearing up for the release of Merry Christmas. The film directed by Sriram Raghavan will see the actress alongside Vijay Sethupathi. Now, she has opened up about the project.

Merry Christmas marks Katrina Kaif’s first collaboration with Sriram Raghavan. Opening up about working with the director, the actress shared, “Working with Sriram Raghavan sir was a dream come true for me. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had that opportunity; He’s a phenomenal director with an incredible mind, and being on his set is like entering a whole different world. He’s an amazing collaborator, both as a filmmaker and as a person.”

She added, “It was a very intense experience, especially doing the film in two languages. All of us have been very passionate about making this film from day 1 and are very excited for the release. ”

Merry Christmas revolves around a fateful meet-cute on Christmas Eve. The film which also features Sanjay Kapoor, Radhika Apte and others, promises an intriguing holiday mystery. It will arrive in cinemas on January 12, 2024.

Vicky Kaushal has an exciting slate of upcoming films. On Thursday, the actor dropped BTS photos from the sets of the period action film Chaava. The film will see him play Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj alongside Rashmika Mandanna who will play Yesubai Bhonsale. 

Vicky Kaushal took to his Instagram handle to share snaps from the sets of Chaava. The actor can be seen in a rugged look wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. He accessorised with a cap and shades.

Check it out here:

The next snap sees him alongside director Laxman Utekar. Check it out here:

In his caption, Vicky wrote, “Last day on set for this year. Ending the year by completing the biggest action sequence of my career so far. 2023, you have been truly gratifying… Walking into 2024 hungrier than ever before!”

Filmfare had earlier exclusively revealed that Vicky and Rashmika began filming for Chaava in October this year. The film is set to release on December 6, 2024.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal (United) national president Lalan Singh attended a meeting of its national office-bearers here on Thursday, a day before its national executive and council meetings, amid a buzz that Singh may make way for Kumar to lead the party.

Some party leaders said there have been talks even within the organisation about Mr Singh quitting his position in Mr Kumar’s favour but made it clear that no such message has been conveyed by either of them so far.

A party leader noted that the council meeting is generally called to ratify any important decision taken by the national executive.

While the office-bearers discussed the contents of political agenda which will be approved at the meeting of the party’s apex bodies, a combative Singh earlier reacted contemptuously to reports about his resignation and a rift within the party, which has a history of swinging across the ideological spectrum to change allies.

“You are trying to set the narrative… JD(U) is one and will remain united,” he said in response to the media’s queries on his resignation and differences in the party, asserting that it is a routine meeting, a view also echoed by Kumar before he boarded the flight from Patna to Delhi.

“If I have to resign, I will call you (mediapersons) and consult you about what to write in the resignation letter so that you can go to the BJP office and get the draft,” Mr Singh said sarcastically.

After the meeting, JD(U) chief spokesperson K C Tyagi dismissed questions on whether the chief minister may join the BJP-led NDA. “We are not joining the NDA,” he said.

Another party spokesperson, Rajib Ranjan, said the office-bearers discussed the contents of the political agenda for Friday’s meetings. There was no discussion on any organisational changes, he asserted.

Issues like caste census and rise in reservation in Bihar are likely to figure prominently in the meetings on Friday.

Before the meeting of office-bearers, Mr Singh met Kumar at his residence here and the two leaders later arrived at the party office together, a gesture apparently aimed at sending out a message of unity within the party.

The two leaders go back many decades and Mr Singh has been a key ally of Kumar except for a period between 2010 and 2013 when he had quit the JD(U).

Shortly before leaving Patna for the national capital, the Bihar chief minister asserted that the JD(U)’s two-day conclave in Delhi was a “normal and annual” affair with “nothing extraordinary” about it, rejecting speculations of turmoil in his party.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Singh may be asked to resign due to alleged proximity to JD(U) ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)