Ending days of suspense and brinkmanship, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Indian National Congress are set to formally seal their seat-sharing deal this evening, sources in both parties confirmed to NDTV.
There has been a buzz amongst fans of the romance genre in Bollywood as Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali recently announced their next ambitious project, Heer Ranjha. After the announcement on Valentine’s Day 2026, speculation regarding the cast has been constantly doing rounds. The latest reports suggest that the makers may have found their leading lady in rising star Sara Arjun. According to a report by Mid-Day, Sara Arjun is currently the top contender to play the female lead. She recently made an impact with her performance in Aditya Dhar’s 2025 hit Dhurandhar, and it seems her work has caught the eye of the Heer Ranjha team. A source told the portal, “The team is looking for a relatively fresh face. After Dhurandhar, Sara has emerged as one of the most promising young actors today. She is among the strongest names being evaluated for Heer.”
While Sara is being considered for the female lead, Rohit Saraf’s name has been doing the rounds for the role of Ranjha. Heer Ranjha is set to be backed by Ektaa Kapoor, marking a reunion for her with Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali. The trio previously collaborated on the 2018 film Laila Majnu, which starred Triptii Dimri and Avinash Tiwary. This new adaptation of the classic Punjabi folk tale is being positioned as the second chapter of the Laila Majnu franchise, aiming to carry forward the legacy of deep-rooted love stories.
As the casting process for Heer Ranjha continues, Sara Arjun remains busy with other high-profile projects. She is set to appear in Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge alongside a star-studded cast including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. The sequel is scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.
Also Read: WATCH: Tamannaah Bhatia, Sara Arjun and others dance their hearts out on Mahashivratri
In a year filled with major cinematic releases, the romantic drama Saiyaara emerged as one of the most unexpected success stories of 2025. Starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film, directed by Mohit Suri, managed to hold its own and was a huge success. However, alongside its box office success, one particular viral moment sparked an intense debate online where a fan was seen watching the movie in a theatre while hooked up to an IV drip. The footage of the man in the cinema hall quickly made the rounds on social media. While many viewers were touched by the fan’s dedication to the film, others were skeptical, suggesting that the incident might have been a calculated promotional stunt designed by the movie’s marketing team. Ahaan Panday has now officially addressed these speculations. In a recent conversation with Esquire India, he clarified the reality behind the viral clip, putting the rumours of a staged event to rest. Ahaan revealed that the team was just as surprised as the public and took the time to investigate the situation.
Ahaan explained, “You know what, that was actually a person who had dialysis. Mohit sir found out later because we were curious about how all of this was happening.” By confirming that the individual was undergoing a necessary medical procedure, he dismissed any claims that it was a marketing gimmick. Reflecting on why Saiyaara resonated so deeply with the audience, despite having minimal pre-release promotion, Ahaan suggested that viewers connected with the film’s lack of pretense. He shared, “For so many years, we had such a set way of thinking about how things had to be done. It became so rigid. Maybe people just wanted something with artists not trying to be perfect. Romance is not perfect. Love is never perfect.”
The film lived up to its appeal , grossing an estimated ₹570 crore worldwide. After this massive debut, Ahaan is preparing for his next venture which is an untitled action project directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. The film, which also stars Sharvari, is set to begin filming in Mumbai this month before moving its second schedule to the United Kingdom.
Also Read: Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday Pen Heartfelt Notes After Saiyaara’s Success