Anurag Kashyap has always been known for his sharp eye for talent, and his latest praise for Mrunal Thakur suggests he has found a new muse. In a recent interaction, he shared his admiration for Mrunal, describing her as one of the most emotionally authentic performers in the Hindi film industry today. He mentioned that Mrunal possesses a unique quality that sets her apart from her contemporaries. According to him, her greatest strength lies in her ability to communicate through her eyes rather than relying only on conventional acting techniques. He told India Today, “She really underestimates herself. She has no idea how good an actor she is. She’s a very good actor.”

Anurag further explained the distinction between her style and that of other actors. He said, “Actors, you know; they act with their hands, with their eyes, with all of that. But she feels things, and they translate through her eyes. If you see any random image of her from any film, generally, you know exactly what she’s feeling; it’s all there in her eyes. That connection with self, very few actors have.”

While Anurag showered her with praise for her current work, he also hinted that he wants to push her boundaries. He revealed that he is planning a future project that will see Mrunal in a completely different light, one that breaks away from her typically poised on-screen image. He teased, “I have something crazy in mind for her. She’s been wanting to let loose and abuse in a film for a while now, so whoever she wants to abuse, she can do it in my film.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to see the duo together on screen, although in a different capacity. Both are part of the upcoming film Dacoit, which stars Adivi Sesh and Anurag in a key role. Directed by Shaniel Deo, the film is scheduled for release on April 10. After that, his next directorial venture, Bandar, starring Bobby Deol, is set to hit theatres on May 22.

Also Read: Adivi Sesh & Mrunal Thakur Starrer Dacoit’s Release Date Announced

The upcoming actioner King has been generating buzz, not just for its high-octane scale, but for the first-ever on-screen collaboration between Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter, Suhana Khan. Adding to the excitement, Saurabh Shukla, who is reuniting with the superstar for this movie, recently shared wholesome insights into Shah Rukh’s persona as both a businessman and a father.

Saurabh Shukla and Shah Rukh Khan first worked together years ago in the cult classic Baadshah. Talking about those early days in a chat with Siddharth Kannan, he mentioned that while Shah Rukh was a rising star then, his sharp intellect was already evident. Saurabh shared, “I worked with him in Baadshah. He was a rising star then. At that time, I didn’t meet him much; we interacted only briefly. Over the years, I have met Shah Rukh at different times in different ways.” 

He particularly appreciated Shah Rukh’s business acumen, saying, “Shah Rukh is definitely a very good businessman, his business sense is excellent. Otherwise, it is not possible to create such an empire and hold it single-handedly.” He credited him for building a massive army of support while maintaining a strong foundation with his family. Despite his global stature, Saurabh said that Shah Rukh remains incredibly grounded. He mentioned that the actor has a rare ability to make everyone around him feel valued.

He admitted, confessing his envy for this specific quality, “If Shah Rukh is talking to you, you will feel that you are the most important person because he will be 100% present with you and will talk to you. That is rare.” 

Describing Shah Rukh as a father, Saurabh shared, “He is not possessive or overly protective. Of course, a father will be protective, but he is wonderful.” On the film’s set, the superstar treats Suhana as an equal. “On set, he was like a colleague, like a co-actor with Suhana. He was rehearsing and suggesting things like any co-actor would,” Saurabh added, noting that SRK gives his children the freedom to have their own voice.

Also Read: Saurabh Shukla joins Shah Rukh Khan’s King, receives cute welcome gift from Suhana Khan

Femina Miss India, India’s oldest, most credible, and iconic beauty pageant, owned and operated by the Times Group, held its award felicitation ceremony in Mumbai. With its legacy of over six decades, the pageant continues to be a defining institution that has shaped the journeys of young Indian women, offering them a space to dream, evolve, and create impact. It has passionately believed in the power of beauty to inspire confidence, empower young women, and celebrate individuality and self-expression, while bringing together diverse voices from across the country onto one unified stage. The pageants empower participants to engage in social causes and pursue careers across various fields, including acting, fashion, media, and business, among others.

The 61st edition of the pageant kicked off last November with the launch of a nationwide talent hunt to find promising prospects from all corners of the country. The extensive scouting drive and subsequent audition rounds across five zones – North, East, North East, South and West culminated with the selection of 30 state winners, who are currently undergoing training and grooming drills in a specialised boot camp held in Mumbai, facilitated by renowned Industry experts. This season, the pageant found its core inspiration in “Connecting the DOTS”, where DOTS stands for “Daughters of This Soil.” Through this initiative, the pageant underscores the ethos of unity in diversity and remains committed to its legacy of bringing together 30 daughters from 30 states under one unified stage, celebrating the diversity, strength, and spirit of womanhood that truly defines India.

The 61st edition of the contest saw a defining turn with its partnership with KIIT Bhubaneshwar, which, under the leadership of Prof. Dr Samanta, has emerged as one of India’s most respected global institutions. The institution is built on the belief that education is the most powerful tool for social change & empowerment, especially for young women. Alongside it, KISS Bhubaneshwar stands as one of the world’s most extraordinary models of empowerment through education, transforming thousands of young lives. The event is co-powered by Rajnigandha Silver Pearls. This philosophy shines through in every pearl – crafted with the choicest cardamom seeds, delicately blended with pure saffron & coated in silver – coming together to celebrate a refined essence of goodness.

As the journey of ð��Šð��ˆð��ˆð��“ ð���ð��¡ð��®ð��›ð��šð��§ð��žð��¬ð��°ð��šð��« ð��©ð��«ð��žð��¬ð��žð��§ð��­ð��¬ ð�Ÿ”ð�Ÿ�ð��¬ð��­ð��…ð��žð��¦ð��¢ð��§ð��š ð��Œð��¢ð��¬ð��¬ ð��ˆð��§ð���ð��¢ð��š ð��œð��¨-ð��©ð��¨ð��°ð��žð��«ð��žð��� ð��›ð��² ð��‘ð��šð��£ð��§ð��¢ð�� ð��šð��§ð���ð��¡ð��šð���ð��žð��šð��«ð��¥ð��¬ unfolds, the Awards Night held on 9th April in Mumbai emerged as one of its most anticipated highlights, bringing together glamour, talent, and the spirit of the competition in equal measure. The show took off with the 30 state winners strutting the ramp in exquisite designs by ace designer Anmol Singh of Banjara Trail. Following the theme “Connecting the DOTS”,i.e Daughters of this Soil, each outfit featured intricate patchwork made with tiny handmade beaded pieces stitched together. With no single continuous fabric, every look reflected detailed craftsmanship and a modern take on Indian textiles. The show, directed by Sandeep Dharma, was executed with finesse, bringing together fashion and storytelling seamlessly, and was anchored by Pooja Bhamrrah. The gala celebrations witnessed the attendance of key personalities from the entertainment and fashion industry, namely, Anu Malik, Celina Jaitly, Madhur Bhandarkar, Vindu Dara Singh, Terence Lewis, Nehal Chudasama, Pooja Chopra, Tanuj Virwani, Mukesh Chhabra, Ken Gosh, Harmeet Singh,and Abhimanyu Dassani to name a few. 

As the evening progressed, the state winners were awarded the subtitles. With every announcement and every cheer from the audience, their journey thus far in the pageant felt more fulfilled, defined, and closer to its ultimate destination.

Later, the celebrations transitioned seamlessly into a performance by sister duo Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar.Their act beautifully blended rhythm, expression and energy, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained and enthralled. Elevating the experience further, percussionist Rituraj, DJs TECHTRONIX and BENJ kept the energy soaring with their electrifying performances.

The 30 state winners will further compete to win the title of 61st Femina Miss India at the Grand Finale, which will be held on 18th April 2026, in KIIT Bhubaneswar. The winner of KIIT Bhubaneswar presents 61st Femina Miss India co-powered by Rajnigandha Pearls will represent India at the Miss World pageant.

Continuing the legacy that saw Five Miss Worlds who made us proud by marking their presence on the globe- Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000) and Manushi Chhillar (2017), the country awaits the crowning of the new title holder, who could take the legacy of our great nation forward.

Also Read: Nandini Gupta makes it to the Top 20 at the 72nd Miss World Festival!