Vijay, a leading Tamil cinema star and chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), faces a major personal development as his wife, Sangeetha Sornalingam, has filed a divorce petition in the Chengalpattu family court after over 25 years of marriage. In the petition, she alleged Vijay was involved in an extramarital relationship with an actress, seeking divorce on grounds of infidelity and cruelty. The couple married in 1999 and have two children. The legal process has just begun, and neither Vijay nor his representatives has publicly responded yet. (PC: Facebook)

Netflix has officially withdrawn from its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets, saying it will not raise its offer to match a higher bid from Paramount Skydance. Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said the deal was “no longer financially attractive” at the price needed to compete. Warner’s board deemed Paramount’s offer — about $31 per share in cash — a superior proposal, allowing Paramount to potentially take control of Warner’s assets including HBO and CNN. Netflix’s shares rose on the news, while Paramount’s bid now leads the acquisition battle. (PC: X)

Shafiqur Rahman, leader of Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition in parliament, sharply criticised President Mohammed Shahabuddin for “withholding facts” about the turmoil on August 5, 2024, when then-PM Sheikh Hasina fled and her resignation’s authenticity became disputed. Rahman questioned inconsistencies in the President’s statements on the resignation and accused him of misleading the public. The attack follows Shahabuddin’s allegations that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime tried to unseat him and restricted his movement and communications — claims that have intensified debate over political power struggles and alleged ties between Yunus’s administration and Islamist groups. (PC: India Today)

Telugu stars Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda were married on February 26, 2026, in an intimate destination wedding at ITC Mementos, Udaipur, blending their cultural roots. The couple—affectionately called “Virosh” by fans—held two ceremonies: a traditional Telugu wedding in the morning followed by a Kodava (Coorg) ritual in the evening, honouring both families’ heritages. Celebrations included haldi, mehndi, sangeet and personalised decorations. Close friends, family and industry figures attended while strict privacy and security were maintained. The couple’s engagement was announced in October 2025. (PC: India Today)

The winners and nominees of the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. One Battle After Another won six awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for I Swear. Jessie Buckley took Best Actress for Hamnet, which also won Outstanding British Film. Sentimental Value won Best Film Not in the English Language. Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another. Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for Sinners. Zootropolis 2 was named Best Animated Film. Robert Aramayo also received the Rising Star award, voted for by the public. Mr Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary. (PC: Sky News)

Actor Alia Bhatt made her debut at the 2026 BAFTAs in London and began her speech with a warm “Namaskar.” She presented the award for Best Film Not in the English Language at the Royal Festival Hall. Starting in Hindi, she said, “Namaskar. Agla award ek aise film ke liye hain, jo angrezi me nahi hai.” She then joked, asking the audience to “not switch to the subtitles yet.” Alia said, “While films speak in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema.” Norwegian drama Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier, won the award. Fans in India praised her speech on social media. 

Bollywood star Alia Bhatt made a memorable impression at BAFTA 2026, presenting the award for Best Film Not in the English Language at London's Royal Festival Hall. Following in the footsteps of Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, Alia brought unmistakable desi charm to the global stage, greeting the audience with a warm "Namaskar" before introducing the award entirely in Hindi, then translating for the international audience. Her witty speech "Don't reach for the subtitles just yet" drew widespread applause. On the red carpet, the Love & War actress channelled Marilyn Monroe in a custom silver Gucci gown paired with a white stole. The award itself went to Norwegian film Sentimental Value.

India scripted history at the 79th BAFTA Film Awards as Manipuri-language film Boong claimed the Best Children's and Family Film award becoming the first Indian film ever to win this prestigious category. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, and others, Boong defeated international contenders including Zootopia 2 and Lilo & Stitch at London's Royal Festival Hall. Director Lakshmipriya Devi delivered a deeply emotional acceptance speech, praying for peace in conflict-ridden Manipur and for displaced child actors to reclaim their joy and innocence. The film, which tells the story of a young Manipuri boy searching for his missing father, premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

Robert Aramayo made BAFTA history on Sunday night by becoming the first performer ever to win both the Rising Star and Leading Actor awards in a single evening. The English actor claimed Best Actor for his portrayal of Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson in the British film I Swear, stunning audiences by defeating heavyweight contenders including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. Kerry Washington announced his name, visibly shocking Aramayo himself. In his acceptance speech, the Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star expressed disbelief and paid heartfelt tribute to fellow nominee Ethan Hawke, crediting a Juilliard talk by Hawke on an actor's longevity as profoundly shaping his own career journey.

Actor Alia Bhatt will present an award at the 79th BAFTA Awards in London. The British Academy confirmed her name in the presenter lineup. The ceremony will take place on February 22 at the Royal Festival Hall. The awards recognise excellence in international cinema. Bhatt shared the update on Instagram by reposting BAFTA’s post. She wrote, “100 points if you can spot me.” She will appear alongside presenters such as Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, Bryan Cranston and Alicia Vikander. Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi will also attend, with her film Boong nominated in the children’s and family film category. (PC: NDTV)