Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff is reportedly set to make his professional football debut with Mumbay FC in the 135th Durand Cup. According to reports, the 36-year-old has been registered in the squad and could play in the club's final group-stage match. Tiger has been training regularly with the team, which will travel to Shillong on July 30. He has been Mumbay FC's brand ambassador since 2024. If he takes the field, he will join a small group of Bollywood personalities involved in Indian football. The club is making its first Durand Cup appearance. (PC: PTI)

Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan has praised legendary Indian director Satyajit Ray, calling him one of India's greatest filmmakers during a visit to the Criterion Collection. Nolan said Ray's classic Pather Panchali, the first film in The Apu Trilogy, "blew my mind" and revealed he is looking forward to watching the trilogy's remaining two films. His comments won praise from Indian film lovers on social media. Based on novels by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, The Apu Trilogy is regarded as one of the finest achievements in world cinema and has received several international awards. (PC: HT)

Actor Dia Mirza criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late-night address on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, saying it lacked empathy for affected students, grieving families and protesters despite announcing legal reforms. In an Instagram post, she questioned the 47-day delay in the Prime Minister's response and said his message offered nothing to heal those impacted. Modi acknowledged the distress caused by paper leaks and announced a proposed law featuring fast-track courts and stricter punishments, later approved by the Union Cabinet. The remarks come amid continuing student protests demanding transparency, accountability and broader education reforms, with activists maintaining that legal changes alone cannot restore public trust in the examination system.

Actor Kareena Kapoor has backed nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities, saying young voices deserve to be heard. In an Instagram post, she said education gives children confidence and hope, but faith in the system is lost when honesty, hard work and merit appear compromised. Calling students the nation's future, Kareena said they deserve a fair, trustworthy system where effort is rewarded equally. The actor, who said she reflected on the issue before speaking out, stressed that listening to an entire generation demanding accountability is an obligation, not a courtesy. She urged society to stand with students and protect their aspirations.

British-Indian actor Himesh Patel is drawing attention for his role as Eurylochus, the trusted second-in-command of Odysseus, in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Born on October 13, 1990, in Cambridgeshire, England, Patel comes from a Gujarati-Indian family that migrated from East Africa. He began acting as a teenager with the BBC soap EastEnders. He made his film breakthrough in Danny Boyle's Yesterday and later appeared in Nolan's Tenet. His other notable projects include Don't Look Up, Station Eleven, Enola Holmes, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and The Franchise. The Odyssey marks his second collaboration with Nolan. (PC: X)

Brenda Fricker, the acclaimed Irish actress and the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award for acting, has died at the age of 81 after a period of ill health. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1990 for her unforgettable performance as Christy Brown's mother in My Left Foot. Fricker also earned worldwide recognition for playing the compassionate Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. With a career spanning more than six decades across film, television, and theatre, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy in Irish and international cinema. (PC: Reuters)

Actor Atul Kulkarni has announced a one-day hunger strike in solidarity with educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, bringing renewed attention to the latter's ongoing protest. Sharing a video on Instagram, Kulkarni said he wanted to "connect with the pain" of Wangchuk and urged the Central Government to begin a dialogue, calling conversation the essence of democracy. Wangchuk is on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over alleged NEET examination irregularities, demanding accountability, transparency and education reforms. His protest has attracted support from students, activists and several public figures. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has directed authorities to regularly monitor Wangchuk's health as concerns over his deteriorating condition continue.

Aamir Khan has dismissed the long-standing belief that his character Phunsukh Wangdu (Rancho) in 3 Idiots was based on education reformer Sonam Wangchuk. Speaking at the London Indian Film Festival, Khan said neither he nor the film’s writers knew Wangchuk while making the 2009 film. He also corrected co-star Omi Vaidya’s recent claim, saying, “What Chatur said is incorrect.” While rejecting the connection, Khan praised Wangchuk’s work and expressed concern over his deteriorating health during his indefinite hunger strike, stating that the activist deserves respect for his own achievements and urging him to prioritise his life by ending the fast. (PC: NDTV)

Actor Sonakshi Sinha has publicly backed Sonam Wangchuk, expressing concern over his ongoing hunger strike and urging the government to open a dialogue with him. In a video statement, she said Wangchuk was fighting for children who lost their lives and against a system she believes is failing. Questioning the silence of many, Sinha said she could no longer remain quiet, adding, “Main koi anti-national nahi hu,” while defending her decision to speak out. She also asked why authorities were not engaging with Wangchuk. Sonakshi joins several celebrities, including Zeenat Aman, Prakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Abhay Deol and Omi Vaidya, in supporting him.

Actor Omi Vaidya, best known as Chatur "Silencer" Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, has appealed for attention to activist Sonam Wangchuk's deteriorating health during his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Wangchuk, who inspired Aamir Khan's character Phunsukh Wangdu, joined the Cockroach Janata Party's protest on June 28, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak. In a video message, Vaidya urged people to understand Wangchuk's concerns regardless of their views, saying, "I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die." Wangchuk has reportedly lost 8.2 kg, with his latest medical readings showing blood pressure of 107/70 mmHg and blood glucose of 67 mg/dL.