In 2024, Indian cinema gained global acclaim, led by women filmmakers and feminist narratives. Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light made history with the Grand Prix at Cannes and received Golden Globe nominations. Shuchi Talati's Girls Will Be Girls won two Sundance awards, while Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies earned critical praise despite box-office struggles. British-Indian director Sandhya Suri's Santosh became the UK’s Oscar entry, highlighting violence against women. These films explored universal themes like resilience, identity, and gender, resonating globally. Critics call this a pivotal moment for Indian cinema, showcasing its diversity and feminist strength.

Salman Khan marked his 59th birthday on December 27 with an intimate midnight celebration at his sister Arpita Khan’s residence. A heartwarming video shows Salman cutting a cake with his niece Ayat, who shares the same birthday. The event was attended by family and close friends, including Iulia Vantur and music composer Sajid Wajid. Salman’s bodyguard Shera shared a heartfelt post calling him “Maalik.” While fans awaited the teaser of Salman’s upcoming film Sikandar, its release was postponed due to the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The teaser will now be unveiled on December 28.

Squid Game season 2 is back with a gripping, politically-charged storyline that raises the stakes. The show follows Seong Gi-hun’s quest to end the deadly game, now with new characters and deeper politics. While the games take a backseat, the series explores the red soldiers' lives and the complex power dynamics within the game. Strong performances from Lee Jung-jae, T.O.P, Park Sung-hoon, and others make the season stand out. However, the emotional impact of the deaths is weaker this time. Overall, Squid Game season 2 impresses and deserves recognition.

The Kapoor family hosted their annual Christmas luncheon, showcasing three generations in a heartwarming gathering. Neetu Kapoor and Navya Nanda shared glimpses of the celebration, featuring Alia Bhatt with baby Raha, Ranbir Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Babita, and others. Notably absent were Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, and their children, who are on holiday. Karisma and Riddhima Kapoor also missed the event. Navya posted photos with her cousin and aunt, Nitasha Nanda. On the professional front, Ranbir and Alia are collaborating on Love and War, while Agastya Nanda and Zahan Kapoor prepare for upcoming projects.

Allu Arjun's "Pushpa 2: The Rule" continues its blockbuster run, amassing ₹1089.51 crore in India after 20 days. Directed by Sukumar, the film has crossed ₹1500 crore globally. However, the actor faced questioning by Hyderabad police over a December 4 stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the film's premiere. Protesters earlier vandalized his residence, demanding compensation for victims. The film's producers have since donated ₹50 lakh to the victim's family. Despite controversies, Pushpa 2 collected ₹14.25 crore on its third Tuesday. Allu Arjun plays a red sandalwood smuggler, Pushpa Raj, in the film.

Indian concertgoers are voicing frustrations over poor infrastructure at live music events, including unsanitary toilets, traffic jams, and inadequate crowd management. Fans at Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh’s Chandigarh concert faced long queues, unhygienic washrooms, and minimal accessibility for people with disabilities. Singer Dosanjh pledged not to perform in India again until venues improve. The Indian concert industry, which generated ₹8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow by 25% by 2025, struggles with limited dedicated venues. Organizers blame bureaucratic hurdles and costly temporary infrastructure. As India prepares to host global stars like Ed Sheeran, fans hope for improved experiences.

Hyderabad police summoned actor Allu Arjun to appear at Chikkadpally police station on Tuesday regarding the December 4 stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the Pushpa 2 premiere, which killed a woman. On Monday, six individuals were granted bail after vandalising his Jubilee Hills residence. The incident triggered political disputes, with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy urging strict law enforcement. Congress and BJP leaders exchanged accusations over the attackers' affiliations. Meanwhile, Pushpa 2 producers gave ₹50 lakh to the victim’s family, and the injured boy remains hospitalised. Security has been heightened at the actor’s residence amid ongoing tensions.

Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule continues its box office dominance. In its third weekend, the film earned ₹57 crore in India, taking its domestic total to ₹1,062.9 crore nett in 18 days. The worldwide collection has surpassed ₹1,500 crore. Released on December 5, the movie has broken several records. The Hindi version contributed ₹679.65 crore, while the Telugu version earned ₹307.8 crore. Directed by Sukumar, the film stars Allu Arjun as Pushpa Raj, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. Released in multiple languages, the movie remains a massive success, attracting audiences across India and beyond.

Osmania University panel members vandalised actor Allu Arjun’s Jubilee Hills residence in Hyderabad, demanding ₹1 crore compensation for a stampede victim’s family. The incident happened on Sunday while the actor was not home. Protesters damaged property, including flower pots, before police arrested eight members of the university’s Joint Action Committee. The protest followed the death of a woman in a stampede at the premiere of Arjun's movie Pushpa 2. The actor denied allegations of attending the event without police permission and called the accusations "false and humiliating." A case has been registered against him and others involved.

Amazon Prime Video will restrict password sharing in India starting January 2025. Subscribers can log in on a maximum of five devices, including only two TVs. Currently, users can log in to up to ten devices without restrictions. The change aims to align with global practices, following Netflix's steps. Amazon also announced that ads will be shown during TV shows and movies for all users. However, a new ad-free subscription tier will soon be introduced. Prime Video says its ads will be fewer compared to regular TV. The annual Prime membership in India costs ₹1,499, with other budget options available.