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Taapsee Pannu’s ASSI Promises a Courtroom Storm That Will Question Your Conscience

Taapsee Pannu’s ASSI Promises a Courtroom Storm That Will Question Your Conscience

After creating waves with its stark and unsettling first announcement, Anubhav Sinha’s upcoming film ASSI has now unveiled its motion poster — and with it, the film’s true purpose becomes unmistakably clear. Rather than offering spectacle or escapism, ASSI positions itself as a cinematic confrontation, aiming to force audiences to face a reality often pushed aside.

The film’s promotional campaign began only days ago, yet it has already grabbed attention for its bold minimalism. Two text-only posters first appeared online, carrying a chilling message. One read, “Eighty. Per Day. Every Day.” The second displayed only the film’s title — ASSI — and its theatrical release date: February 20, 2026. The absence of images made the statements feel sharper, sparking widespread curiosity and debate.

What truly set the campaign apart was the third poster — a rare move in Hindi cinema. The makers announced that the film’s writer is the highest-paid member of the crew, placing the written word above stars, studios, and even the director. The message was clear: ASSI is built on truth, storytelling, and accountability, not commercial formulas.

Now, with the motion poster released, the film sheds all ambiguity and leans directly into its thematic core. ASSI is introduced as a relentless investigative thriller unfolding within a gripping courtroom drama. Instead of providing comfortable answers, the narrative is designed to provoke unsettling questions. Who is actually guilty? Are only the convicted to blame? And why do we choose to ignore harsh realities playing out in front of us?

By the film’s conclusion, viewers are expected to walk away wrestling with a haunting thought — Did I not know this… or did I simply choose not to see it?

Backed by industry giant T-Series, ASSI features a formidable cast led by Taapsee Pannu, alongside Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles. Special appearances by Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, and Seema Bhargava further elevate the film’s dramatic weight.

Produced under Benaras Mediaworks by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Anubhav Sinha, the film continues Sinha’s tradition of socially charged storytelling. Known for refusing neutrality, the filmmaker once again transforms cinema into a space for moral interrogation. In ASSI, the courtroom is not merely a setting — it becomes a battlefield where justice, power, and silence collide.

Set for worldwide theatrical release on February 20, 2026, ASSI stands out not just for its unconventional marketing, but for its uncompromising voice — a film that doesn’t ask to be watched, but demands to be confronted.

 

Aamir Khan Reacts to Sunil Grover’s Mimicry — “I Was in Splits Watching Him!”

Aamir Khan Reacts to Sunil Grover’s Mimicry — “I Was in Splits Watching Him!”

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has finally reacted to comedian Sunil Grover’s spot-on mimicry of him on The Great Indian Kapil Show, and his response is winning hearts. In a recent interview, Aamir praised Sunil’s exceptional talent, calling him a “wonderful actor” and admitting that even he couldn’t stop laughing after watching the viral performance.

Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Aamir shared that he has been frequently asked about Sunil’s mimicry in recent days. Expressing genuine admiration, he said Sunil is not just skilled at copying voices or gestures, but brings depth to every impersonation. According to Aamir, Sunil goes beyond surface-level mimicry and studies how a person thinks and reacts, which makes his performances remarkably authentic. He also highlighted Sunil’s ability to imitate several top actors, including Salman Khan, with equal brilliance.

Recalling the recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show, Aamir admitted he was left “in splits” after watching Sunil portray him. He called the comedian a massive talent and praised his dedication to understanding the essence of the personalities he mimics.

Earlier this month, Sunil Grover left audiences stunned when he transformed into Aamir Khan during an episode featuring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday as guests. Dressed in a simple kurta, Sunil perfectly recreated Aamir’s distinctive speaking style, subtle hand gestures, and calm, thoughtful demeanor. His attention to detail was so precise that viewers momentarily believed Aamir himself had walked onto the stage.

Fans took to social media to express their amazement. Many applauded Sunil’s ability to capture Aamir’s reserved intensity and conversational style. Some joked that Grover looked “more Aamir than Aamir,” while others humorously compared his transformation skills to artificial intelligence, quipping that “AI takes prompts from Sunil Grover.” Several viewers commented that they were genuinely confused for a moment, thinking the real Aamir had made a surprise appearance.

Sunil Grover has long been celebrated for his chameleonic comic performances, but his latest act has once again proven why he remains one of India’s most versatile entertainers. From comedy to character transformation, his craft continues to receive admiration from both audiences and industry heavyweights alike.

With Aamir Khan himself applauding the act, Sunil Grover’s mimicry has now earned the highest stamp of approval. The viral moment has not only delighted fans but also reaffirmed Grover’s status as a master of imitation and performance.

 

Why Eric Church’s Whiskey JYPSI Is The Dark Horse Of The Celebrity Booze Boom

Why Eric Church’s Whiskey JYPSI Is The Dark Horse Of The Celebrity Booze Boom
Eric Church (center) examines one of his bottles. (Whiskey GYPSI)

There are a lot of famous names dabbling in celebrity spirits right now, but it’s becoming clear that only a few are truly in it for the love of the game. One unexpected dark horse to watch in 2026 is country singer-songwriter Eric Church. The “Drink in My Hand” crooner first dipped a glass into the whiskey world with Jack Daniel’s in 2020. That bottle (just a single barrel pick) was fine, but Church left that experience with a passion for whiskey that has since led to an exciting new brand all his own called JYPSI.

Whiskey JYPSI is a partnership between Church, financier Raj Alva, and whiskey maker Ari Sussman designed to do creative things in a bottle. In a world where actors and singers slap their name and likeness on whatever a Kentucky marketing department offers them, Church and Alva hired Sussman onto the team to help them think outside the very type of box that most of the other “celebrity” brands never escape. 

This is probably a good time to mention what those pitfalls actually are. There are only a few things you need to do “right” to make some interesting products. An A-list actor doesn’t need to run a still, or read Noah Rothbaum’s Whisky Bible to make something great, but they do need to have ideas, and to find someone to compensate for what they don’t know, and translate vision into a liquid.

Most of the celebrity whiskeys on shelves right now are slightly different versions of products you could have bought before, under a different name, for much cheaper. For the new consumers this whiskey will be introduced to, the distillery offers the celebrity a  “crowd-pleasing” turnkey whiskey to do their product placement and an ad campaign with. And then they move on.

JYPSI isn’t just bottling someone else’s barrels, instead looking for stave finishing experiments to conduct, as they do for their 6-year-old Explorer Bourbon, or double barrel finishes, as they do for the 4-year-old Tribute Bourbon. But for their top-tier Legacy Series, the process has been many times more creative — and complicated. 

Take the most recent release — a deconstructed, American-style Rye whiskey called “The Declaration.” It’s reverse-engineered from very unusual liquids. Sussman sourced a 20-plus-year-old corn whisky from Canada to make up 30 percent of the blend that’s sweet and creamy. This corn whiskey was finished in new American oak for two years (a move that likely adds intense flavor and color to Canadian corn whiskey, which typically tends to be pale in color and subtle in flavor, owing to Canada’s preference for barrels that have been used one or more times already). 

(Whiskey GYPSI)

Then he went to Virginia to find the 10 percent of American single malt used to add nutty, earthy depth.  And while Sussman did admittedly go with “Indiana rye” for the remaining 60 percent (one of the most common recipes from one of the most common distilleries in the non-distilling whiskey world), Sussman finished the rye (which is aged 8-12 years) in apple brandy barrels before blending. Those barrels, acquired from the Mount Vernon Distillery, were previously used by that distillery’s project to distill the way George Washington would have in his time.

If most celebrity whiskeys are crowd pleasers, Declaration feels intentionally blended to shock the crowd. It also echoes the design of previous “Legacy” batches — batch 002 took a corn-centric approach by blending 11-year-old Tennessee whiskey with 18-year-old Canadian rye and 10-year-old single malt from Indiana. 

There’s no doubt that the celebrity booze market has ballooned in recent years. Maybe it started with George Clooney’s big cash-in on tequila, or with Bob Dylan deciding he wants to build a distillery, or with Matthew McConaughey partnering with the folks at Wild Turkey. All of the A-listers are doing it, but very few of them are doing it right, or even doing it well. And then there’s Eric Church. 

JYPSI is a daring attempt to make something that tastes different in a good way, rather than repackage what’s already selling. It may not replace Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, or Wild Turkey, but that isnt’ really the point. JYPSI is supposed to be something different, and I don’t get the sense that that’ll change. Eric has put out several albums over 20 years, won countless awards — he knows how to play the long game and keep fans listening. For $200, Declaration is a curious drinker’s must-try — but it’s also an invitation to give JYPSI a chance to impress you, play the long game, and keep us drinking. I’m still new to the brand and excited to see what comes next, but I can already say I’m a fan.

G. Clay Whittaker is a Maxim contributor covering lifestyle, whiskey, cannabis and travel. His work has also appeared in Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, Cigar Aficionado, Playboy and Esquire. Subscribe to his newsletter Drinks & Stuff for whiskey reviews and trends, perspectives on drinks, and stuff.

 

No Dhurandhar 2 Teaser With Border 2, Aditya Dhar Drops Update

No Dhurandhar 2 Teaser With Border 2, Aditya Dhar Drops Update

Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar created mayhem at the box office and is still performing steadily at the box office. Led by Ranveer Singh,…

The post No Dhurandhar 2 Teaser With Border 2, Aditya Dhar Drops Update first appeared on Latest Telugu cinema news | Movie reviews | OTT Updates, OTT.

 

Review: Sunny Deol’s Border 2 – Falls short of the original’s glory

Review: Sunny Deol’s Border 2 – Falls short of the original’s glory

Movie Name : Border 2 Release Date : Jan 23, 2026 123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5 Starring : Sunny Deol,Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh,…

The post Review: Sunny Deol’s Border 2 – Falls short of the original’s glory first appeared on Latest Telugu cinema news | Movie reviews | OTT Updates, OTT.

 

Timothee Chalamet Joins Marlon Brando in Oscars History With Record-Breaking Achievement

Timothee Chalamet Joins Marlon Brando in Oscars History With Record-Breaking Achievement

Timothee Chalamet has officially entered the Oscars history books, and the company he now keeps says everything about the kind of career he is building. With his latest nomination, Chalamet has become the youngest actor since Marlon Brando to earn three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, a feat last achieved in 1954. At just 29, he has already reached a milestone many actors never touch in an entire lifetime.

This is not just a stat, it is a statement. Best Actor nominations are rare, competitive, and often reserved for performers who peak later in their careers. Chalamet breaking through that barrier so early places him in truly generational territory. Marlon Brando, often considered one of the greatest actors of all time, was the last person to reach this benchmark at such a young age, and history remembers how his career reshaped cinema.

Chalamet’s nominations reflect a run defined by range, risk-taking, and consistency. From emotionally raw performances to commanding lead roles in major prestige films, he has shown an ability to carry stories on his shoulders without relying on spectacle alone. Each nomination has felt earned, not symbolic, reinforcing the sense that this is not hype but momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is the era he is doing it in. Today’s industry is crowded, global, and dominated by franchises, yet Chalamet has managed to carve out space as a serious awards contender while still remaining a box office draw and cultural figure. That balance is rare, especially at his age.

Being mentioned alongside Marlon Brando is not about comparison, but legacy. It signals that Chalamet is no longer just a promising talent, he is part of a lineage. A generational run is not defined by one role or one year, but by sustained excellence, and this milestone confirms that Timothée Chalamet is firmly on that path.

Hollywood has seen many stars rise quickly, but very few leave this kind of mark so early. With three Best Actor Oscar nominations already to his name, Timothée Chalamet is not just making history, he is shaping what the future of leading men in cinema looks like.

 

Snake Milkers, Queer Iranian Mozart in Exile, Cursed Toilets, ‘Sicko’ and Orgies: A Look at Envelope-Pushing Films at Rotterdam

Snake Milkers, Queer Iranian Mozart in Exile, Cursed Toilets, ‘Sicko’ and Orgies: A Look at Envelope-Pushing Films at Rotterdam

IFFR keeps “championing filmmakers forging new paths in cinema,” such as a creative tortured for his participation in a pro-democracy movement, who uses the pseudonym Socrates Saint-Wulfstan Drakos.