ishaan

Nouvelles Vagues has quickly become one of Europe's most closely watched festivals spotlighting the future of global storytelling and contemporary cinema culture.

Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old Indian-origin student from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee after a dramatic spell-off against ishaan Gupta of New Jersey. The contest featured 18 rounds over three days and ended in a rapid 90-second tiebreaker where Shrey spelled 32 words correctly. His victory continues a strong Indian-origin presence in the competition. The final, held in Washington DC, tested speed, accuracy, and composure under pressure.

Filmmaker Jasmeet K. Reen is reportedly set to direct the second season of Netflix's 'The Royals', replacing Nupur Asthana who has prior commitments. Pre-production for the ishaan Khatter-starrer is underway, with filming slated for July 2026. Bhumi Pednekar's potential exit also hints at significant on-screen changes for the upcoming installment.

Actor Vishal Jethwa underwent a significant physical transformation for his upcoming project Shakti Shalini, following a rigorous routine of workouts, six daily meals and a disciplined lifestyle. The actor admits that gaining weight and muscle has always been challenging due to his body type, making discipline crucial to achieving his goal. While his daily routine and social life changed drastically during the process, Vishal says he enjoyed pushing himself beyond his limits. However, he emphasises that physical transformation can never replace performance. For him, acting remains the foundation, with body transformation serving only as an additional layer to the character.

Shefali Shah is set to lead Netflix's upcoming period drama 'Koke', marking her first on-screen pairing with Fardeen Khan. Backed by Ektaa Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms and directed by Nupur Asthana, the large-scale series is currently in production. With an anticipated early 2027 release, 'Koke' promises to be a significant addition to Netflix's Indian content slate.

Malayalam romantic comedy-drama 'Spa,' directed by Abrid Shine, is set for its OTT debut on ManoramaMAX starting May 28, 2026. The film, which premiered in theaters on February 13, centers on Mathan's quest to distinguish real love from his idealized notions. Actress Shruthy Menon shared insights into her character portrayal and the film's supportive set environment.

The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee has entered its final stage, with 247 students from across the United States and other countries competing in one of the world’s biggest English language contests. Indian-origin students continue to dominate the competition, with 30 of the last 36 winners belonging to the community. This year’s finalists will compete for more than $50,000 in cash and prizes

As the Cannes Film Festival 2026 begins in the French Riviera, a look back at some of the most talked-about Indian fashion moments from Cannes 2025 reveals how celebrities balanced Indian craftsmanship with global couture aesthetics. From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s regal Manish Malhotra ensemble and Alia Bhatt’s much-discussed Cannes debut to experimental appearances by Parul Gulati and fresh red carpet outings by Nitanshi Goel, Indian celebrities brought a mix of tradition, couture and individuality to the global stage. Actors like Janhvi Kapoor, ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Karan Johar also drew attention for their distinct fashion choices.

Three former Peak XV Partners managing directors are launching Mettle Capital. Ashish Agrawal, ishaan Mittal, and Tejeshwi Sharma have formed an equal partnership. This structure is uncommon in Indian venture capital. The firm aims for transparency in governance and economics. Mettle Capital plans to invest in Series A and Series B startups. They are targeting a corpus of $350-400 million.

ishaan Khatter eyes comedy in Palash Vaswani's (Gullak creator) debut film post-Homebound (India's Oscar entry with Neeraj Ghaywan). The Royals S2 on Netflix follows, as Prince Aviraaj amid royal intrigue.

Bhumi Pednekar exits Netflix's 'The Royals' Season 2, with creators shifting focus to family dynamics and world-building over romance. Pednekar is reportedly pursuing intense roles, including a courtroom drama and Imran Khan's comeback film. Season 2 will expand the established universe, highlighting characters like ishaan Khatter and Zeenat Aman.

Fans are buzzing with excitement after 'Sairat' stars Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar posted a playful photo on Instagram. The pair, beloved for their captivating portrayal in the 2016 Marathi box office success that inspired a Bollywood adaptation, brought back fond memories of their dynamic on-screen romance.

Neeraj Chopra is nearing a comeback after a 232-day break focused on rehabilitation from groin, ankle and back injuries. The Olympic champion has been rebuilding fitness and refining technique ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Potential return events include meets in Poland, Finland and Czechia, while his main target remains defending his Asian Games title later this year.