Vishal Bhardwaj helmed ‘O’Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri dropped its teaser on January 10, 2026. The glimpse of the gritty saga, in true blue Bharadwaj style courted much appreciation from fans and netizens alike. The latest reports have suggested that the film is indeed the creative revival and reimagining of the long-shelved ‘Sapna Didi’ biopic. Set for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026, the film marks the fourth collaboration between Bhardwaj and Kapoor following ‘Kaminey’, ‘Haider’, and ‘Rangoon.’

‘Sapna Didi’ bopic headlining Deepika Padukone and late Irrfan Khan

According to an OTT Play report, the ‘Sapna Didi’ project had undergone significant transformations since its original announcement back in 2017. Initially titled ‘Sapna Didi’ and later ‘Femme Fatale’, the film was to star Deepika Padukone as the underworld queen Rahima Khan and the late Irrfan Khan as the gangster Hussain Ustara. Production was halted indefinitely in 2018 following Irrfan’s health diagnosis and subsequent passing in 2020.

Reportedly, Bhardwaj eventually returned to the script, shifting the perspective from the female lead to the hitman. The film, now titled ‘O’Romeo’, is a gritty, Shakespearean-inspired crime saga set against the 1980s Mumbai underworld. Shahid Kapoor plays Haseen Ustara, a character based on the real-life gangster Hussain Ustara. Meanwhile, Triptii Dimri plays Afsha whose character is inspired by Rahima Khan, famously known as Sapna Didi.

About ‘O’Romeo’

The narrative centers on Sapna Didi’s quest for revenge against the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, played by Nana Patekar after her husband was killed on his orders. She aligns with the ruthless Hussain Ustara, played by Kapoor, who trains her in combat and underworld tactics. The film also stars Avinash Tiwary, Gourav Sharma, Randeep Hooda, Shakti Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Vikrant Massey, Farida Jalal in pivotal roles.

Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli added yet another historic chapter to his legendary career by becoming the fastest batter to reach 28,000 international runs during India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on Sunday. The landmark came in Kohli’s 624th international innings, when he pierced the off-side with a crisp boundary off spinner Adithya Ashok, triggering loud celebrations from the packed crowd.

In doing so, Kohli eclipsed the long-standing benchmark held by Sachin Tendulkar, who had reached the same mark in 644 innings. The achievement also saw Kohli move past Kumar Sangakkara, further cementing his place among the greatest run-scorers the game has ever produced.

Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record with remarkable efficiency

Kohli’s journey to 28,000 runs stands out not just for its volume, but for the speed and consistency with which it has been achieved. By reaching the milestone 20 innings quicker than Tendulkar, the former India captain underlined how modern fitness, technique, and adaptability have shaped his run-making machine.

Only three batters in international cricket history have crossed the 28,000-run mark – Tendulkar, Sangakkara, and now Kohli. Sangakkara took 666 innings to reach the figure, while Ricky Ponting narrowly missed out, finishing his career with 27,483 runs. Kohli’s acceleration across formats highlights a rare blend of longevity and sustained excellence that sets him apart even among legends.

Kohli: ‘The Chase Master’

The milestone came during a high-pressure run chase, a scenario where Kohli has repeatedly thrived. India were tasked with chasing New Zealand’s competitive 300 for 8, and Kohli anchored the innings with a sublime 93 off 91 balls. His knock included eight fours and one sixes, balancing control with timely aggression against a probing Black Caps bowling attack.

Key partnerships with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer ensured India crossed the line with an over to spare, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. Kohli was later named Player of the Match, a recognition he characteristically brushed aside with humor, asking officials to send the trophy to his mother in Gurgaon.

Format-wise breakdown of Kohli’s international runs

Kohli’s 28,000 international runs are spread seamlessly across all three formats, underlining his adaptability in an era of constant evolution. In Tests, he has amassed 9,230 runs across 210 innings at an average nearing 47, marked by 30 centuries and a reputation for delivering overseas under pressure.

ODIs form the backbone of his run tally, with 14,650 runs in 309 innings at an exceptional average of 58.60. His record 53 ODI centuries and unmatched success in run chases define this phase of his career. In T20Is, Kohli clubbed 4,188 runs in 117 innings, combining powerplay aggression with unmatched consistency, even registering one century in the format.

Overall, his 28,000 runs in 624 innings at an average above 52, with 84 international hundreds, make him the fastest across all major batting milestones.

Also READ: IND vs NZ – Virat Kohli reveals where does he keeps his Player of the Match awards

Kohli’s recent acceleration sets him apart from peers

What makes Kohli’s feat even more striking is the pace at which he has climbed recent milestones. He became the fastest to 25,000 international runs in just 549 innings and continued that surge by reaching 26,000 and 27,000 at record speed, the latter achieved in 594 innings against Bangladesh in 2024.

His Vadodara innings reflected the same hunger, even at the age of 37, as he continues to lead India’s batting resurgence in white-ball cricket. With fitness levels rivaling players a decade younger, Kohli shows little sign of slowing down.

Also READ: Top 3 cricketers with most Player of the Match awards in ODIs ft. Virat Kohli

Mumbai: Pets and facilities for them have become a part of the BMC poll promises. After the Shiv Sena (UBT) featured pet parks, clinics and crematoriums in their manifesto, BJP and other party candidates also promised pet parks and clinics to voters. Candidates across parties are talking about pets, and pet parents are also making their voices heard. Many are holding meetings with pet parents and dog lovers in pet parks as part of the campaign.Makarand Narwekar, BJP candidate from Ward 226 on Monday promised to formulate a comprehensive policy for pets and implement pilot initiatives such as water podiums and feeding stations for pets and strays in Colaba.“After getting elected, formulating a comprehensive pet policy will be one of my top priorities. We will begin with pet-friendly initiatives like water podiums and feeding stations in Colaba on a pilot basis. Once successful, we will push for such measures across Mumbai. These initiatives will make Mumbai a true pet-friendly metropolis,” said Makarand.Makarand was speaking at Oval Maidan during an event titled ‘Dog Walks & Neighbourhood Talks’, organised by the Oval Cooperage Residents Association (OCRA). The event saw participation from residents and featured comedian-podcaster Cyrus Broacha and food writer-actor Kunal Vijaykar as special guests. Both advocated better urban pet welfare.“Pet-related issues are a serious election issue among pet parents. Pet parents are a growing community who want facilities like pet parks and pet clinics. So we are working on these issues, and we will fulfil our promises,” said Ankit Prabhu, Sena (UBT) candidate from Ward 54.Residents raised concerns over the lack of facilities such as dustbins, water podiums and feeding stations for pets, and demanded designated pet zones in BMC gardens, along with a pet crematorium nearby.Terming the interaction very engaging, Narwekar said, “There were constructive suggestions which can be worked upon.”Last week, the Sena (UBT)-MNS launched their manifesto and promised they would build more pet parks, pet clinics, pet ambulances and pet crematoriums in the city.“Our manifesto is holistic and covers all aspects of Mumbai. Just like Mumbai, our manifesto is also diverse. Our manifesto is not a last-minute reading list; it is a well-thought-out list of real promises that can be delivered. It is practical and in tune with Mumbaikar’s aspirations too,” Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray told TOI.

PARIS: Former Marseille coach Rolland Courbis, a charismatic figure of French soccer who later became a prominent pundit, has died, his employer said on Monday. He was 72. RMC radio did not disclose the cause of the death in a statement released in agreement with Courbis’ family. Born in Marseille, Courbis came through the club’s academy. A rugged defender, he was part of the team that won the French league and cup double in 1972 and returned to the club in the late 1990s as coach. As a player, he also won two French league titles and a French Cup with Monaco. “A Marseillais at heart, he embodied popular, dynamic football. His unmistakable accent carried his frank, direct, often passionate and always sincere words,” Marseille said in a tribute. Courbis enjoyed a much-traveled coaching career, with spells in France and abroad, notably at Bordeaux, Lens, Montpellier and the USM Alger. Among the many defining moments of his career was a stunning comeback he oversaw when coaching Marseille. His team found itself 4-0 down at home to Montpellier in 1998 but fought back to seal a remarkable 5-4 victory. Courbis, who had a taste for casino gambling and lived with an Italian countess for a while, led a tumultuous life. He was seriously wounded in 1996 when gunmen fatally shot the president of a French soccer team outside a stadium following a game. Courbis, who was also involved in several legal cases and sentenced to prison, was hit by a bullet during the attack. France coach Didier Deschamps said that with his passing, French soccer lost “a fine connoisseur of football and its inner workings, but also of the game itself.” “He was a true passionate figure,” Deschamps added. “And in recent years, he chose to pass on that passion behind a microphone, with a turn of phrase all his own.” Since 2005, he had become a consultant on RMC, where he commented on football news. “His passion came through in his trademark Marseille accent and in a very direct rapport with listeners,” RMC said. “A freedom of tone that kept the language of the supporters, while sharing their questions and emotions. He was particularly successful in remaining approachable and warm, while still being demanding on substance.”

A year after US President Donald Trump introduced a fresh round of tariffs, the economic fallout has proven uneven, with employment taking a clearer hit than prices. At the time, economists warned that the measures would drive up inflation and push unemployment higher. Data from 2025 suggests those concerns were only partly true. While the cost of some imported goods, including beef, coffee and tomatoes, rose sharply, overall price increases remained broadly steady. The labour market, however, weakened noticeably, CNN reported. Average monthly job growth in 2025 was the lowest seen in decades outside recessionary periods. The December jobs report, released on Friday, showed the unemployment rate rising by 0.4 percentage points over the year to 4.4%. Hiring had already begun to slow before 2025, but Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs, and the repeated changes to them, added to the pressure. Faced with uncertainty over future trade policy, many companies froze recruitment plans, while some moved to reduce their workforce. “There’s no compelling reason to be out there hiring en masse,” said University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith. “That is a rational response when you’re dealing with this kind of uncertainty.” Tariffs have also reshaped business decisions around investment and profitability. “Companies are seeing higher prices, depressing profitability; and in terms of new investment, they’re hesitant because tariffs make a lot of investments that have been profitable unprofitable,” Dean Baker, senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research told CNN. Demand has softened as well, with customers delaying purchases amid shifting tariff levels. The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond noted in its latest Beige Book that several manufacturing contacts “said that their customers reduced new orders due to uncertainty about tariffs.” Confusion has not been limited to consumers. Trump’s unpredictable trade moves have left many firms unsure how to respond. So far, many have chosen to absorb higher tariff costs rather than pass them on, helping to prevent a broader rise in inflation, CNN reported. That balance could shift depending on the outcome of a major Supreme Court case that may overturn Trump’s most significant tariffs. If the levies are struck down, companies could be entitled to substantial refunds for duties already paid, though resolving such claims could take considerable time.

NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on Monday that India has stepped up its engagement at the “highlest level” with German authorities over the case of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who has remained in foster care in Germany for over 40 months. The government is stressing that the matter should be addressed through a humanitarian lens. Addressing a media briefing, Misri said New Delhi has been in continuous discussions with German authorities in both India and Germany. “We have been in discussions with the German government, all the German authorities, their embassy here in Delhi, and the German government in Berlin, and all the agencies involved, for quite some time,” he said, reported ANI.While acknowledging that the issue had earlier been treated as a legal matter, Misri said India believes it must now be approached keeping humanitarian concerns at the centre. “This case was, at one point, a legal matter, but we believe that ultimately, it should be approached keeping in mind the humanitarian issues involved,” he said. Foreign secretary also pointed towards the government’s awareness of the family’s situation, adding, “We understand the family’s distress and difficulties. We are fully aware of the situation, and we are trying our best to help them in every way possible.”He also went on to say efforts are underway to ensure that Ariha remains connected to Indian cultural and social surroundings while in Germany. “We are also trying to ensure that Baby Ariha is raised as much as possible in an Indian environment, whether it’s interacting with Indian people or participating in Indian festivals being celebrated in Germany,” Misri said. He added that steps were being explored to help the child learn the language, saying, “We would like to make arrangements for him to participate and learn Hindi.”The foreign secretary said the issue has been raised at the highest political level. “Prime Minister Modi also mentioned this to the Chancellor, so we will continue to follow up with the German government on this issue, and we will stay with the family at every step,” he said.Misri’s remarks came as Ariha Shah’s family renewed its appeal to both governments, calling for dialogue to “preserve the rights of the young girl” and stating that all allegations against the parents had been cleared by German authorities.Ariha was placed in German foster care in September 2021, when she was seven months old, following an incident in which her grandmother accidentally injured her. She has remained under foster care since then.On Saturday, the Save Ariha Team expressed concern over the continued separation of the child from her family, urging the Indian government to intervene diplomatically for her repatriation ahead of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India. In a press release, the group said Ariha remains under the custody of German child services (Jugendamt) despite police cases against her parents being closed in February 2022, and that she has been moved across five foster homes. Earlier the ministry of external affairs had said there has been progress in the matter and that steps are being taken to ensure Ariha’s upbringing in a culturally conducive environment. MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal said the issue was raised during the German foreign minister’s recent visit to India. Chancellor Merz is on a two-day official visit to India from January 12 to 13, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India-Germany diplomatic ties and 25 years of their strategic partnership.

Venezuelan soldiers were left bleeding from the nose, vomiting blood and unable to stand after the US allegedly deployed a powerful and unknown weapon during a military raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, according to an eyewitness account shared by the White House press secretary.The account posted on X and described how the operation was carried out by a small unit of American soldiers who reportedly overwhelmed hundreds of Venezuelan security forces using technology unlike anything seen before. White House has not confirmed the claims, but the details have raised speculations over whether a sonic weapon was used in combat.

In an interview cited by the New York Post, a Venezuelan guard said the attack began without warning. “We were on guard, but suddenly all our radar systems shut down without any explanation,” he said. Soon after, dozens of drones and a small number of helicopters appeared.Moments later, around 20 US troops were deployed. Despite being vastly outnumbered, he claimed the American forces rapidly took control of the area. “They were technologically very advanced,” he said. “They didn’t look like anything we’ve fought against before.”According to the guard, the encounter barely resembled a conventional firefight. “We were hundreds, but we had no chance,” he said.The guard added: “They were shooting with such precision and speed; it felt like each soldier was firing 300 rounds per minute.”The most disturbing moment came when US forces unleashed an unfamiliar weapon. “At one point, they launched something; I don’t know how to describe it,” he said. The guard then claimed: “It was like a very intense sound wave. Suddenly I felt like my head was exploding from the inside.”The effects were immediate. “We all started bleeding from the nose, some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move. We couldn’t even stand up after that sonic weapon — or whatever it was,” he said. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt also shared the viral post. Her caption read, “Stop what you are doing and read this…”Venezuela’s interior ministry has said around 100 security personnel were killed in the raid. But it is still not clear if any deaths were linked to the alleged mystery weapon.A former US intelligence source told the Post that the American military has possessed directed energy weapons for years. These systems use focused energy, such as microwaves or lasers, to disable targets. The source said such weapons could cause symptoms including bleeding, pain and loss of motor function.The guard said the raid had sent a clear message across the region. “I’m sending a warning to anyone who thinks they can fight the United States,” he said.He added: “They have no idea what they’re capable of.”He added that the incident had already sent shockwaves across Latin America, particularly after Trump recently warned that Mexico was now “on the list”.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has responded to growing speculation around a possible change in venues for Bangladesh’s matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The reaction comes amid reports suggesting that the ICC is evaluating two alternative Indian venues for Bangladesh’s fixtures following concerns raised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Reports hint at two alternative Indian venues

On Monday, several reports claimed that the ICC is exploring alternative venues within India rather than relocating Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram were named as potential options, possibly replacing Kolkata and Mumbai, which are currently slated to host Bangladesh’s group-stage games.

BCCI reacts to reports of ICC’s ‘2 venues’ solution

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the Indian board remains in the dark over any proposed changes and stressed that the matter does not fall under BCCI’s authority at this stage. According to Saikia, the ICC alone is empowered to take decisions on venues for global tournaments, and the host board can act only after receiving official instructions.

He made it clear that the BCCI is proceeding strictly as per the existing tournament schedule and has not been informed about Bangladesh’s matches being moved from their designated venues. Any reports suggesting otherwise, Saikia noted, are speculative until confirmed by the ICC.

“The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the matter of shifting Bangladesh matches to Chennai or anywhere else, and it is beyond our control. It is a matter of communication between the BCB and the ICC, as the ICC is the governing body. If the ICC conveys any decision to us regarding a change of venue, the BCCI, as the host, will take the necessary steps. At present, we are not privy to any such information,” Saikia told IANS.

Also READ: Bangladesh name squad for T20 World Cup 2026; no place for Jaker Ali

Bangladesh’s security concerns and ICC response

The issue surfaced after the BCB reportedly wrote to the ICC, requesting that Bangladesh’s group-stage matches be shifted out of India due to security concerns arising from diplomatic tensions in the region. Sri Lanka was cited as Bangladesh’s preferred alternative venue. In its correspondence, the BCB indicated that it had received an acknowledgment from the ICC, with assurances that the matter would be reviewed. However, no final decision has been communicated publicly by the ICC, leaving room for speculation over possible adjustments.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh write to ICC over security concerns in India