The Partition-era film Lahore 1947 is expected to be retitled Batwara 1947, according to sources cited by Bollywood Hungama, with a clearer confirmation expected within weeks. Mid-Day had flagged the tentative new title on April 17, corroborating an earlier February 2026 Bollywood Hungama report that the producers were actively seeking a replacement. The original title was chosen because the story, adapted from Syed Asghar Wajahat's 1980 play Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya, centers on a Muslim family from Lucknow resettled in a Lahore haveli after Partition, where they encounter a Hindu matriarch who refuses to leave. Producers concluded a title better reflecting the film's broader Partition narrative would be more appropriate than a city-specific reference. The film reunites director Rajkumar Santoshi and actor Sunny Deol, with Aamir Khan producing and appearing in a supporting role. The cast also includes Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal, and Shabana Azmi. A theatrical release is scheduled for August 13, timed to the Independence Day week corridor, a historically strong box office window for patriotic and period films. With Sunny Deol's commercial standing reinforced by Border 2's recent success, the film carries elevated commercial expectations. Final title confirmation and any marketing repositioning will be the key signals to watch ahead of release.
HDFC Bank's board has approved Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner and financial services secretary, as its Part-time Non-Executive Chairman from June 30, 2026. His chairmanship still requires RBI approval, but the move ends the bank's prolonged search for a permanent board leader.
Indian startups raised $1.1 billion across 16 deals in the week of June 21-26, 2026, up 2.5 times from the prior week, with CRED's $900 million Series H led by Meta accounting for most of the total. Square Yards became India's 131st unicorn after closing a $95 million round.
Jet fuel costs dropped sharply after a US-Iran interim peace deal, but airlines are expected to use the savings to rebuild margins rather than cut fares. Tight capacity, aircraft delivery delays, and weak budget carriers give major carriers unusual pricing power heading into the second half of 2026.
Meta is investing $900 million in CRED at a $4.5 billion valuation, the largest Indian startup round of 2026, as founder Kunal Shah moves to a global leadership role at WhatsApp. Miten Sampat takes over as interim CEO, and a major employee stock buyback is expected within weeks.
