Akshay Kumar - The Latremie Post

Akshay Kumar slams AI videos of him in Valmiki’s role

**Akshay Kumar Slams AI-Generated Videos Showing Him as Maharishi Valmiki**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | September 23, 2025, 02:14 PM*

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has spoken out against the circulation of artificial intelligence-generated videos that depict him in the role of Maharishi Valmiki. The actor took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that these videos, resembling movie trailers, are entirely fake and created using AI technology.

In his statement, Kumar expressed concern over the misinformation spreading rapidly online. He wrote, “I have recently come across some AI-generated videos of a film trailer showing me in the role of Maharishi Valmiki. I want to clarify that all such videos are fake and created using AI. What’s worse, some news channels decide to pick these up as ‘news’ without even verifying if these are real or morphed.”

Kumar urged both fans and media outlets to exercise caution when consuming or sharing such content. He emphasized the importance of responsible journalism in the age of rampant AI manipulation, stating, “In today’s time, when misleading content is being produced at great speed through manipulative AI, I sincerely request media houses to verify and report only after authenticating the information.”

This incident highlights the increasing challenge posed by AI-generated content, which is making it difficult for audiences and media to distinguish genuine clips from fabricated ones.

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**On the Work Front: ‘Jolly LLB 3’ Performing Well at the Box Office**

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar’s latest film, *Jolly LLB 3*, is currently running successfully in theaters. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the courtroom comedy released on September 19 and has been well received by audiences.

Despite a slight dip in earnings on its first Monday following a strong opening weekend, *Jolly LLB 3* has grossed over ₹59 crore in India within just four days of release, according to trade analyst Sacnilk.

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*Stay tuned for more updates on Akshay Kumar and the latest Bollywood news.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/akshay-kumar-denounces-ai-generated-videos-as-fake/story

Priyadarshan blames ‘bad forces’ for ‘Hera Pheri 3’ controversy

**Priyadarshan Blames ‘Bad Forces’ for ‘Hera Pheri 3’ Controversy**

*By Isha Sharma | September 21, 2025, 12:26 PM*

The much-anticipated third installment of the beloved *Hera Pheri* franchise has recently been surrounded by controversy. Earlier this year, veteran actor Paresh Rawal briefly exited the project in May, citing creative disagreements. However, he made a comeback in late June, confirming his reunion with co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty.

Addressing the situation, director Priyadarshan clarified that there were no personal issues between him, Akshay Kumar, and Paresh Rawal. Speaking to Pinkvilla, he said, “I tell you very frankly, Paresh and I never had an issue. Even to the best of my knowledge, Akshay and Paresh also never had any issue. There are some other forces, bad forces, who were pressurizing Paresh. He is someone who tends to get worried easily, but at the same time our relationship has never been affected.”

Priyadarshan further expressed his reluctance to focus on the negative aspects surrounding the project. “I thought and even Akshay told me that if it happens let it happen otherwise let’s forget it. If it happens in a very good way, that’s great, but there are other bad forces which have created a lot of issues. It is not worth talking about them so I won’t,” he added.

Rawal’s sudden departure had reportedly resulted in Akshay Kumar’s production house filing a case against him. The actor, however, maintained that he had legitimate reasons for his exit and had even returned his signing amount along with interest. Thankfully, the dispute was resolved, and Rawal is now back on board.

In a recent interview with News18, Paresh Rawal confirmed that *Hera Pheri 3* is set to go on floors next year, much to the excitement of fans eagerly awaiting the film’s release.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/priyadarshan-breaks-silence-on-hera-pheri-3-controversy/story

Multiplexes resume bookings for ‘Jolly LLB’; here’s what happened

**Multiplexes Resume Bookings for ‘Jolly LLB 3’; Here’s What Happened**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | Sep 19, 2025, 01:30 PM*

The much-anticipated release of *Jolly LLB 3* faced a significant hurdle when leading multiplex chains PVR and Inox halted the advance booking of shows due to disagreements over the Virtual Print Fee (VPF). Bookings were first stopped on Wednesday evening, briefly resumed on Thursday morning without resolving the issue, and then suspended again on Thursday evening — just hours before the film’s premiere.

The dispute grew notable enough to attract the involvement of superstar Akshay Kumar, highlighting the intensity of the conflict surrounding this release.

### What Led to the Booking Suspension?

The root of the problem lies in the Virtual Print Fee (VPF), a charge imposed by major multiplex chains on producers or distributors to help cover the costs associated with upgrading cinema technology. This fee typically averages around ₹20,000 per screen. While smaller cinema chains and non-2K theaters collect the fee through digital service providers such as UFO, Scrabble, and Qube, major multiplexes like PVR and Inox directly impose the fee on filmmakers.

The *Jolly LLB 3* team challenged this fee, arguing that as a 2025 release, they should be exempted from the ongoing charges.

### Payment Agreement Reached Under Protest

Fearing that the prolonged halt in bookings would severely impact the film’s first-day collections, the producers of *Jolly LLB 3* decided to agree to pay the VPF. However, they made it clear that this payment was made under protest, and discussions around the legitimacy and fairness of the fee would continue.

A multiplex official confirmed that the issue was finally resolved around midnight, and advance bookings resumed, ensuring a smooth release of the film across India.

### Understanding Virtual Print Fee (VPF)

VPF is a recurring point of contention in the Hindi film industry. It is intended to offset the cost multiplexes incur for switching from traditional film prints to digital projection technology. Despite being a standard practice, many producers feel that the fee should not be charged indefinitely.

### The Ongoing Battle Over VPF

The VPF dispute is not new. Back in 2019, producer Ronnie Screwvala took major multiplex chains including PVR, Inox, Cinepolis, and Carnival Cinemas to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over the fee. However, the CCI ruled in favor of the multiplexes.

Despite this, producers continue to argue that the VPF was meant to be a temporary charge and are pushing for its discontinuation or waiver for newer releases.

### *Jolly LLB 3* is Now in Theaters

Following the resolution, *Jolly LLB 3* has hit theaters nationwide. The film’s release was closely watched, not only for its content but for the implications this dispute has on the film distribution and exhibition ecosystem in India.

Stay tuned for more updates and box office reports on *Jolly LLB 3*.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/jolly-llb-3-team-submits-vpf-under-protest/story