January 19, 2026, proved to be a headline-heavy day for the entertainment industry, with viral moments, personal revelations, and sharp reactions dominating conversations. From Ms Gori responding to Parul Gulati’s video defending Karan Aujla to
Neha Kakkar announcing a break from work and relationships, and
Rashmika Mandanna finally addressing her wedding rumours with
Vijay Deverakonda, here are the top five entertainment stories of the day.
Ms Gori claps back at Parul Gulati
Canada-based singer-actress Ms Gori sparked controversy after alleging a romantic association with Punjabi star Karan Aujla, notably without referencing his marriage. Actress Parul Gulati soon came out in Aujla’s defence through a video, praising his devotion to his wife, Palak Aujla, and stating that he would go to any lengths to ensure her happiness and security.
Ms Gori responded via her Instagram Stories, expressing frustration over the backlash. Reposting Parul’s video, she wrote, “This is why women don’t speak up — because people think they can judge what they don’t understand. They jump to shame a woman for coming forward. This is actually teaching me so much about what, as a community around the world, we need to stand up for.”
In her video, Parul recounted meeting Karan Aujla and exchanging brief Instagram messages, noting that they had followed each other before unfollowing. She stated, “This man, to keep his wife happy and make her feel secure, will do anything.” Dismissing Ms Gori’s claims, Parul added, “You didn’t know he was married? Don’t you have Google? I’m going to call your post absolutely BS. She clearly knew that taking his name and talking about him would get her views.”
‘Race 4’ cast rumours quashed
The fourth instalment of the Race franchise is currently under production, fuelling speculation about the cast. Amid rumours suggesting Akshaye Khanna’s possible return following Dhurandhar’s success, producer Ramesh Taurani has put the speculation to rest.
In an interview with HT City, Taurani clarified, “No, we have not approached Akshaye. There was no scope at all.” He further explained, “There is no thought of bringing him back. His character meets with an accident in the first film; his track ended there, and it will remain that way.”
Addressing speculation about Sidharth Malhotra and Saif Ali Khan potentially starring together, Taurani added, “No cast has been finalised yet. The script is still being worked on.”
Neha Kakkar steps away from work
Following heavy trolling and backlash over her song Candy Shop, created with her brother Tony Kakkar, singer Neha Kakkar has announced that she is taking a break from the spotlight.
In a cryptic Instagram Story, Neha revealed her decision to pause both personal and professional commitments, including “relationships.” She wrote, “Time to take a break from responsibilities, relationships, work, and everything I can think of right now. Not sure if I’ll be back or not. Thank you.”
She further requested privacy, adding, “I request paparazzi and fans not to film me at all. I hope you respect my privacy and let me live freely in this world. No cameras, please. This is the least you all can give me for my peace.”
AR Rahman’s daughters defend him
AR Rahman’s daughters, Khatija and Raheema, have come out in support of their father amid backlash over his remarks on an alleged ‘communal’ trend in Bollywood and Chhaava’s perceived gains from division.
They endorsed a strongly worded Instagram post by Malayalam composer Kailas Menon, who called for respectful disagreement. Kailas shared a screenshot of a comment labelling Rahman a “disgrace to Tamil Nadu and India” and responded, “Disagree, don’t disgrace. People blaming A. R. Rahman for speaking his mind are missing a basic point. He spoke about how he felt. That is his right.”
He added, “You may disagree with him, but you cannot deny him the freedom to express his experience.” Condemning the attacks, Kailas described them as “not criticism but hate speech presented as opinion,” pointing out how critics mocked Rahman’s faith and dismissed his experiences as a ‘victim card.’
Highlighting Rahman’s legacy, he wrote that the maestro has “carried Indian music to the world, represented the country with dignity, and shaped generations through his work.” He concluded, “Freedom of speech applies to Rahman as much as it applies to his critics. Criticism is fine, but outrage without respect says more about us than about him.”
Rashmika Mandanna addresses wedding buzz
Rumours surrounding Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s wedding — reportedly scheduled for February 26 in Udaipur — continue to generate widespread buzz. Reports have also suggested that the couple got engaged in October 2025.
Rashmika has now addressed the speculation in a recent interview. Speaking to Prema, she said, “It has been four years since these rumours began, right? People have been asking the same question and waiting for the same thing.”
She added, “But today, the truth is, I will speak about it when it’s supposed to be spoken about. When it’s meant to be spoken about, we will speak about it.” Rashmika also told the host that she would be open to discussing the matter off-camera.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the
latest Hindi movies,
upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and
Telugu movies.”
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