Top storyNavratri celebrations are set to begin in Hyderabad. The 10th season of Celebrity Dandiya Nights 2026, organised by Hyderabad Models and Raghavi Media, will be held from October 9 to 20 at Flipside Adventure Park on ISB Road in the Financial District. The 12-day event will feature traditional dandiya, music, dance and entertainment as key attractions. Families, youth, celebrities, influencers, fashion models and figures from the entertainment industry are expected to take part.
A workshop seeking UNESCO recognition for Kuchipudi dance began on Tuesday at Kuchipudi in Movva mandal of Krishna district. It was organised jointly by Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, the district administration and the AP tourism, culture and youth development departments. Pamarru MLA Varla Kumar Raja lit the lamp to open it, saying Sri Siddhendra Yogi gave the dance a systematic form 400 years ago. Collector D.K. Balaji said action towards recognition was being expedited. A Kuchipudi history book by Dr Chinta Ravi Balakrishna was released.
MLC Nagababu, actor Varun Tej, Lavanya Tripathi and Niharika Konidela visited the Tirumala temple on Friday along with family members. They had darshan of the deity during VIP break darshan time, after which Vedic scholars offered blessings at Ranganayakula Mandapam. Temple officials honoured them with Swami vari vastram and presented theertha prasadam. Nagababu performed the tonsuring offering of Varun Tej's son Vaayuv Tej. Related videos are going viral on social media.
Tollywood actor Varun Tej Konidela visited the Tirumala temple on Friday with wife Lavanya Tripathi and son Vayuv, taking part in special rituals. Visuals of the actor carrying his son in the temple premises went viral on social media. Nagababu, Padmaja and sister Niharika also had darshan. Varun Tej is currently acting in 'Bari', a volleyball-based sports drama directed by Yadhu Vamsi and produced by Niharika Konidela under Pink Elephant Pictures.
Comedian Ganapathi, known for his lady getups on ETV's Jabardasth comedy show, has joined as a government school teacher. The Andhra Pradesh government issued a GO on the 15th of last month to appoint candidates who passed the 1998 DSC examinations in government schools on a contract basis. Ganapathi, from that batch, took charge at Santha Kothavalasa village in Amudalavalasa mandal, Srikakulam district. A B.Ed holder, he prepared for exams while doing various jobs, and said his 25-year dream was realised because of Chief Minister Jagan.
The Allu family has launched a new office named Iconza on the birth anniversary of Allu Arjun's grandfather, Allu Ramalingaiah. Allu Arjun shared the news on social media with a photo, saying a new chapter had begun. The photo featured Allu Aravind and his wife, Chiranjeevi's wife Surekha, Sirish-Nayanika, and Allu Venkatesh and his wife. Allu Arjun is currently acting in 'Raka', directed by Atlee, with Deepika Padukone as heroine. Kalanidhi Maran is producing it under Sun Pictures for release next year.
Manjeera Rachayitala Sangham (Marasam), a people's literary organisation formed four decades ago in the erstwhile Medak district, will hold its 40th anniversary meeting in Hyderabad on October 2. The session begins at 10 am at the Suravaram Pratapareddy Auditorium in the Basheerbagh Press Club. Along with a review of its 40-year literary journey, critics will speak on literature from women's, Dalit and Dravidian perspectives, followed by a poets' meet in the evening. Marasam was formed by bringing employees, teachers, journalists and artists onto one platform.
Film actor Nani visited Sri Kanaka Durga at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy temple atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada on Wednesday. Nani, who is currently acting in the film 'Paradise', was welcomed by temple officials with temple honours, and special darshan arrangements were made for him. Special pujas were performed after the darshan and Vedic scholars offered blessings. Officials later presented him with the goddess's prasadam and seshavastram.
The pre-release event of fantasy entertainer ‘Don’t Trouble the Trouble’, starring Fahadh Faasil, was held in Hyderabad. Chief guest NTR said he had recovered from an injury and that ‘Dragon’ would release on schedule. He wished success for Fahadh’s first lead role in Telugu and for director Sasank Yeleti’s debut film. Presented by SS Rajamouli and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni and SS Karthikeya, the film releases on October 2.
The team of the film 'Paradise' toured Mulugu district on Tuesday. Actor Nani, producer Cherukuri Sudhakar, director Srikanth Odela and actor Sampoornesh Babu first visited Gattamma on the outskirts of Mulugu, then Sammakka and Saralamma at Medaram in Tadvai mandal. Nani offered 74 kg of jaggery, new clothes and 'sare' to the deities and performed prayers. Priests' association president Siddaboyina Jaggarao and jatara EO Rajendram handed them sacred cloth and prasadam. Fan crowds prevented the team from addressing the media.
Singer Rahul Sipligunj has denied reports that he would contest as an MLA candidate from the Goshamahal constituency on behalf of a party. Responding on Instagram, he said he is not entering politics and that there is no truth in the reports. He said he respects leaders of all parties, that he is an artist whose work is to entertain, that no party had invited him and he had met no one, and asked that the rumours stop. Sipligunj, a Bigg Boss winner, sang the Oscar-winning 'Naatu Naatu' in RRR with Kaala Bhairava.
The Khairatabad Maha Ganapati procession proceeded with grandeur from Friday morning in Hyderabad. Former Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender performed Teenmaar steps during the event. He danced along with women constables deployed on bandobast duty to the song 'Aaya Sher' from the film 'The Paradise'. His dance drew the attention of devotees, and hundreds of youths joined him in dancing. Journalist Sudhakar Udumula posted the video on social media on September 25, 2026.
The first booster (glimpse) of 'George Krish', starring Sharwanand and directed by Sreenu Vaitla, was released on Thursday to mark the director's birthday. Sharwanand appears as 'George' in a Christian priest look and as 'Krish', a Hindu devotee. Miss India Manasa Varanasi is the female lead. Presented by Anil Sunkara, the film is produced by Ramabrahmam Sunkara under AK Entertainments, with music by Anup Rubens and cinematography by KV Guhan. Shooting is under way in Hyderabad, with a worldwide release set for January 14 as a 2027 Sankranti offering.
