New Delhi, June 27, 2026: The theatrical landscape this weekend is an absolute feast for cinephiles. In our latest edition of First Day First Show, we dive into two completely different worlds of entertainment. First, we cross the galaxy into James Gunn’s newly minted DC Universe with our comprehensive review of the highly anticipated sci-fi epic, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Then, we bring things closer to home with an exclusive, candid conversation with Indian cinema’s ultimate chameleon, Gulshan Devaiah, who is currently celebrating back-to-back victories across regional boundaries.
Movie Review: ‘Supergirl’ Delivers a Sparking, Post-Apocalyptic Space Western
The comic book movie fatigue is real, but director Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl manages to slice through the noise with a sharp, sub-two-hour cosmic adventure that feels less like a generic superhero film and more like True Grit meets Mad Max: Fury Road.
Based closely on the acclaimed 2021 comic run by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, the film follows a deeply cynical, trauma-matured Kara Zor-El, played with spectacular grit by Australian star Milly Alcock. Unlike her optimistic cousin Superman (David Corenswet, who appears in a wonderful, emotionally resonant cameo), Kara didn’t grow up on a cozy Kansas farm. She survived the literal destruction of her home planet on a drifting chunk of Krypton, and it shows. When we meet her, she’s celebrating her 23rd birthday by getting into drunken alien bar fights, fundamentally exhausted by her near-immortality.
Everything changes when her path crosses with Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), a fierce alien teenager on a quest for vengeance against Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts)—an intergalactic pirate who slaughtered Ruthye’s father and, to make matters worse, poisoned Supergirl’s beloved dog, Krypto.
The movie shines brightest in its smaller, character-driven moments. The dynamic between Alcock and Ridley is the emotional anchor of the film, presenting a refreshing feminist narrative where a young woman handles her own survival. Visually, the movie is a total treat—relying heavily on stunning practical makeup, weird alien terrain, and puppet-heavy creature design. Jason Momoa also shows up for a glorious, cigar-chomping cameo as the cosmic bounty hunter Lobo, infusing the second act with infectious, chaotic energy.
However, the film does stagger a bit in its pacing. The villain, Krem, lacks a truly terrifying narrative depth despite Schoenaerts’ menacing performance, and a few subplots feel overtly stitched together to serve the broader, expanding franchise. Even so, Milly Alcock’s interpretation of a profoundly flawed, deeply human superhero cements her as a powerhouse lead for the future of DC cinema.
The Big Interview: Gulshan Devaiah on Rewriting the Rules of Film Stardom
While Hollywood relies on capes and superpowers, Bollywood and regional Indian cinema rely on pure, unadulterated talent—and right now, few embody that better than Gulshan Devaiah. The actor is currently riding a wave of massive critical and commercial success with his grand Tollywood debut in the Samantha Ruth Prabhu-led mass action thriller, Maa Inti Bangaaram, which crossed the ₹50-crore mark within days of its release.
We caught up with the actor over the phone from London, where he is currently filming his next international project. Relaxed, incredibly sharp, and characteristically unfiltered, Gulshan opened up about breaking regional barriers, managing industry pressure, and why he refuses to conform to traditional definitions of “stardom.”
Chasing Stories, Not Borders
Despite dominating the Hindi OTT space with landmark performances in Dahaad and Guns & Gulaabs, Gulshan’s recent ventures into Kannada (Kantara: Chapter 1) and Telugu (Maa Inti Bangaaram) have taken the industry by surprise.
For Gulshan, language is merely a vehicle; the character’s psychological meat is what matters. To prepare for the role, he insisted that the director sit through all his dubbing sessions to ensure his Rayalaseema dialect was completely flawless. “New audiences are discovering me now,” he says warmly. “That’s the true joy of being an actor in India today—the boundaries have collapsed.”
Rooting for the Female-Led ‘Mass’ Movie
Maa Inti Bangaaram features Samantha in an unapologetic, heavy-duty action avatar—a territory historically reserved for male superstars. Gulshan is visibly thrilled by the box office numbers, but more so for what it represents socially.
“It deeply frustrates me when media pundits make doomsday predictions saying only a specific formula works,” Gulshan tells us. “I am incredibly happy that this massive theatrical response is for a film led by a female star in a commercial, action-heavy role. It proves audiences just want a great cinematic experience.”
He notes that the massive success of projects like these reflects a broader cultural shift. “We saw how people turned up for the Women’s Cricket World Cup recently. When the audience demands great content featuring women, the economic infrastructure—like making theatres cleaner and safer for female audiences—will naturally follow.”
Rejecting the “Image” Game
In an era where actors spend millions on public relations, airport looks, and curated social media grids, Gulshan remains a deliberate anomaly. He still interacts directly with fans and trolls alike, refusing to hide behind a publicist.
“Many well-wishers call me ‘underrated’ or tell me I don’t properly monetise my career,” he reflects with a smirk. “I remember someone genuinely advised me to go out and buy a second-hand BMW or Mercedes just to build a certain ‘perception’ in the industry. I get where they are coming from. That’s how the business works. But I’m not going to spend my hard-earned money to please others or project a fake life. I stay authentic to who I am. If I want to post a picture in a face mask or wear goofy yellow-tinted glasses on a red carpet, I will.”
With a diverse lineup ahead—including a gritty cop avatar in the upcoming Tamil crime drama Legacy alongside R. Madhavan—Gulshan Devaiah continues to prove that longevity in show business doesn’t require a tailored image or a superhero cape. It just requires an undeniable commitment to the craft.