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Most Expensive Indian Films! (Photo Credit – YouTube/Facebook)

Indian cinema has always been a reflection of its times, evolving with new trends, technologies, and storytelling techniques. What started as a modest industry with small-scale productions has now transformed into a global powerhouse, producing films that rival Hollywood in scale and ambition. Over the decades, the rise of multiplexes, international markets, and digital advancements has pushed filmmakers to invest more in the cinematic experiences.

In the early days, films were made with a few lakhs, but as technology, production quality, and audience expectations evolved, so did the investments. What was once considered an extravagant budget has become the norm, as filmmakers push boundaries to create larger-than-life cinematic experiences. Some of these films have rewritten history, not just in terms of their cost but also in the impact they left on Indian cinema.

The Evolution of India’s Most Expensive Films

In the early years,...

Ajay Devgn Once Called Raveena Tandon A ‘Born Liar’ (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ajay Devgn is known for intense personality performances and action-packed roles. He is also known to have a brooding personality off the screen. He is also a doting husband to Kajol and a loving father to their kids. However, before Kajol, he was allegedly dating Raveena Tandon, and the actress once reportedly revealed that she attempted suicide after the breakup. She also shared several details about this rumored relationship, and Ajay once even slammed the actress, calling her a liar. Scroll below for the deets.

According to reports, Raveena and Ajay started seeing each other while filming the movie Dilwale in 1994. But they reportedly drifted apart. Ajay allegedly dumped her after falling in love with Karisma Kapoor. Later, Ajay met Kajol on the set of their movie Hulchul, and they soon started dating. The couple tied the knot...

What Did Bipasha Basu Once Say About Her Split With John Abraham? ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

Bipasha Basu and John Abraham were among the most loved couples in the early 2000s. The duo started dating in 2003 and parted ways in 2011. While the exact reason for the breakup remains unclear, John Abraham once took the load on himself, stating that he was not ready for marriage, while Bipasha Basu hinted that John’s betrayal was the main reason.

In an interview with Times of India, Bipasha said, “I felt abandoned. I was living in lala land till then. Now sitting today I feel I was so foolish. During those nine years, I retracted from my work, pushed back opportunities, stood like a rock for the man I loved, did not meet people just to give him that extra time to make my relationship work and then I realised that the thing...

Sikandar Teaser 2 Viewership! ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Salman Khan is returning to the big screens after two long years. He was seen in cameo roles in Baby John and Singham Again, but fans weren’t satisfied. All eyes are now on his Eid 2025 release, Sikandar. Its second teaser was unveiled on Thursday, but the viewership seems to have dipped. Scroll below for the latest scoop!

Sikandar teaser 1 broke viewership records

The announcement video was released as the first official teaser on December 28, 2024. It broke records with its staggering viewership of 41.6 million in the first 24 hours. Sikandar teaser 1 surpassed Dunki, Maidaan, Fighter, and every single Bollywood film to become the most-viewed teaser in history!

It was well received and fans were convinced that Salman Khan is set to deliver a 500 crore grosser at the Indian box office. However, the action thriller landed in controversy after a recent poster featuring Salman Khan...

Sidharth Malhotra And Kiara Advani Announce Pregnancy ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Its celebration time for all the Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani fans out there. The couple announced their pregnancy with an adorable post on their social media handle. Congratulations have been pouring in for them from their fans and the industry fraternity. However, did you know that once Kiara had spoken fondly about having babies? Not only this but she had revealed whether she wants a boy or a girl.

When Kiara Advani Wanted To Get Pregnant

While promoting her 2019 film Good Newwz, Kiara Advani revealed to Koimoi on how she wishes to get pregnant in the real-life too. Her co-stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Akshay Kumar also spoke about different trivia that is usually attached with a pregnancy. Kareena who is mother to two sons, recalled how people warned her that the pregnancy phase would be difficult. While Akshay on the other hand,...

When Shah Rukh Khan’s RaOne Was Trolled By Shirish Kunder (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Bollywood has had its own share of ugly controversies, which have time and again got the tongues wagging. One of the nasty brawls that had taken the industry by storm was that of superstar Shah Rukh Khan and director Shirish Kunder. The duo got into an almost physical altercation in Sanjay Dutt’s party back in 2012. This also led to Shah Rukh’s friendship with Shirish’s wife, Farah Khan, being ruined temporarily. However, did you know that before this fight, Shirish had also taken a dig at Srk’s 2011 sci-fi film RaOne?

Shirish Kunder’s Dig At Shah Rukh Khan’s RaOne.

It was not a hidden fact that although RaOne received some critical acclaim, it was a huge flop at the box office. This also came as a massive disappointment to Shah Rukh Khan,...

When Arjun Rampal Shared His Reasons For Exiting Rang De Basanti ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Arjun Rampal is an Indian actor and model who works in the Hindi film industry. He is popular due to his versatility, good looks, and strong performances in Bollywood. He has played many characters on the screen, including one of the iconic villains in Bollywood Om, Shanti Om. He was also an antagonist in Ra One. The actor was slated to share the screen with Aamir Khan in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang de Basanti. However, things did not work out eventually, and he stepped out of the film. Rampal once shared the reasons in an episode of Karan Johar’s talk show, Koffee with Karan. Keep scrolling for the deets.

For the unversed, Arjun started as a top model in the late 90s before transitioning to films. His great looks and towering personality made him a heartthrob.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One Director Anubhav Sinha On The Movie’s Failure (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Shah Rukh Khan’s 2011 sci-fi superhero action film Ra.One might not have struck a chord with the audience back then, especially when it came to the box office numbers. However, it is still hailed as one of the films which dared to do something different in Bollywood especially in the spectrum of the VFX. In a recent interview with The Lallantop, director Anubhav Sinha, who helmed the movie, opened up about its failure. He not only recalled getting overwhelmed while making the movie but also hinted at a negativity from the industry towards the same.

Anubhav Sinha On Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One Emerging As A Box Office Flop

Anubhav Sinha revealed that he could sense some unspoken hostility against Ra.One from Bollywood. He further pointed out issues in the script and...

Renowned director Anubhav Sinha, famous for impactful films like Mulk, Article 15, Thappad, and Anek, recently opened up about his experience making Ra.

One, a pivotal project in his career. In a frank discussion, Sinha talked about the hurdles he encountered during production, which ultimately contributed to the film’s struggles.

The Birth of Ra.One

Sinha shared that he first came up with the idea for Ra.One back in 2005 and started writing it the next year. However, it wasn’t until Shah Rukh Khan announced the film at a press event in Berlin that things really kicked off. Sinha recalled being bombarded with calls for eight straight hours, unable to confirm the news. When he finally got in touch with Khan, the actor simply said, “Why hide it?”

The Production Journey of Ra.One

Sinha admitted that Ra.One didn’t turn out the way he had hoped. Even with a...

Director Shakun Batra talks to Subhash K Jha as they take a look back at the quirky romantic comedy 2012’s Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, which starred the unique and brilliant jodi of Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

In 2012, within two weeks, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions gave us two diametrically opposite genres of cinema from two debutant directors. If Karan Malhotra’s Agneepath took us back to the grand formalistic revenge drama of the 1970s. Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu takes us into the future of Bollywood, where actors don’t have to sing. They don’t have to act. They just have to be as normal as people in love tend to be.

Shakun Batra’s interesting, though flawed, is comprised of a series of elegantly written, confident, but never in-your-face scenes about what happens when two opposites meet in a city as all-embracing as Las Vegas. Of course,...

Resul Pookutty Urged Theatres To Adjust Speakers Before Pushpa 2 Release ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Resul Pookutty is a man who is synonymous with sound design in India. The Oscar-winning sound designer is taking all the precautions to ensure that his work in the upcoming film Pushpa 2 comes out as intended. Resul Pookutty is a veteran who has created sound designs for some of the biggest movies in India, such as Enthiran and Ra. One, 2.0, and Slumdog Millionaire, for which he won the Oscars.

Resul wrote on his X handle, along with a picture of his editing room, “As #pushpa2therule Trailer rolls out today, it’s been quite hectic on many levels. I want to tell all film lovers and fans that #Pushpa2 shall be mixed at standard Dolby Level 7. I request all theaters to tune Amps and Speakers well in time.”

This comes in the wake of all the...

Ra One Box Office: Exposing 3 Huge Lies Of The So Called ‘Disaster'(Photo Credit – Amazon Prime Video)

Shah Rukh Khan made a terrific comeback last year at the box office with two roaring successes Pathaan & Jawan, with a third release Dunki, piggybacking on the success of the other two. However, there was a time when the actor had to bear the brunt of the worst of his decisions!

October 26 – Srk’s Jinxed Fate!

In fact October 26 is a date that can be associated with Srk’s jinxed fate. While in 2001, his film Asoka released on the same date and tanked at the box office, he had to face another heartbreaking success 10 years later on 2011 with Ra One on the same date!

Ra One Box Office Collection

Mounted on a budget of 130 – 150 crore, the film earned 118 crore at the box office and faced a loss of almost 32 crore – only 21%. However,...

After a 27-year hiatus from television, veteran Indian filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is making his streaming series debut with Netflix’s “Ic 814: The Kandahar Hijack.”

The six-episode thriller, based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, marks Sinha’s first return to long-form storytelling since his early days in television, which includes Dd Metro series “Sea Hawks.”

The drama, adapted from the book “Flight Into Fear” by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, explores the crisis from multiple angles. It offers a multifaceted look at the incident, showcasing the tense negotiations in Delhi’s War Room, the high-stakes diplomacy at Taliban-controlled Kandahar, and the terrifying ordeal faced by passengers and crew aboard the hijacked aircraft.

Sinha, known for socially conscious films like “Article 15” and “Thappad,” initially resisted the idea of making a series. “I was doing films, so I wasn’t interested,” he tells Variety. However, a persistent...

Shah Rukh Khan In Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 171? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Some time ago, news emerged that Rajinikanth is joining hands with director Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film is tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 171’ and has great excitement amongst the fans. It’s the first time the actor and director have joined hands for a project together. Fans can’t keep calm as Kanagaraj has delivered some fantastic hits in the past, such as Kaithi, Master, and Vikram.

Thalaivar 171 Villain and Exciting Cameos

For an actor like Rajinikanth, the villain has to be menacing. A report by Dt Next stated that actor Mic Mohan might play the movie’s antagonist. The team has approached Mohan to play the bad guy and will soon announce if things are finalised. The actor is known for performing in popular movies like Nooravathu Naal, Sutta Pazham, Payanangal Mudivathillai, etc.

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Shekhar Kapur on Sridevi’s scene in Mr India ( Photo Credit – IMDb; Instagram )

Before Shaktimaan, Krrish and G One from Ra One, there was Mr India – everyone’s favourite desi superhero. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the film stars Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Amrish Puri, Annu Kapoor, Ramesh Deo, Ajit Vachani, Ashkor Kumar, Bob Christo, Satish Kaushik and many more. The 1987 movie is considered one of the best Hindi films of all time.

It’s a story about a man named Arun (Anil Kapoor) who looks after several orphan kids. One day, Arun comes across a watch that makes him invisible. That’s how he becomes Mr India and fights the bad guys in the movie. The story also includes Seema, played by Sridevi, who lives as a paying guest in Arun’s giant mansion. Arun and Seema’s love story also makes the plot entertaining.

Mr India is loved for many reasons: romance,...

Shakitmaan, G One & Krrish ( Photo Credit – YouTube; IMDb )

Every 90s kids remember Mukesh Khanna as Shaktimaan, the Indian superhero who would take a spin and save the day. Many of us have grown up watching him fight the bad guys and teach us valuable lessons. Before Marvel superheroes, we all wanted to be like him. The character is precious not only to many young Indians but also to Khanna.

Often, Mukesh Khanna expressed his views openly when it comes to Shaktimaan. He loves the superhero dearly and has talked about making a lot of effort to make the series happen. However, the actor also didn’t shy away from expressing his views against Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra One movie character G One. He also once said that Srk’s film and Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish could never match up to Shaktimaan.

In 2012, in an interview with Times of India,...

“Wonka” (Warner Bros.) achieved something that the much bigger “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” didn’t. With the #1 spot again this week on VOD top 10s of iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu, it becomes the first film to do this since “Avatar: The Way of Water” last year.

It didn’t come without a challenge. “The Iron Claw” (A24), like the Roald Dahl-inspired musical priced at $19.99 (though to buy; “Wonka” remains rental only) when released on Tuesday, held the #1 spot at iTunes for five days before dropping down. It’s #2 as well at Vudu, with the always lagging Google Play showing it at #5.

Netflix saw a similarly close battle, with the original rom-com “Players” debuting on Valentine’s Day leading leading their top 10 for four days until Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving,” the latest Sony release to initially stream on the platform, debuted. The Gina Rodriguez/Damon Wayans Jr. film was directed by Trish Sie.

Filmometer & Box Office Worth Of Shah Rukh Khan (Picture Credit: IMDb)

Shah Rukh Khan – Naam Toh Suna Hi Hoga! Literally, the Indian superstar doesn’t need any introduction as his followers are spread all across the globe, even in countries where the biggest Indian stars have failed to penetrate. He’s been in the film industry for over 30 years now and is still ruling the box office like a King! Let’s check out his strike rate at the ticket windows below.

How do we calculate the success ratio?

Formula: (Super-Hits/Super-Duper Hit + Hit + Plus + Average)/Total Releases x 100 = Success ratio

Shah Rukh Khan’s box office success ratio: (14 + 13 + 8 + 7)/64 x 100 = 65.62%

Total releases – 64 Super-Hit/Super-Duper Hit – 14

Darr

Karan Arjun

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Pardes

Dil To Pagal Hai

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Mohabbatein

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Veer Zaara

Chak De India

Om Shanti Om

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Jab Tak Hai Jaan...

Kareena Kapoor Khan Starts The Look Vs Actor Debate (Picture Credit: Instagram)

Kareena Kapoor Khan has recently done a discussion with the best actors of 2023, which included her Jaane Jaan co-star Jaideep Ahlawat, 12th Fail actor Vikrant Massey, Kathal actress Jyothika, Animal actor Bobby Deol among others. One of the major parts of the discussion was the age-old debate of star vs actor.

Kareena Kapoor Khan was asked about how it has been 23 years, and she has been constantly fighting to prove her worth as an actor and prove the fact that she is more than her looks. However, the actress asserted that while she knows that she brings much more to the table than just being a gorgeous woman, it is the industry and the thought process of the filmmakers.

While talking to Anupama Chopra for Film Companions’s Adda 2023, Kareena Kapoor Khan said, “For 23 years anyway, the industry...

International media consultant and producer Thomas Augsberger died suddenly on Tuesday at his home in the Hollywood Hills, his publicist informed Variety. He was 60.

The German-born and trained attorney was founder of film and television production company and media consulting business Eden Rock Media. Augsberger’s high profile media clients included Germany’s Leonine Studios. Prior to Leonine, Augsberger served for more than two decades as an advisor to the Tele Muenchen Group (Tmg) as their exclusive North American representative in the U.S. During this time he oversaw Tmg investments in the U.S., including a preferred equity investment in Lionsgate Entertainment in 1999 and the acquisition of the Mutual Film Library in 2006.

Over his 26-year consulting career, Augsberger acquired hundreds of projects as pre-buys including Marvel’s Iron Man franchise, Voltage’s Oscar winner “The Hurt Locker,” Paramount’s “Shutter Island,” Summit’s Twilight franchise, Lionsgate’s John Wick franchise,...

For the past several decades, various films have been released on Diwali weekend, which has always been considered a prime slot. Big-ticket films reserved slots for a Diwali release to cash in on the holiday spirit and attract families to watch their cinematic offerings.

From ‘Baazigar’ (1993), starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Shilpa Shetty, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ (1994) starring Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995) starring Kajol and Srk, Aamir Khan’s ‘Raja Hindustani’ (1996) and ‘Ghatak’ starring Sunny Deol and Meenakshi Sheshadari, the list of Diwali releases is a long one.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest, as well as some of the forgotten Bollywood Diwali releases of the past 24 years:

Yash Chopra’s ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ (1997), releaseda day after Diwali, starring Srk, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor, and had people thronging to the theatres.

‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998), Karan Johar’s debut film,...

For the past several decades, various films have been released on Diwali weekend, which has always been considered a prime slot. Big-ticket films reserved slots for a Diwali release to cash in on the holiday spirit and attract families to watch their cinematic offerings.

From ‘Baazigar’ (1993), starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Shilpa Shetty, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ (1994) starring Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995) starring Kajol and Srk, Aamir Khan’s ‘Raja Hindustani’ (1996) and ‘Ghatak’ starring Sunny Deol and Meenakshi Sheshadari, the list of Diwali releases is a long one.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest, as well as some of the forgotten Bollywood Diwali releases of the past 24 years:

Yash Chopra’s ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ (1997), releaseda day after Diwali, starring Srk, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor, and had people thronging to the theatres.

‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998), Karan Johar’s debut film,...

Shah Rukh Khan, also known as King Khan, is one of the most popular and successful actors in Bollywood. He has starred in over 80 films and has won numerous awards and accolades for his performances. He is also one of the richest actors in the world, with a net worth of over $600 million¹. His movies have a huge fan following across the globe and have broken many box office records. Here are his top 10 highest-grossing movies worldwide, as of September 2023.

10. Zero (2018) Zero Trailer

Zero is a romantic comedy-drama film that features Shah Rukh Khan as Bauua Singh, a vertically challenged man who falls in love with a scientist with cerebral palsy (Anushka Sharma) and a famous actress (Katrina Kaif). The film impressed with its special effects but disappointed in the storytelling department. It faced tough competition from Padmavat and yet earned Rs 178 crore worldwide, making it Srk’s 10th highest-grossing...

Mumbai, July 19 (Ians) The hype around the upcoming multi-starrer ‘Project K’ seems to be growing with every passing second. As the stars of the film touch down in San Diego for the film’s event at the San Diego Comic-Con, the makers of the film have unveiled Prabhas’s first look from the film promising a terrific cinematic experience.

In the sepia toned captivating image, Prabhas dons an intriguing avatar, exuding an air of mystery and allure. The finely crafted visual is a testament to the film’s unparalleled production values and VFX.

In the picture, Prabhas can be seen donning an armour as he punches the ground sending across the tremors while he dons long hair and stares directly into the camera. His armour seems to be made up of metal and metal coils.

The audience may find the similarities between the armour and the body suit of Shah Rukh Khan...

Dale Dickey (A Love Song), Margot Bingham (The Walking Dead), Mo Brings Plenty (Yellowstone) and Tosin Morohunfola (Run The World) have been tapped for recurring roles in Taylor Sheridan’s anthology series Lawmen: Bass Reeves (fka Bass Reeves), exec produced by and starring David Oyelowo. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is created for television by Chad Feehan who also serves as showrunner.

The Paramount+ series, which is currently filming in Texas, will bring the legendary lawmen and outlaws of the wild west to life. Reeves, known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded.

Dickey will play Widow Dolliver, an old woman who has seen it all, and who does not waste time suffering fools.

Bingham will play Sara Jumper, a black Seminole Native American whom Bass...

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who is known for films such as ‘Mulk’, ‘Article 15’, ‘Ra.One’ and the most recent ‘Bheed’, had a walk down the memory lane.

Taking to his Instagram, the director shared pictures from the Day 1 of shooting of his films ‘Ra.One’ and ‘Mulk’ in two separate posts.

The first picture shared by Anubhav shows him in the company of the late actor Rishi Kapoor. The two can be seen in an intense conversation as the director appears to be explaining something to his actor.

He captioned the picture: “Shoot Day 1 #Mulk. I so miss him.”

The other post shared by Anubhav shows Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan doing pooja with the director on the first day of shoot on ‘Ra.One’.

Anubhav wrote in the caption: “Shoot Day 1 #Ra.One. what a ride that still goes on.”

‘Ra.One’ is considered to be a game-changer in Indian animation and VFX.

Just after a reported first quarter loss of $1.23 billion, Paramount has something to cheer this week. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” ($19.99), released after its fifth weekend in theaters, is #1 on all VOD charts.

Reading the tea leaves that studios provide to figure out strategies is confusing. Paramount two weeks ago released “Scream VI” ($19.99) on both their own streaming platform and on PVOD. The much bigger-grossing horror film only reached #1 at Vudu, and at the end of its second week, only shows up on one of the three top ten lists.

As always, we are in the dark about the revenues a film ranked at #1 takes in. We do know that at a $19.99 price, Paramount recoups around $14/transaction. It appears they conceded much of that for “Scream VI,” hoping that it boosted the Paramount+ subscription interest. Again, this is mostly a mystery, though it is logical to assume its play...

Mumbai, April 27 (Ians) Choreographer and film director Remo D’ Souza talked about his days of struggle and his mental stress when his films didn’t work at the box office.

Remo appeared on the dance reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer 3’ as a celebrity guest and recalled his tough time after listening to the story of Madhya Pradesh’s Akshay Pal on the show.

He said: “Akshay, I have seen your journey. I know that you have struggled a lot. I have even struggled a lot. I make films, but some films don’t work, you make one that does not work, the second one does not do as well as the third and then I stopped, my mental health was not good. Yet, I rose up again and challenged myself, to make myself better.”

“That journey that you take with yourself is the best. This is your chance for a comeback.

After “Mulk” (2018), “Article 15” (2019), “Thappad” (2020) and “Anek” (2022), filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is back with “Bheed,” another hard-hitting film that shines a light on the fabric of Indian society.

The film is set during the 2020 Indian pandemic lockdown and tells the poignant story of migrant workers stranded without basic necessities while trying to go home to their villages. Shot in black and white, it is deliberately evocative of the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan when people were uprooted from their homes in the largest migration in history.

“When the pandemic hit, people were seeking help on Twitter. Everybody had different strengths so we were helping each other and, and I really got sucked into it. And that was the time when I felt that this film had to be made, this period of time has to be recorded, and I didn’t want it to be just a Coronavirus film,...

Mumbai, March 18 (Ians) Film director, producer, and writer Anubhav Sinha shared how apprehensive he was initially to make his movie “Bheed” in black and white as even classic films that were originally black and white are being coloured. He was not sure about the reaction of the audience toward his film.

About the idea of making a black-and-white film in the 21st century, Anubhav said: “I got this idea while we were all working in Alibaug. At first, I was scared to share the idea with the team because I thought it would be rejected, but to my surprise, everyone liked it.”

The well-known filmmaker, who made movies like “Ra.One”, “Tum Bin”, “Dus”, “Thappad”, “Anek”, “Middle Class Love”, “Article 15”, among others, said that he was nervous while thinking about the reaction of viewers after watching his film.

“I was apprehensive about how people would react to this film which is...

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who entertained the audience with his movies like ‘Ra.One’, ‘Tum Bin’, ‘Dus’, ‘Thappad’, is all set to come up with his next intriguing project ‘Bheed’ which will depict the problems faced by common people during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

The film focuses on social disparity and shows how the situation was similar to the Partition in 1947, and decided to shoot the film in black and white.

Talking about the reason behind shooting the film in black and white, he explained: “‘Bheed’ is a story of the most perilous times which changed everything for humanity. The key objective of shooting the film in black and white was to showcase how the visuals of the social disparity during India’s Lockdown were strikingly similar to what people went through during the 1947 Partition.”

The director went on about how through this film, he is going to show real stories of people...

At Berlin’s European Film Market, which wrapped Feb. 22, the indie industry was back in force, and plenty of deals got done.

Amazon Prime Video snatched up international rights to AGC Studio’s The Order, a white supremacist thriller starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult from Assassin’s Creed director Justin Kurzel; also, in a deal with sales outfit Rocket Science, Amazon grabbed pirate-themed survival thriller The Bluff, starring Zoe Saldaña from Anthony and Joe Russo’s Agbo banner.

Black Bear International sold out most of Europe and a number of other international territories for Nicolas Cage serial killer movie Longlegs, and the Jamie Bell-Margaret Qualley musical biopic Fred & Ginger. Buyers across Europe pounced on Dogman, Luc Besson’s comeback movie, starring Caleb Landry Jones, which Kinology is selling, with a domestic deal expected soon. And there was considerable heat around Voltage’s Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True,...

Shekhar Ravjiani, one of the composers of Bollywood megahit “Pathaan,” has launched Indie record label Garuudaa Musiic.

The label is envisioned as a creative platform through which Ravjiani composes, sings and collaborates with new talent while also showcasing the musician’s own output.

The idea for the label was born during lockdown when Ravjiani had a chance to take a break from the world of film music and reconnect with a creative process that took him back to his early days as a musician.

Ravjiani said: ”Garuudaa Musiic is a world where one can channel the inner child and create music fearlessly in its purest form. It is a musical universe filled with every colour and sound that one can dream of. Through this label I aim to discover and define the sound of tomorrow and given the rapid changes in the listening choices of each new generation, I feel...

Netflix’s highly touted and well publicized (perhaps too well) Marilyn Monroe biopic “Blonde” dropped off its top 10 movie chart after only eight days, only three of those at number one. This stunning result reaffirms the suspicion that, as much as subscribers gravitate to originals, top directors and awards attention don’t provide a leg up when it comes to viewer interest.

There can be exceptions and it’s likely that “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” will be one of them. Rian Johnson’s film will have the benefit of its predecessor, a theatrical hit, as well as its cast and strong reviews..

Netflix originals can thrive, but it’s usually for the short term. The current chart has three originals among the top five and these films received a fraction of the “Blonde” attention. It suggests that while viewers may crave social buzz about movies, that’s not...

Similar to recent weeks, we’re still in a holding pattern at the international box office, awaiting major new wide studio releases. There were a few milestones this session, however, and Japan has in general been a bright spot with local pic One Piece Film: Red and the continued thrum of Top Gun: Maverick while the market does the bulk of the lifting to potentially push Jurassic World Dominion across the 1B mark worldwide.

Universal/Amblin’s six-film Jurassic franchise has crossed the 6B mark globally. The current installment, Jurassic World Dominion, is now at a worldwide tally of 990.4M through Sunday. As we noted last weekend, Japan was the last major market to release, and may be the swing on whether the Jwd dino-meter clicks past 1B. The market was the top holdover with a 25 drop in its 5th frame, for a 40.9M local cume.

Offshore, Jwd is at 615.7M,...

Georgia Brown, head of European originals at Amazon Studios in the U.K., has said that even while the cost of living crisis continues to bite, and other streamers, such as HBO Max, have halted their local originals, Amazon Prime Video has no intention of cutting back.

“We’ve always had a very different strategy,” Brown said during a panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival, before saying she abides by head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke’s mantra of offering a “really curated” slate.

Brown emphasized her commitment to local productions, saying: “It was really critical to us that we have these local productions on the ground. Our strategy has always been ‘local for local.’”

“And actually, what we saw when we can launch globally in 2016 was all of our audiences were crying out for the content.”

“Our strategy in that sense hasn’t shifted and won’t shift,” she added.

Voltage Pictures has appointed Darcy Donelan as VP, development and production, reporting into president and COO Jonathan Deckter and Voltage founder and CEO Nicolas Chartier.

Harvard graduate Donelan, who started her career with Voltage, was most recently with CAA in the books department and previously with HBO, where she worked as a marketing manager focusing on international original programming.

Voltage also recently hired Southwestern Law School graduate Haley Cohen as attorney, business and legal affairs. Cohen’s experience includes assisting with copyright/trademark litigation at Johnson & Johnson, Llp, generating fair use clearance reports at Donaldson + Callif, Llp, drafting rights acquisition and above-the-line agreements for motion pictures at Rosen Law Group, PC, redlining film music agreements and licenses at NBCUniversal’s Universal Pictures, and negotiating below-the-line agreements for a slate of television series and pilots at Bruns, Brennan & Berry PC.

Donelan and Cohen’s appointments come at a busy time for Voltage,...

After several Covid-induced delays, Ayan Mukerji’s magnum opus “Brahmastra,” starring Bollywood A-listers Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, has locked a theatrical release date of Sept. 9, 2022.

The film, which also stars Nagarjuna Akkineni and Mouni Roy, will release in the Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

The project is set in contemporary India, where a secret society called the Brahmansh have guarded ‘Astras’ (divine weapons) created in ancient India for generations. The most powerful among these, the Brahmastra, is now waking up and it threatens to destroy the universe.

Based on Indian mythology, the story is constructed as a trilogy with the first part following the protagonist Shiva (Kapoor), who is in love with Isha (Bhatt). Their lives are changed forever when Shiva learns that he has a mysterious connection to the Brahmastra and a great power within him that he doesn’t understand just yet — the power of fire.

When the going gets tough, Bollywood thinks big. Reeling under the twin effect of the pandemic and Ott influx, which have dented business, Bollywood is pulling all stops with mega-budget announcements, to woo fans back to the halls. Among emerging trends is the superhero movie.

The genre is not exactly new -- Hrithik Roshan did star in the "Krrish" films, after all. But at no point in time has the Hindi film industry got into making so many superhero flicks at the same time as now. Trade analysts see it as a good trend, especially in these times when theatres are trying to pull the audience back amid the pandemic.

Hollywood, of course, is a big influence, as everything else about Bollywood. Global blockbusters as "The Dark Knight" series", the "Avengers" films, "Black Panther", "Wonder Woman", "Captain America: Civil War", and "Justice League" among others set the cash registers ringing in India,...

There wil be a cap of €1m per project.

Bulgaria is set to introduce a 25% cash rebate to attract international film and TV producers to shoot in the country.

There could be a cap of €1m per project, according to Jana Karaivanova, executive director of the Bulgarian National Film Center (Bnfc). She was talking on an online panel as part of Germany’s connecting cottbus market this week.

“We had been working very intensively for the last 1½ years on the introduction of an incentive ,” Karaivanova explained. “We are probably the only country left in Europe who didn’t yet have one.

Dj Khushi, who is currently being lauded for composing the Burjkhalifa song for the upcoming Akshay Kumar-starrer, Laxmii, has opened up on his journey so far, and how the tag of being the official deejay of superstar Shah Rukh Khan helped him carve a niche in the music industry.

"There was hardly any social media when I started deejaying. Getting a number of any celebrity was a huge task at that time. When I came to Bombay from Delhi, I used to sit at Bandstand for hours and used to look at Srk's house and dream of working with him one day," Khushi told Ians.

He recalls getting his "golden opportunity" during the making of "Ra.One".

"He (Srk) was looking for a deejay for the remix of his song 'Chammak challo'. I sent my entry through a friend of mine. Srk saw my work and picked my version for the remix of the track.

Despite the loss of more than 500 Regal Theaters, total grosses went up this weekend. Led by newcomer “The War with Grandpa,” the top 10 grossed about $9.7 million. That’s up from $8.5 million last weekend. With so many library titles adding to the pot, the full take might reach $13 million. By comparison. 2019 saw $141 million on Columbus Day weekend.

To be fair, with most of Regal gone and with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle still closed, that might have reduced the potential gross by as much as half. Had Regal been open, the total would have been over $15 million. If all markets and theaters were open, the total might have been $26 million. The lack of product is a major factor, but this depressed level of business continues suggest that audiences have not restored their appetites for theaters.

After “Tenet” spent five weeks in the top spot, “The War with Grandpa” took no.

As theaters regain their footing, they’re making baby steps. The good news: for the first time since March, 10 first-run films played in theaters in the U.S. and Canada, grossing $100,000 or more. And most drops from the past week were under 30%, which is above average: Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” dropped 26%, with few new theaters. Such small drops suggest an uptick in interest in going to theaters.

The bad news: there is little new to be seen. And disturbingly, on the specialty side, even though they played hundreds of theaters, Bleecker Street’s “The Secrets We Keep” and IFC’s “The Nest” failed to pull even minimal adult audiences.

This weekend last year, all films grossed $123 million. Led by three new openers, the lowest total for a Top Ten title was just under $1.5 million. This year, with something over 3,000 locations open (exact number unknown), a tiny increase over last week, total...

The newest trend in home viewing: the hot title that seems to come out of nowhere. This week it’s “The 2nd,” which jumped to #1 on the AppleTV and GooglePlay movie rental charts. An actioner starring Ryan Phillippe and Casper Van Dien would never register within film Twitter, but that’s not the ruling sensibility of VOD.

This week had a range of alternative offerings, led by the Disney+ debut of “Mulan.” At an estimated $200 million cost, it is by far the most expensive feature film to skip domestic theaters for Premium VOD. This is also the second week of “Bill & Ted Face the Music” (United Artists), as well as first for “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” the start of Netflix’s fall awards-intended original releases. All that comes as “Tenet” (Warner Bros.) began its muted run in the U.S. as it tries to bring struggling theaters into recovery.

Five of India’s leading filmmakers are joining hands for an as-yet untitled anthology film about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The project will be produced by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha’s Benares Mediaworks. Other filmmakers contributing to the anthology include Ketan Mehta, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta and Subhash Kapoor.

“The past few months during the lockdown we have been speaking more regularly than ever before,” Sinha told Variety“. “Obviously a lot of those conversations have been about this pandemic that ground the whole world to a halt. We could see a lot change or unravel. I thought this must be recorded for posterity. We had to cherrypick the stories we would like to tell. It is a fascinating bunch we have put together.”

The filmmakers are all well-known chroniclers of the Indian condition. Sinha had a fruitful Bollywood innings, including big-budget sci-fi “Ra.One” starring Shah Rukh Khan, and then changed direction with religious intolerance drama “Mulk,...

Exclusive: Voltage Pictures has boarded international sales on writer-director Kyle Rankin’s (Night Of The Living Deb) upcoming thriller Run Hide Fight, starring Thomas Jane (Deep Blue Sea), Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill) and Isabel May (Alexa & Katie). The U.S. firm will present the project to buyers at the upcoming European Film Market.

Run Hide Fight follows 17-year-old Zoe Hull (May) who uses her wits, survival skills, and compassion to fight for her life, and those of her fellow classmates, against a group of live-streaming school shooters.

Currently in post-production, the film also stars Eli Brown (Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists), Olly Sholotan (All American), Cyrus Arnold (Zoolander 2), Britton Sear (Boy Erased), Catherine Davis (S.W.A.T.), Treat Williams (Deep Rising), and Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator).

The project’s subject matter is a highly sensitive one. The filmmakers discussed their rationale for making the film and its journey when we broke news about it late last year.

After delivering the critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful "Article 15", filmmaker Anubhav Sinha says the pressure of expectation is breathing down his neck, and it is not a wonderful feeling.

"Article 15" released on June 28 this year, and since then the film has not only received positive critical response but has also won over the audience, thereby collecting big box-office numbers.

After delivering hit "Article 15", Sinha focused on "Thappad" featuring Taapsee Pannu and Dia Mirza. He has wrapped up the shoot of the project.

Asked if there is some pressure to continue the hit streak, Sinha told a well known?publication: "That is a problem."

"I don't like to take myself so seriously. 'Thappad' is the film I got excited by, and I am doing my best to make it as good as I can. But yes, the expectation is on my back breathing down my neck... That is not a wonderful feeling. I don't like it.

It was a fun-filled Tuesday morning for fans of Shah Rukh Khan as the superstar conducted an 'Ask Srk' session on Twitter, and seeing his replies, we must admit that his sense of humour has only become sharper with time.

When a Twitter user asked Srk why doesn't he burn the CD of his film "Ra.One" on the occasion of Dussehra, Shah Rukh's quip was characteristically witty: "Arre kitna jale pe namak chhidkoge!"

Also Read:?Shah Rukh Khan to take entrepreneurship lessons

Not only this, when another user asked him when he planned to do films with his younger son AbRam, Srk left netizens in splits with his reply: "As soon as I get his (AbRam) dates."

One fan even made King Khan nostalgic and emotional by sharing pictures of the actor's late parents.

"Gift for you bhai, dekhlo please bahut mehnat ki hai... I know perfect nahi hai but you will like it.

It seems all is not well between the "Lonely" hitmaker Akon and his wife Tricia Ana. Rumours doing the rounds on the Internet have suggested that Ana is dating a mystery man.

The rumours gained ground after a couple of pictures surfaced online where Tricia is seen getting cozy with an unidentified man, according to "aceshowbiz.com".

Also Read:?DJ Khaled and wife Nicole Tuck are expecting another baby

Tricia and Akon got married in a private ceremony in Africa quite sometime ago. It is also reported that the couple have been having a "on and off" relationship for years.

Besides Tricia, Akon's other former wives include Tomeka Thiam, with whom he has two children. Rachel Ritfield was also married to the rapper, though she decided to end the marriage in 2007.

Akon became a household name in India singing "Chhammak chhallo" for the 2010 film "Ra.One", starring Shah Rukh Khan. In...

After delivering the critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful 'Article 15' starring Ayushmann Khurrana, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is gearing up for his next movie with his "Mulk" heroine actress Taapsee Pannu. Sinha says he considers both these actors his favourites and he loves them dearly.

"I am making a film with Taapsee next. We will start shooting next month. I have to mention that Taapsee and Ayushmann are my favourite actors -- or stars, whatever you call them. I love them. Our thought processes are in sync with one another," Anubhav told Ians.

Asked if he is more interested in working with talented actors than stars, Anubhav promptly replied: "Show me an actor in the recent past who has five hits in a row? Ayush is a star and so is Taapsee!"

"Article 15" was released on June 28 and since then the film has not only received positive critical response but has also won over the audience,...