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The pace of life is getting faster day by day. It leaves us no room for an afternoon siesta and a family screening of films every evening on TV. Our generation is essentially deriving its pleasures from various streaming service providers’ subscriptions readily accessible on our smartphones at all hours. But our endeavors often lead us to an alley of confusion on what to watch, especially when it comes to Hindi films which continue to rule our hearts. However, they are somewhere lost in the crowd of tons of web series/shows, films, and international content. With the advent of Ott, which has revolutionized how we see movies, the streaming giant Netflix has given a resurgence to low-budget Bollywood movies, which could hardly find screens in the competitive market.

Related Read: Changes in Bollywood in 10 Years

While Netflix instilled hope in several upcoming filmmakers, by promising them an environment of unhindered storytelling,...

On Day 3, spectacular films and hidden gems from World Cinema, Restored Classics, South Asia Competition, Gala Premieres, and other sections were screened. The highlights of the day were:

There was a special screening of Mahesh Bhatt’s directorial Arth at Mami, honoring Shabana Azmi for her 50 glorious years in cinema. During the opening ceremony, she received the Excellence in Cinema Award.

Inder Malhotra (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), a fashionable filmmaker, is married to Pooja (Shabana Azmi) when he starts an affair with film star Kavita (Smita Patil). Pooja leaves him and experiences the social insecurities of a single working woman. Her dilemmas are highlighted by the parallel story of her cleaning lady (Hattangadi), Arth is the story of this woman’s search for her identity.

The Fable, directed by Raam Reddy and starring Manoj Bajpayee, premiered at the Mami Mumbai Film Festival. Manoj Bajpayee, Priyanka Bose, Deepak Dobriyal, and Raam Reddy attended the screening.

Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner “All We Imagine as Light” will kick off the Mami Mumbai Film Festival’s 2024 edition, while Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or recipient “Anora” will close the festival.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio is no longer the title sponsor and, consequently, this year’s edition is a shortened version running from Oct. 19-24. The festival is led this year by renowned archivist and filmmaker Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.

The festival issued an open letter stating: “This year marks a period of transition for us, where Mami has no title sponsor. While we have had to adjust to the challenges that come with such a shift, we are proud to announce that we’ve put together an exciting edition of the festival.”

“Now more than ever, we need the goodwill and encouragement of our audience. We ask for your patience and understanding as we bring...

When Nawazuddin Siddiqui Chanelled Al Pacino & Almost Messed Up His Role In Gangs Of Wasseypur! ( Photo Credit – YouTube; Instagram )

Gangs Of Wasseypur is one of the most iconic films in Bollywood. It also brought massive fame to actors Pankaj Tripathi, Manoj Bajpayee, and Richa Chadha, among others. But did you know? Anurag Kashyap reprimanded Nawazuddin Siddiqui for his overacting on day one and had to reshoot his entire sequence! Scroll below for the unknown details!

The 2012 epic black comedy crime drama featured Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Faisal Khan. He portrayed the second on-screen son of Manoj Bajpayee (Sardar Khan) and Richa Chadha (Nagma Khatoon). His eccentric performance landed him the Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards 2012.

But the beginning was quite rocky for Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He recalled getting a ten-page script from director Anurag Kashyap while appearing on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast on YouTube. “I wanted to give it my all.

Rajkummar Rao Starrer Shahid Is Now Available To Stream On Ott ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Rajkummar Rao is a beloved actor known for his versatile filmography. Throughout his career, Rao has been a part of many critically and commercially acclaimed films, but some films have a special place. Hansal Mehta’s association with him for the movie Shahid is golden, but the film has been considered the most underrated one. After 12 years of its initial release, the movie was finally released on Ott, but there is a catch.

Hansal Mehta‘s 2012 film Shahid is based on the life of Shahid Azmi, a lawyer and human rights activist. Rajkummar Rao plays the lead, and the film also stars Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kay Kay Menon, Prabhleen Sandhu, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Prabal Punjabi. The filmmaker recently revealed that the film is now available on streaming platforms.

The 2012 picture proved to be an essential turning point in his career.

All 15 Films Of Vidyut Jammwal’s Filmography Ranked & A Guide On Where To Watch Them. ( Photo Credit – IMDb/Youtube )

Vidyut Jammwal is undoubtedly one of the most loved action stars in the country. The testimony to this fact is his filmography, which might have been full of flops, but the reason for these flops has been inflated budgets of his films since all of them have churned out some decent numbers at the box office, proving that he has a loyal fan base in this country.

Vidyut made his film debut with Force as an antagonist, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the most talked about star of the film that year. In the right sense, he literally swept John Abraham’s stardom off his feet, stealing his thunder.

After a thunderous debut as an antagonist, Vidyut made his debut with Commando. Commando 3...

Finally, a biopic on K. Asif, the director and screen writer who helmed ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, the 1960 Hindi cinema classic, is on its way.

Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia is planning the biopic that will delve into Asif’s brief but brilliant cinematic career. Asif, incidentally, was born in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.

Dhulia, 56, who was here to participate in a literary festival, said there are not many films or documentaries that talk about directors from that era at length.

“Though I have been asked not to talk much about it, but a movie on him (Asif) is in the pipeline,” said the director who has made acclaimed movies such as ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ and ‘Haasil’.

“If I make a movie, it will be a grand one. The subject will be big but not the actor,” he said referring to the trend in recent movies.

Explaining further, Tigmanshu Dhulia said, “K. Asif saw struggles.

The enigmatic greys of a Kashmir winter in ‘Haider’, the many tones of black in ‘Maqbool’ with such visual poetry where each note stands out, Vishal Bhardwaj’s cinema has never shouted ‘independent’ but subtly stood out from the movies of his time.

Not hyper-realistic in its treatment, it is Bhardwaj’s visual poetry that makes the thematic essence pull in reality at its most profound.

“What you call visual poetry in my films emerges from the deep-rooted love for poetry that never leaves me,” Bhardwaj told Ians. “Therefore, there is always an effort to lend a certain rhythm and deeper meaning to everything that happens in front of the camera.”

Together with Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Tigmanshu Dhulia, Bhardwaj has been instrumental in ushering in a new era in Indian cinema after the almost traumatic 80s when Hindi cinema hit its lowest. He believes, though, that the independent...

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently seen as the host of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, lauded the gangster action crime movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, calling it a ‘nice series’ of films.

The 2012 movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ is a two-part flick produced and directed by Anurag Kashyap. It is written by Anurag and Zeishan Quadri.

Boasting an ensemble cast of Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi and Tigmanshu Dhulia in the lead roles.

Revolving around the coal mafia (Mafia Raj) of Dhanbad, and the underlying power struggles, politics and vengeance between three crime families, the story spans 68 years from 1941 to 2009.

Manoj plays Sardar Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat as Shahid Khan, Nawazuddin as Faizal Khan, Richa as Nagma Khatoon, Pankaj as Sultan Qureshi, and Huma as Mohsina Hamid.

The flick also stars Piyush Mishra, Jameel Khan, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Vicky Kaushal in a cameo role.

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently seen as the host of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, lauded the gangster action crime movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, calling it a ‘nice series’ of films.

The 2012 movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ is a two-part flick produced and directed by Anurag Kashyap. It is written by Anurag and Zeishan Quadri.

Boasting an ensemble cast of Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi and Tigmanshu Dhulia in the lead roles.

Revolving around the coal mafia (Mafia Raj) of Dhanbad, and the underlying power struggles, politics and vengeance between three crime families, the story spans 68 years from 1941 to 2009.

Manoj plays Sardar Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat as Shahid Khan, Nawazuddin as Faizal Khan, Richa as Nagma Khatoon, Pankaj as Sultan Qureshi, and Huma as Mohsina Hamid.

The flick also stars Piyush Mishra, Jameel Khan, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Vicky Kaushal in a cameo role.

New Delhi, Aug 11 (Ians) Ahead of the release of their series ‘Commando’, filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah and debutant Prem Parija visit the National War Memorial in the capital to pay homage to real-life commandos.

Shah is all set to redefine the statement of entertainment with the Commando web series, co-produced by Aashin A Shah, by launching newcomer, Prem Parija, into the spotlight in Commando Ott.

Making the release of this much-awaited series a worthwhile event, the two are visited the National War Memorial, Delhi to give a tribute to Real life commandos.

As the director-producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah along with the lead actor Prem Parija and the team will be present at the grand launch event, the media will also grace their presence.

The show also stars Adah Sharma, Amit Sial, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Mukesh Chhabra in pivotal roles.

The series reunites Adah and Vipul Amrutlal Shah after their last...

Mumbai, Aug 6 (Ians) Debutant Prem Parrijaa is gearing up for the release of his maiden project ‘Commando’ series.

The actor shared about his character and the stunts he would be seen performing in the show.

The ‘Commando’ franchise started in 2013 with ‘Commando: A One Man Army’ which starred Vidyut Jammwal in the titular role. Over the years, the franchise has become a favourite of the enthusiasts of the action genre,

Talking to Ians about the benchmark the ‘Commando’ films has created if the series can surpass that, Prem said: “The first thing that Vipul sir had told me in our initial discussions about Commando Virat as a character is the world view that Virat has. ‘I will protect this nation and the people in it, with every drop of blood in my body’.”

“So Virat is a fierce protector, not just of the nation but also of the emotions and...

Actress Adah Sharma has been rushed to the hospital due to food allergy and severe diarrhea.

She’s currently under observation.

The actress on Tuesday was rushed to the hospital in emergency right before the promotions of her upcoming show ‘Commando’ and has been diagnosed with severe diarrhea and food allergy, said a statement.

A source close to the artiste told Ians: “She came down with a severe burst of stress hives and diarrhea today morning. Currently, she is under observation.”

Adah has been seen promoting ‘Commando’ where she reprises the role of Bhavana Reddy. She will be the connecting factor between the film and the series.

The new action-thriller series titled ‘Commando’ is on the horizon, and it stars debutante Prem in the lead role alongside actress Adah.

It also reunites Adah, Amit Sial, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Mukesh Chhabra in pivotal roles.

The series reunites Adah and Vipul Amrutlal Shah...

Never leave a brother behind, bringing this feeling of patriotism alive is our new commando – Prem along with a fantastic team as Disney+ Hotstar drops the trailer of its high-octane, power-packed series, ‘Commando’. Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd and directed and created by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The series is set to release on August 11, 2023 on Disney+ Hotstar. Torn between a nefarious plan and a bio-war, Commando Prem devises an extraction mission to protect his nation and his brother Commando. Will he be able to succeed?

Starring the dynamic and immensely talented Prem in and as Commando, the action-thriller will also see Adah Sharma, Vaibhav Tatwawadi pivotal roles, alongside Shreya Singh Chaudhry, Amit Sial, Mukesh Chhabra and Ishteyak Khan.

Producer, Director and Created Vipul Amrutlal Shah said, “Commandos are the real heroes of our country and it’s always been a great honour and pleasure to bring their heroism on screen.

Actor Vaibhav Tatwawadi, who has worked in shows like ‘Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi’, is all set to be a part of much awaited action thriller series ‘Commando’.

Confirming the same Vaibhav shared: “Commando is one of the most loved and much awaited show of our times and I am delighted to be a part of this project, and a significant factor in my decision to join was the opportunity to work with our esteemed director Vipul Shah.”

“I have always wanted to collaborate with him, as he is renowned for his professionalism and exceptional directing skills.”

On Monday it was announced that debutant Prem will be seen as the lead in the action-thriller series titled ‘Commando’ alongside actress Adah Sharma.

It also reunites Adah, Amit Sial, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Mukesh Chhabra in pivotal roles.

The series reunites Adah and Vipul Amrutlal Shah after their last successful venture of ‘The Kerala Story...

A new action-thriller series titled ‘Commando’ is on the horizon, and it stars debutante Prem in the lead role alongside actress Adah Sharma.

It also reunites Adah, Amit Sial, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Mukesh Chhabra in pivotal roles.

The series reunites Adah and Vipul Amrutlal Shah after their last successful venture of ‘The Kerala Story’. Vipul has helmed the series.

The teaser of the series was unveiled on Monday and it is laced with adrenaline pumping action with a mix of punches and daredevil stunts thrown in. The 46 seconds long teaser starts off in a picturesque location of snow clad mountains as the protagonist zipping in on a dirt bike makes his way to the screen.

The teaser then goes into full-blown action saga as one can also see Adah pulling off the action and fight sequences with finesse.

Talking about the new series, Vipul Amrutlal Shah said: ” ‘Commando’ is the...

Indian actor Arshad Warsi stars in JioCinema series “Asur,” the second season of which is one of the most-watched Indian shows of the year.

Set in the holy northern Indian city of Varanasi, the psychological thriller series with mythological elements stars Warsi and Barun Sobti as forensic expert investigators engaged in a cat-and-mouse-game with a serial killer. “Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side” streamed on Voot in 2020. “Asur 2: The Rise of the Dark Side” moved over to sister streamer JioCinema and began streaming in June. Within three weeks of release, Season 2 amassed 30 million viewers and 3 billion minutes of watch time, per JioCinema data. The series also made it to IMDb’s top 50 shows worldwide.

“India is full of mythology and spirituality and we are pretty big with that. And we are pretty smart people around the world, where science and any kind of technology goes. So these two things,...

After completing the first schedule, last year, actor Amit Sadh recently started shooting the second schedule of Uv Films’ ‘Main’ in Mumbai. He was spotted soaking the sun and enjoying the sea breeze, in-between shots during the outdoor shoot.

After a much deserved holiday last month, this prolific actor looked super charged to get back into the character of a cop. As the temperatures soar in Mumbai, the actor looked cool in the stills of his next ‘Main’.

‘Main’ is a cop drama, socially relevant with a powerful message, which made the actor immediately say yes to the project. Amit shares the screen space with some talented actors like Esha Deol Takhtani, Seema Biswas, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Milind Gunaji. The film is directed by a debutant filmmaker, Sachin Saraf.

Having left everyone stunned with his portrayal of an intellectual crime branch officer in ‘Breathe’, and a photojournalist in his short...

Mumbai, April 29 (Ians) Actress Hrishitaa Bhatt, who is currently seen hosting the TV musical series ‘Rangoli’, shared her experience working with Tigmanshu Dhulia and Jimmy Shergill in 2003 crime drama ‘Haasil’.

Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, ‘Haasil’ was based on the student politics of the University of Allahabad. It features Jimmy Sheirgill, Hrishitaa Bhatt, Irrfan Khan and Ashutosh Rana. As the movie is completing 20 years, the cast including Jimmy, Hrishitaa, Brijendra Kalra, Varun Badola,and the director, graced ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ and recalled a few moments from the sets and how it was to work in the film.

Hrishitaa remembered working with Tigmanshu and Jimmy and said: “I have noticed that Tigmanshu and Jimmy have a habit of being completely silent. Earlier, when we were filming for ‘Haasil’, they would communicate using just two words. Being a 19-year-old girl from Mumbai, I used to be confused about their behaviour.”

The actress...

Mumbai, April 28 (Ians) After being part of projects like ‘Ghar Waapsi’ and ‘Crash Course’, Anushka Kaushik, who is currently seen in the political thriller ‘Grami’, visited ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ (Tkss) to promote her latest release, where she revealed about mimicking the popular characters from Tkss during her school days.

Anushka said: “During my school days, I used to mimic all the popular characters of ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’, be it Gutthi or Palak. During free periods in school, my friend and I used to enact the whole episode of ‘Tkss’ and entertain students. Gradually, we became so popular in school that teachers from different classes started inviting us to their class to enact the show in front of students.

“Since then, I used to actually wonder if I will ever get a chance to appear on ‘Tkss’ as a guest. By God’s grace it happened with Tigmanshu Dhulia...

Mumbai, April 28 (Ians) Actor Jatin Goswami, who is known for his work in ‘The Great Indian Murder’, ‘Delhi Crime 2’, and others, shared his experience working with Tigmanshu Dhulia in the political thriller ‘Garmi’ and how he got the opportunity to work in the web series.

He said: “I have worked with Tigmanshu Sir before, and when he told me about his series ‘Garmi’ during the time of Covid, my interview was conducted over Zoom. During the interview, Sir asked me directly if I could act, and I said ‘yes, Sir’. He then told me about the role, and I said I would do it, to which he replied, ‘come and join us’.”

Jatin further shared how he bagged the project: “During the time when Covid was going on, we were sitting free at home. There was nothing to do, so I used to message everyone that if an opportunity arises,...

Actor Vyom Yadav has marked his debut in a lead role with Tigmanshu Dhulia’s web series ‘Garmi‘. The show is a political drama that intricately weaves together the lives of several characters. Vyom has been receiving overwhelming responses from industry, family, friends, and fans alike for his performance in Garmi. His portrayal of a complex character has impressed many, and he has been appreciated for his acting skills and screen presence.

On bagging the role of one of the lead characters in Garmi and being directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vyom said, ” Bagging the role in ‘Garmi’ was truly a dream come true for me. After facing multiple rejections, getting to work with Tigmanshu sir, one of the best directors in our country, on such a grand project was a life-changing moment. Tigmanshu sir is an absolute institution on the move. Working with him was like being in an acting school,...

Actress Anushka Kaushik, who is currently seen in the political thriller ‘Garmi’, emphasised on giving self-defence training to children during primary classes and she also revealed how she bagged the role in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s web series.

She trained herself in martial art styles like Wing Chun and also learned to handle a rifle. Anushka said that she learned all these fighting skills for self defence and not for getting any roles.

Anushka shared: “Martial art is used for self-defence and Wing Chun is a form specifically designed for women to defend themselves. In my class, I am the only girl, and all the other students are boys. Therefore, I strongly believe that it is important to train children in primary school for self-defence. It is an art that should be mandatory in the primary school curriculum.”

The ‘Thar’ actress recalled her journey as an actor which started from doing theatre.

New Delhi, April 25 (Ians) Actress Anushka Kaushik, who is known for her performance in projects like ‘Ghar Waapsi’, ‘Thar’, and ‘Crash Course’, shared her experience of working with director Tigmanshu Dhulia, how different are her roles in ‘Garmi’ and ‘Patna Shukla’ and her struggles in the entertainment industry.

She said: “The special part about ‘Garmi’ is that this show not only talks about the fun and frolic side of hostel life, but also darker side of politics and how innocent lives get entangled in it, knowingly or unknowingly. Tigmanshu Dhulia sir is an institution and I feel, for every actor, it’s important to go through an experience of working with him. What I love about him is that even though each actor brings their own interpretations of a scene, the way he binds it all together is just amazing. Even when I didn’t have my scenes, I would...

Actress Anushka Kaushik, who was seen in ‘Ghar Waapasi’ and ‘Thar’, spoke about working in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s ‘Garmi’ and shared her shooting experience in Bhopal and Varanasi for the web series. She remembered staying in the same hotel where late actor Irrfan Khan had stayed.

Anushka said: “When I got to know about ‘Garmi’, I didn’t know that it is going to be on the lines of Tigmanshu sir’s critically acclaimed film ‘Haasil’ or I would like to call it Haasil 2.0. When I got to know that I was staying in the same hotel where the late legendary actor Irrfan Khan had stayed during the shooting of ‘Haasil’, I got really excited and out of joy, I told myself that I would sleep on almost every bed because Irrfan sir had been here!”

“Though my dream of sharing screen space with him is unfulfilled, the fact that...

Mumbai, April 18 (Ians) The trailer of the upcoming series ‘Garmi’, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, was unveiled recently. It tells the story of Arvind Shukla, a young man who moves out of his hometown with aspirations of becoming a civil servant but stumbles into the world of college politics, powerplay and crime.

The trailer, which is over a minute in length, showcases the ugly side of collusion of student politics and the gundaraj. It also shows a glimpse of the six feet tall barley field which Tigmanshu grew to lend authenticity to the series.

Commenting on the series, producer Hemal Ashok Thakkar said, “With ‘Garmi’, our attempt is to narrate a tale of college days with an amalgamation of action and drama. It is supported by an ensemble cast and the complexities behind the characters will definitely keep the audience on the edge of their seats”.

He further mentioned, “I am...

Filmmaker-actor Tigmanshu Dhulia, who is gearing up for the release of his youth political drama streaming series ‘Garmi’, grew 6 feet tall barley fields for a sequences in the series to lend authenticity and make the world of the series believable.

The show tells the story of Arvind Shukla, a young man who moves out of his hometown to become a civil servant. While on recce for the show, Tigmanshu realised it was difficult to find tall barley fields for a particular scene. Rather than building an artificial set, he decided to grow barley from scratch near the shoot location in his hometown, Allahabad.

Sharing his experience on the scene, he said: “We spent 1.5 months growing 6 feet tall barley fields to capture the essence of the scene. I believe in keeping the show real to bring out the right emotions and connect with the audience. On the last day of the Allahabad schedule,...

Mumbai, April 12 (Ians) Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia, who’s coming up with his new political drama streaming show ‘Garmi’, has shared his experience of shooting for the show at his alma mater, Allahabad University and how he was actively involved in student activism.

Reminiscing about his own days as a student, he said, “I was actively involved and part of the student organisation during my time at Allahabad University. I have had first-hand experience with student activism, and revisiting campus again through the show reminded me of my own college days. Although times have changed, the energy and vigour of student unions remain the same”.

‘Garmi’ features Mukesh Tiwari, Vineet Kumar, Pankaj Saraswat, Jatin Goswami, Vyom Yadav, Puneet Singh, Anurag Thakur, Anushka Kaushik, Disha Thakur, and Dheerendra Gautam in pivotal roles.

It has been shot at real locations, including Allahabad University as Tigmanshu’s stories are rooted in cultural settings. He further mentioned,...

Actress Apurva Singh, who was last seen in web series like ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein’ and ‘Dr Arora’, has been roped in to play the role of Sakshi Rai in the web series ‘Garmi’, which is all about power, politics and crime. The actress spoke about playing a complex character in the web series and also shared her shooting experience with filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia.

Apurva said: “With a blend of strength, vulnerability, and unwavering ambition, Sakshi Rai is a force to reckone with. As a poetess with a penchant for seeking power, she is a character that will leave viewers both enamoured and on the edge. As the story unfolds, she becomes entangled in the murky world of college politics and crime, showcasing her multifaceted personality from her unwavering determination to her moments of vulnerability.”

Sharing her experience working with Tigmanshu Dhulia she said: “As an actor, the opportunity to...

The teaser of the upcoming streaming series ‘Garmi’ has been unveiled which presents the story of the lead Arvind Shukla, a young man who moves out of his hometown to a hostel to become a civil servant.

The series has been directed by filmmaker-actor Tigmanshu Dhulia and the teaser has tropes of a classic Tigmanshu directorial as it starts off with Arvind beating up his senior in the college.

Arvind has aspirations to become a civil servant. He stumbles into the world of college politics, powerplay and crime.

‘Garmi’ features an ensemble starcast such as Mukesh Tiwari, Vineet Kumar, Pankaj Saraswat, Jatin Goswami, Vyom Yadav, Puneet Singh, Anurag Thakur, Anushka Kaushik, Disha Thakur, Dheerendra Gautam in pivotal roles.

‘Garmi’, created by Tigmanshu Dhulia, has been produced by Swaroop Sampat and Hemal Ashok Thakkar, will soon be available to stream on Sony Liv.

Indian streamer SonyLIV has revealed a robust 35-strong series slate, including some returning hits, with a further expansion into South Indian languages in addition to its Hindi-language slate.

Headquartered in Mumbai, the streamer now has three content offices in South India, in Kochi, Hyderabad and Chennai. SonyLIV also now has 24 million paid subscribers, SonyLIV head of content Saugata Mukherjee told Variety.

In the Tamil language, after the success of “Tamil Rockerz” in 2022 and “The Story of Things” earlier this year, SonyLIV has saga “Journey,” headlined by R. Sarathkumar with Cheran Pandian (“Autograph”) serving as showrunner; and “The Madras Murder,” set against the backdrop of the Tamil film industry in the 1950s and 1960s, with A.L. Vijay (“Kireedam”) as showrunner.

The streamer’s push into the Telugu language continues with a raft of commissions. These include detective show “Brinda,” starring Trisha Krishnan (“Ponniyin Selvan: 1”), directed by debutant Surya Manoj Vangala; and “Kanyasulkam,...

After being part of projects like ‘Ghar Waapasi’ and ‘Thar’, actress Anushka Kaushik is all set to entertain the audience with her work in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s ‘Garmi’ and Arbaaz Khan Production ‘Patna Shukla’.

She recently wrapped up the shooting of the latter and now she is utilising her break with Wing Chun classes, a concept-based combat art form of Southern China. This technique is basically for women’s self-defence and Anushka emphasised that more women in the country should learn this martial art form.

Anushka said: “I genuinely feel that like craft and other curriculum activities, martial arts should also be included in school syllabus and made compulsory. It’s not only important for girls but also boys. The government and school authorities should bring the topic up because when we talk about issues like crime and how we are not being able to put an end to it,...

Indian production house Reliance Entertainment, best known in the streaming space for Netflix’s “Sacred Games,” has 10 shows greenlit for development and four in production.

The company, which is a producer on Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” entered the streaming space in 2018 and produced 13 shows in five years. These include “Ghoul” and “Family Tandoncies” for Netflix; “Black Widows” and “Sunflower” for ZEE5; “Masoom” for Disney+ Hotstar and “Dr. Arora” for SonyLIV.

Currently in the works for 2023 are Rohit Shetty’s “Indian Police Force,” revolving around a Delhi police officer, and Vikramaditya Motwane’s Bollywood saga “Jubilee,” both for Amazon’s Prime Video service.

Season 2 of Vikas Bahl’s “Sunflower,” a murder mystery starring Sunil Grover, is in preproduction. An untitled series from “A Dirty Picture” filmmaker Milan Luthria is in post.

Also in the works is a crime thriller from “Paan Singh Tomar” filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia. “Mirzapur” director Gurmmeet Singh,...

Actor, playwright, lyricist, and screenwriter Piyush Mishra talked about the bond he shared with Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee and director Anurag Kashyap in the 2012 film ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’.

He shared: “Manoj and I have been friends since a long time and both of us used to do theatre in Delhi since the 80s. And, I have known Anurag since 1986 from Delhi and we connected again when we started working together in 1989.”

‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ was released in 2012 and it was all about politics, and power struggle between three families. It featured Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi and Tigmanshu Dhulia in the major roles. The film was directed by Anurag Kashyap.

As the movie completes its 10 years, Piyush, who is known for his acting skills in ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, appeared on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ along with Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi,...

Mumbai, Jan 26 (Ians) As the movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ completes its 10 years, lyricist, musician, and stand-up comedian, Varun Grover shared how he convinced director Anurag Kashyap to give him a chance to write the songs for the film.

He said: “I don’t know if Anurag remembers, but I have written the lyrics of a song for one of his films ‘That Girl in Yellow Boots’. Only four lines of the song were played in the background of the film, and only those who know about the song could notice it.”

“After that film, I asked Anurag if he was planning on his next film as my wish to write for his movie was still unfulfilled. So, he mentioned that his upcoming film won’t have any songs and falls more into a mafia and action genre.”

Varun further said the film might have one or two folk songs in...

As the movie ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ completes its 10 years, lyricist, musician, and stand-up comedian, Varun Grover shared how he convinced director Anurag Kashyap to give him a chance to write the songs for the film.

He said: “I don’t know if Anurag remembers, but I have written the lyrics of a song for one of his films ‘That Girl in Yellow Boots’. Only four lines of the song were played in the background of the film, and only those who know about the song could notice it.”

“After that film, I asked Anurag if he was planning on his next film as my wish to write for his movie was still unfulfilled. So, he mentioned that his upcoming film won’t have any songs and falls more into a mafia and action genre.”

Varun further said the film might have one or two folk songs in Bhojpuri dialect but...

Actress Esha Deol Takhtani will be back on the big screen with an untitled film starring Amit Sadh, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Seema Biswas and Milind Gunaji.

While Amit will essay the role of an encounter specialist, he will be seen opposite Esha for the first time. The ‘Dhoom’ actress is already excited about the film, and she could not stop but praise Amit’s outstanding talent.

Produced by Pradeep Rangwani, ‘Production No- 4’ is written and directed by Sachin Saraf. The film is made under the banner of Uv Films. Saraf was an assistant to Anil Sharma who has worked on several projects with Deols.

Talking about her role, she said: “My role in the film caters to the growth of women in life. It conveys a strong yet simple message that a woman can achieve the unimaginable. My character wonderfully depicts how a woman discovers herself and excels in life.”

Additionally,...

Anushka Kaushik has made her mark with her performances in projects like ‘Ghar Waapsi’, ‘Thar’, and ‘Crash Course’. She recently wrapped up the shoot of two projects that will be released in 2023: one of them being Arbaaz Khan’s ‘Patna Shukla’ and the other Tigmanshu Dhulia’s ‘Garmi’.

She got candid about her working experience with Arbaaz Khan and Satish Kaushik in ‘Patna Shukla’. Commenting on her collaboration with Arbaaz, Anushka said: “I felt like a kid working on ‘Patna Shukla’ because amongst my co-actors I was the youngest one, so everyone pampered me a lot. Arbaaz (Khan) sir has told us so many incidents from the industry which proved like a learning experience for me.”

She further talked about the way Arbaaz managed the role of a producer on the film’s set. She added: “Arbaaz sir has been doing a good job as a producer and since he has been an actor,...

After the roaring success of three seasons of “Breathe”, Amit Sadh is set to essay the role of an Encounter Specialist Cop in a new film Produced by Uv Films, which is set to start filming shortly. “Production No-4” Starring Amit Sadh is Produced by Pradeep Rangwani and Directed by debutant Director Sachin Saraf. Along with Amit Sadh, the film will also feature renowned actors Seema Biswas, Tigmanshu Dhulia & Milind Gunaji.

“I love a good cop drama. When I read the script, I was convinced it was not just the story of an encounter specialist but more to do with his complex psychology. I was moved by the authentic writing. When I met Sachin, the director, and as he started sharing his vision of the character, I just knew I had to do this film,” says Sadh.

Director Saraf says, “It was Amit Sadh’s birthday when I spoke to him for the first time,...

Rasika Dugal’s streaming show ‘Out of Love’ recently clocked three years of its release since its first season. The actress, who played the role of the protagonist, Dr Meera Kapoor, in the series, looked back on the show’s journey.

She said many women have told her that her character in the show has been their source of inspiration.

Talking about it, Rasika said: “From shooting at the most beautiful locations to working with a bunch of uber talented people to the response that the show received, the journey of ‘Out of Love’ has been a memorable one. I miss playing Meera Kapoor. I’m always moved by so many lives that the show has managed to touch.”

She added: “I have met so many women who have shared that Meera’s situation resonated with them deeply and that her journey has been a source of strength.”

Season 1 of...

Anushka Kaushik, who was seen in web series such as “Ghar Waapsi” and “Crash Course” is all set for Tigmanshu Dhulia’s upcoming web series “Garmi”. The actress has wrapped up the shoot and she shares how it was to shoot for 86 days in Bhopal, Prayagraj, and Varanasi.

Talking about her shoot for the series, Anushka says: “It was an amazing experience to get to work with such an amazing cast and crew. Tigmanshu sir is a maverick and to get a chance to be directed by him is a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity.”

Praising the director, who is also known for his films such as “Paan Singh Tomar”, and “Saheb and Biwi Aur Gangster”, she adds: “His approach towards his work has taught me a lot and it has reflected in my portrayal as well. I can’t wait for the audience to see me in this new avatar.

Actor Jatin Goswami has been roped in to play the main antagonist in Raveena Tandon-starrer ‘Patna Shukla’ set in Bihar.

The film is touted to be a social-drama produced by Dabangg producer Arbaaz Khan and will be directed by Vivek Budakoti. Starring Raveena Tandon, Satish Kaushik, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Manav Vij and Anushka Kaushik, the film is set to release next year.

On sharing screen with Raveena, Jatin said: “I’m very excited to work with Raveena ma’am. She brings in so many years of experience. I’m looking forward to work with her.”

He was previously seen in Zee 5’s ‘Sky Fire’, Hotstar’s ‘The Great Indian Murder’, Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Anek’, Rajkumar Rao’s ‘Hit: The First Case’ and many others. Recently, he was seen in Netflix’s ‘Delhi Crime 2’, which made him a household name thanks to his brilliant screen presence.

Talking about ‘Patna...

Exclusive: SonyLIV has ordered its most ambitious original series to date, an adaptation of Indian independence non-fiction book Freedom at Midnight, as the streamer gears up to become a global service within three years.

News of the series order came in a wide ranging interview with SonyLIV Executive Vice President and Business Head Danish Khan, who also oversees Sony Entertainment Television and production arm Studio Next. During the chat he addressed several other new commissions, global expansion plans and the future of the popular Scam crime thriller brand.

Drama series Freedom of Midnight is based on a non-fiction book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins and billed as an epic political thriller set in 1947, the year of Indian independence and partition. Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das and Gundeep Kaur are adapting the text as writers.

“Independence wasn’t just one shift from British rule to an Indian democratic system. It...

This nine-episode series directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia is an adaptation of the book, ‘Six Suspects’, authored by the former diplomat, Vikas Swarup, who also wrote ‘Q&a’, which was adapted by Danny Boyle for ‘The Slumdog Millionaire’. It follows the investigation of a high-profile murder. While the book was inspired by the Jessica Lall murder case […]...

Veteran Ashutosh Rana has spoken about working with Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia and how it wasn’t relevant to read the script to say yes, just his name was sufficient to understand that it’s something big, as the web series ‘The Great Indian Murder’ is an emotional intense drama. Ashutosh is playing the character of Jagannath Rai […]...

Richa Chadha, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming crime suspense-thriller show, ‘The Great Indian Murder’, feels that a director who has a profound understanding of the craft of acting is a blessing and is easy to work with. The actress said this in reference to her ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ co-actor Tigmanshu Dhulia, who […]...

Are you ready to witness a glamorous murder mystery? Coming soon is the Tigmanshu Dhulia directed The Great Indian Murder. Adapted from Vikas Swarup’s book ‘Six Suspects’, the wer series stars a supremely talented cast, Richa Chadha, Pratik Gandhi, Ashutosh Rana, Shashank Arora, Raghubir Yadav, Paoli Dam, Jatin Goswami amongst others. It is set to begin streaming on February 4 2022 on Disney+ Hotstar.

As we all are hooked to know what Vicky did, Hotstar and the talent released a series of videos that built our anticipation for the show even further.

Check them out below

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Indian streamer SonyLIV has revealed a robust slate of twenty 2022 original series, which includes its first ever Tamil-language shows “Accidental Farmer,” “Meme boys” and “Tamil Stalkers,” with Telugu and Malayalam-language shows also in the works.

Coming up on the Hindi-language slate is Nikkhil Advani and Abhay Pannu’s period drama “Rocket Boys,” produced by Roy Kapur Films and Emmay Entertainment, the story of the scientists behind India’s nuclear program. It stars Jim Sarbh (“Made in Heaven”), Ishwak Singh (“Paatal Lok”) and Regina Cassandra (“Thalaivi”).

The slate also has series from a who’s who of Bollywood including “Doctor Arora” by Imtiaz Ali (“Rockstar”), “Jehabanaad” by Sudhir Mishra (“Serious Men”), “Garmi” by Tigmanshu Dhulia (“Paan Singh Tomar”) and “Faadu” by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (“Bareilly Ki Barfi”).

The streamer’s biggest hit to date has been Hansal Mehta’s “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story,” and the filmmaker returns to SonyLIV...

Actress Richa Chadha has wrapped up shooting for her upcoming series ‘Six Suspects’ and said that working with the likes of Pratik Gandhi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ashutosh Rana and Raghubir Yadav has been a wonderful journey. Directed by the brilliant Dhulia, Richa plays an investigating officer in the series, which is a web-series adapted from Vikas […]...

Call My Agent(Netflix, 6 Episodes)

Directed by Shaad Ali

This adorable adaptation of the 2015 French series is the picture-perfect post-pandemic panacea with a heart that beats and loins that throb. It is everything that an adaptation should be: respectful to the original but not slavishly so.

Slave reminds of Ali Fazal who in one of the sexy sextet of episodes plays a medieval slave to Richa Chadha. For a film being directed by Hussain Dalal. Now , hear this. According to the script, Rich and Ali have broken up and must now perform a ferocious love-making scene for the camera. Ha ha ha.

The series is littered with such luscious inhouse jokes about Bollywood, like Tigmanshu Dhulia making a film called Paiydashi Killer co-starring Lilette Dubey and Ila Arun who, according to the script, can’t stand one another.The two actresses just kill it in the catfights. Nandita Das lets...