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Anil Kapoor said on Wednesday that it was Sonam Kapoor, his daughter and fashionista, who insisted that he took up the part in ‘The Night Manager’ that earned him all-round accolades not long ago. Kapoor played the oily arms dealer, Shailendra ‘Shelly’ Rungta, in Sandeep Modi’s Hindi adaptation of the BBC hit series based on John Le Carre’s novel, ‘The Night Manager’.

Speaking at the Indian Digital Summit 2024 in Mumbai, Kapoor opened up on the changes in technology over the years and how he stayed relevant with it.

Talking about how he keeps himself in sync with Gen Z, he said, “When you have the right people around you, it makes all the difference, it can be your children, your team. They can make you stay connected with Gen Z.”

On Sonam and ‘The Night Manager’, he said, “She reads a lot of books. When I was offered...

Aarya has been renewed for three seasons, which paints a good picture of the Ram Madhvani show. This crime drama thriller set in Rajasthan about the narcotics business in which families get embroiled is probably one of the best shows in the above-mentioned genre. There is a lot to take away from Aarya when it comes to the subject matter of the show and the technicalities. Ram Madhvani’s direction is impeccable, and that has kept the show engaging so far. Just like Aarya, there are many shows that touch upon the crime thriller genre and explore the theme of dysfunctional families.

Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo

Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, created by Homi Adajania, is a story about a drug cartel run by a matriarch and her two daughters-in-law while keeping her sons away from the business. Set in a fictional town in a fictional state that mirrors Rajasthan, the...

Indian streamer Disney+ Hotstar is planning a major push into animation content for adults.

The push follows the success of Graphic India’s 3D animation “The Legend of Hanuman,” the third season of which debuted earlier this month to a critical and audience reception that the streamer is happy with. The series is derived from ancient Indian mythological epic “The Ramayana.”

“There are so many stories around around ‘The Ramayana’ that are remaining to be told. We feel that this is a franchise, which has lots of storytelling left, and we want to really scale up and build this world in an exciting manner,” Gaurav Banerjee, head, content, Disney+ Hotstar and HSM (Hindi-language speaking markets) Entertainment Network at broadcaster Disney Star, told Variety.

Disney+ Hotstar is teaming with Graphic India again for another adult animation series, which will be unveiled within the next six months, but it is coy about specific details at the moment.

Mumbai, Jan 31 (Ians) Actor Sachin Parikh, who is known for his work in ‘Pk’, ‘Aligarh’, among others, shared that he believes that he is yet to explore the best within him, adding that an artist is always hungry for better roles with good filmmakers.

Sachin, who was recently seen in a pivotal role in Ravi Jadhav’s ‘Main Atal Hoon’, feels that he has not yet explored his full potential in Hindi films.

Talking about the same, the actor who was a part of ‘Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji’ said: “An actor is always hungry for better roles with good makers. Our industry has fantastic makers and I am glad to work under their direction.”

“I have worked with eminent directors like Rajkumar Hirani (Pk), Hansal Mehta (Aligarh), Madhur Bhandarkar (Dil Toh Bachha Hai Ji), Ravi Jadhav (Main Atal Hoon), R. Balki (Paa), etc. But I still believe that I...

There is no dearth of television shows and web series that have been released this year. Many were brilliant at the subject they chose to tackle, while others were good only on paper. Many might have had good performances, while others relied only on the premise because the rest of the aspects were not very engaging. There were a handful of shows that were interesting and kept the audience hooked. Here is a list compiled by us for your perusal and interest.

The Night Manager (Hindi)

Disney+ Hotstar finally forayed into official remakes of popular shows from the West. There was plenty of apprehension regarding the Hindi adaptation of The Night Manager, mainly due to the popularity of the original British show that features the amazing Olivia Coleman and Tom Hiddleston. Thankfully, Sandeep Modi and Shridhar Raghavan delivered a faithful adaptation by giving it a subcontinental flavor. The best part...

The maestros of suspense genre filmmakers Ram Madhvani, Homi Adajania and Sandeep Modi have revealed what makes the thriller genre tick, and decoded their secrets of thrillers.

The year 2023 has been the year of suspense, mystery and emotion-packed stories, with adrenaline-pumping shows like ‘The Night Manager 1 and 2’, ‘Aarya’ and ‘Saas Bahu aur Flamingo’.

The mastermind behind ‘Aarya’ — Ram Madhvani — provided insights into decoding the thriller genre, saying: “I don’t think I’m making a thriller, I don’t think I’m making a crime show. I’m making a show about a family. I’m making a show about a character who’s put into difficult situations. The backdrop of it may be or whatever that she’s going through. It could have been any other backdrop. It could have been an industrial kind of backdrop. So I think that is just the backdrop.”

Starring Sushmita Sen in the titular role,...

From ‘Aarya’ to ‘Delhi Crime’: 6 highly awaited third seasons on Ott in 2024

The year 2023 turned out to be truly exciting for the entertainment industry and fans of cinema and content. While the first half of the year witnessed massive blockbusters and a surge in theatre footfalls, the latter half continued the trend with bigger mass entertainers. However, despite such an influx of fresh content, several sequels to earlier hit web shows are gearing up to dominate the Ott platforms in 2024. As we eagerly look forward to the coming year, here’s a list of six highly awaited third-season Ott offerings that promise a thrilling and entertaining 2024.

Take a look

‘Aarya’ Season 3

Co-created by Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi, the acclaimed series ‘Aarya’ has fans eagerly anticipating its highly awaited third season. Starring Sushmita Sen in the titular role, the show revolves around her character navigating the mafia world to protect her family.

While many are jetting off for Christmas and New Year holiday getaways, if you find yourself in the ‘stuck-at-home’ club, fret not! We’ve got your back with a curated list of binge-worthy series to turn your holiday into a memorable entertainment extravaganza. Whether you’re nestled with family or enjoying some me-time, these series across diverse genres might keep you hooked and your holiday spirits high, literally!

From gripping crime dramas to heartwarming comedies, this list has something for everyone. So, grab your pop corns & pizzas, cozy up, and let the holiday binge begin! Because who needs a tropical beach when you’ve got the perfect series to escape into?

Scam 2003

This holiday season, delve into the captivating tale of deceit and suspense with ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ on SonyLIV. Directed by Tushar Hiranandani and co-directed by Hansal Mehta, this Indian financial thriller serves as the second instalment in the ‘Scam’ franchise.

Top Indian celebrity management firms Matrix Iec and Bling Entertainment are merging, bringing their roster of A-list talents under one roof.

Matrix was founded by Reshma Shetty and Vivek Kamath. It represents popular actors including Abhishek Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Dulquer Salmaan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ram Charan, Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Vicky Kaushal among others. The company also represents A-list directors Rohit Shetty and Zoya Akhtar.

And in a recent venture into sports, the company has signed up Indian cricketer K.L. Rahul, who has captained the national team.

The roster of talent formerly represented by Bling including Vidya Balan, Radhika Madan, Twinkle Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Konkona Sen Sharma as well as directors Sandeep Modi, Tahira Kashyap and Vasan Bala, will now be represented by Matrix.

Matrix manages film, TV, streaming, endorsements, events, social and digital portfolios for their talent. The company also partnerships...

The pre-production on the third installment of the horror-comedy franchise ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ is underway. It was reported that the acclaimed actress Tabu has walked out of the film. However, there’s little truth to this as the only name to be finalised on the cast list is that of Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan.

‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, which released in 2022, was a major commercial success. The film was directed by Anees Bazmee and was a sequel to Akshay Kumar’s 2007 film ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’.

Kartik essayed the role of Rooh Baba in the film sequel which saw Tabu in dual roles.

Well placed source shared that other talents will be locked only after the script is finalised.

The source said, “The only actor to be confirmed is Kartik Aryan as Rooh Baba and no other actors has been confirmed as of yet.”

It was also reported that Tabu wasn’t keen on...

The pre-production on the third installment of the horror-comedy franchise ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ is underway. It was reported that the acclaimed actress Tabu has walked out of the film. However, there’s little truth to this as the only name to be finalised on the cast list is that of Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan.

‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, which released in 2022, was a major commercial success. The film was directed by Anees Bazmee and was a sequel to Akshay Kumar’s 2007 film ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’.

Kartik essayed the role of Rooh Baba in the film sequel which saw Tabu in dual roles.

Well placed source shared that other talents will be locked only after the script is finalised.

The source said, “The only actor to be confirmed is Kartik Aryan as Rooh Baba and no other actors has been confirmed as of yet.”

It was also reported that Tabu wasn’t keen on...

On Kartik Aaryan’s 33rd birthday Karan Johar took to social media to announce a new film starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead. The filmmaker’s Dharma Productions’ will be co-producing the yet untitled film along with Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms.

The upcoming project, that is set for release on August 15, 2025, is being directed by Sandeep Modi. The big announcement was made on Kartik Aaryan’s 33rd birthday.

The Instagram caption stated, “Lights, camera and… surprise! (clap board emoji) We are thrilled to announce a new story brewing that has found a home with Dharma Productions and Balaji Telefilms. Starring Kartik Aaryan and directed by Sandeep Modi, this yet to be titled film will be released on 15th August, 2025. Stay tuned!”

Karan johar announces new film with kartik aaryan. Is this the end of feud?

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A post shared by Dharma Productions (@dharmamovies)...

On Kartik Aaryan’s 33rd birthday Karan Johar took to social media to announce a new film starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead. The filmmaker’s Dharma Productions’ will be co-producing the yet untitled film along with Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms.

The upcoming project, that is set for release on August 15, 2025, is being directed by Sandeep Modi. The big announcement was made on Kartik Aaryan’s 33rd birthday.

The Instagram caption stated, “Lights, camera and… surprise! (clap board emoji) We are thrilled to announce a new story brewing that has found a home with Dharma Productions and Balaji Telefilms. Starring Kartik Aaryan and directed by Sandeep Modi, this yet to be titled film will be released on 15th August, 2025. Stay tuned!”

Karan johar announces new film with kartik aaryan. Is this the end of feud?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dharma Productions (@dharmamovies)...

Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan and director-producer Karan Johar are back together. A new yet-to-be-titled film has been announced on the occasion of Kartik’s birthday today. The film will be helmed by Sandeep Modi, who is known for his work on the streaming series ‘Aarya’ starring Sushmita Sen, and ‘The Night Manager’ starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Anil Kapoor. The film will bow in theatres on the occasion of Independence Day, August 15, 2025.

Taking to his Instagram, KJo shared the announcement as he penned a note in the caption: “Kickstarting today with some special news on a special day. Extremely thrilled to announce a film helmed by the exceptionally talented @sandeipm. I find myself elated to also announce the supremely talented @kartikaaryan as our lead for this story that will unfold in cinemas on 15th August, 2025.”

Wishing the ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ star, KJo further wrote: “Kartik, happy birthday to you…may...

Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan and director-producer Karan Johar are back together. A new yet-to-be-titled film has been announced on the occasion of Kartik’s birthday today. The film will be helmed by Sandeep Modi, who is known for his work on the streaming series ‘Aarya’ starring Sushmita Sen, and ‘The Night Manager’ starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Anil Kapoor. The film will bow in theatres on the occasion of Independence Day, August 15, 2025.

Taking to his Instagram, KJo shared the announcement as he penned a note in the caption: “Kickstarting today with some special news on a special day. Extremely thrilled to announce a film helmed by the exceptionally talented @sandeipm. I find myself elated to also announce the supremely talented @kartikaaryan as our lead for this story that will unfold in cinemas on 15th August, 2025.”

Wishing the ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ star, KJo further wrote: “Kartik, happy birthday to you…may...

Aarya is a crime-thriller drama based on the Dutch drama series ‘Penoza‘. Sushmita Sen plays Aarya Sareen, an independent woman who seeks to protect her family and becomes a mafia gang to take revenge for her husband’s murder. Earlier, the show has been nominated for International Emmy Awards for best Drama series.

Having said so, the first thing that comes to my mind is about the producers / platform’s release strategy. They seem to be caught between being periodic or one-timer. I mean, most of the (Indian) web series that we see are released in one go (called a season). Fair enough, for, if the audience likes the content, they binge watch and feel satisfied. On the other hand there are these TV shows that release episodes on a daily/weekly basis. Similarly, we have seen quite a few international web series content release their episodes on a weekly basis.

Aarya is a crime-thriller drama based on the Dutch drama series ‘Penoza‘. Sushmita Sen plays Aarya Sareen, an independent woman who seeks to protect her family and becomes a mafia gang to take revenge for her husband’s murder. Earlier, the show has been nominated for International Emmy Awards for best Drama series.

Having said so, the first thing that comes to my mind is about the producers / platform’s release strategy. They seem to be caught between being periodic or one-timer. I mean, most of the (Indian) web series that we see are released in one go (called a season). Fair enough, for, if the audience likes the content, they binge watch and feel satisfied. On the other hand there are these TV shows that release episodes on a daily/weekly basis. Similarly, we have seen quite a few international web series content release their episodes on a weekly basis.

After watching the first two seasons of Aarya, we don’t think it would wrong to say that it is one of the best crime thrillers in the Indian Ott space. Based on Dutch drama series Penoza, the Ram Madhvani series takes the viewers through the adventures of Aarya Sareen, who transforms herself from a homemaker to a ruthless businesswoman stubborn about keeping her family safe and protecting them at any cost. Created by Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi, Aarya is a Disney+ Hotstar Special that has completed two seasons and garnered rave reviews for its intense storytelling, direction, and wonderful performances by the entire cast. The third season is set to release on November 3, 2023, and this article will give you a quick recap of what has happened so far in the life of Aarya Sareen.

Aarya began with herself and Tej Sareen living a luxurious life in Rajasthan. They...

Actress Sushmita Sen shared her thoughts about her on-screen brother-sister bond with Ankur Bhatia, portrayed in ‘Aarya’, saying Rakshabandhan is a celebration where you embrace ‘imperfect’ bond, promise to be each other’s strength in tough times

From having each other’s backs to fighting over the silliest things, brother-sister bond experiences all emotions possible. One such complex aspect of the relationship we witnessed in the fan-favorite series ‘Aarya’. While Aarya (Sushmita) and Sangram (Ankur) do not share the perfect brother-sister relationship, the love and care for one another remain unwavered.

Opening up about the same, Sushmita said: “Sibling relationships are very difficult to put into words. They fight, they make-up, they fight again, it’s a vicious cycle that we all enjoy going through. The bond between Aarya and Sangram is not the ideal one but what I love about their relationship is that they have accepted their bitter...

After the success of the Indian version of “The Night Manager,” The Ink Factory is planning further Indian adaptations of John le Carré novels.

Produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia, the Hindi-language series created and directed by Sandeep Modi and headlined by Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur, emerged as the most watched series ever across all Hotstar specials on Indian streamer Disney+ Hotstar.

One of the most renowned writers in the espionage genre, le Carré, who died in 2020, left behind a legacy of 25 novels, managed by The Ink Factory. They have spawned numerous adaptations, including an English-language “The Night Manager” from BBC/AMC in 2016.

The Ink Factory executive producer Tessa Inkelaar, who oversees the company’s Asia slate, told Variety, “We are in the process of adapting one, which is in a relatively late stage of adaptation and one, which is at an early stage. We’re...

Seasoned actor Anil Kapoor, who has once again captured our hearts and minds with his hard-hitting portrayal of arms dealer Shelly Rungta in the gripping espionage thriller, ‘The Night Manager’, said that he has thoroughly enjoyed exploring the character and what it brings to the table with his aura and power.

From the very first frame, Anil’s presence is magnetic, stealing every scene with his striking intensity and unwavering commitment. His ability to seamlessly transition from the charming facade of a suave business tycoon to the menacing depths of a calculating antagonist is nothing short of extraordinary. Kapoor has truly carved out a niche for himself as the master of versatility.

Speaking about the same, Anil said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the character of Shelly Rungta and what he brings to the table with his aura and power. We have been receiving immense appreciation from our industry friends,...

The Night Manager (Disney+ Hotstar)

Sometimes the biggest of strategists can go wrong. The minds that decided to split writer-director Sandeep Modi’ s The Night Manger into two (messily amputated ) halves , have done the series a huge disservice.

Part 2, as it were, is a vegan’s delight. All the meat was in Part 1, and even the principal performances were more accentuated by the predominant emotions in the first-half. The second-half is all about nemesis. And not of the subtle variety.

There are no new revelations for us to chew on. We know Aditya Roy Kapoor’s Shaan Sengupta has infiltrated the antagonist arms dealer Shelly Rungta’s organization.

We saw in Part 1 that Shaan won the ruthless Rungta’s trust by staging his son’s kidnapping and rescue. Miraculously the little boy disappears in the second half.Maybe he got kidnapped again,this time for real, and we don’t know about it.

The Night Manager, the famous spy thriller novel, has so far had two adaptations. The British show, adapted for the screen by David Farr and directed by Sussane Bier, took the audience through the world of arms deals, civil unrest, and the politics of the Middle East and North Africa and how British intelligence was indirectly involved in them. In the Hindi adaptation, created by Sandeep Modi and written by Shridhar Raghavan, the setting was altered to reflect the politics of the Indian sub-continent and how intelligence messes with the domestic matters of neighboring countries for the national interest.

What makes both shows similar and unique is the treatment of the spy thriller, where a regular hotel employee or ex-military officer turns into an intelligence agent for his country. The protagonist wants to bring down the man who is responsible for the murder of a woman he was trying to...

The second part of the Anil Kapoor-led action-spy-crime-thriller series ‘The Night Manager’ has been released a day ahead of its scheduled date in view of the positive response its previews have been getting from its intended audience.

Kapoor, who plays the role of the villainous arms dealer Shelly, applauded the show creator Sandeep Modi, saying that he trusts him so much that he never feels the need to check his shots.

Ahead of the season’s release, Kapoor spoke on the show’s recent press con and said: “When Sandeep okayed a shot, I never felt the need to go and check it. I trust his creative instinct. I haven’t seen 99 per cent of the shots.”

Modi has also helmed the successful web series ‘Aarya’ and the Marathi film ‘Chumbak’. ‘The Night Manager’ is based on the British series of the same name, which, in turn, drew from...

Mumbai, June 28 (Ians) Aditya Roy Kapur, who has worked with Anil Kapoor on various projects, says there is a flip side of teaming up with an energetic star.Aditya Roy Kapur was interacting with the media on ‘The Night Manager 2’ in Mumbai along with the Disney+ Hotstar show’s creator, Sandeep Modi, and co-stars Anil Kapoor, Shobhita Dhulipala and Tillotama Shome.

After ‘Malang’, the 2020 action thriller directed by Mohit Suri, ‘The Night Manager’ marks the second outing of Aditya Roy Kapur with Anil Kapoor, so he was naturally asked about the pros and cons of working with a senior actor.

“One complex you do get while working with Anil Kapoor is that you feel you aren’t working hard enough, as he is the most hard-working actor,” Aditya said. “I can only think of that as a con, for you feel like shit and keep thinking you need to pull up your socks.

Anil Kapoor, who has clocked four decades in the film industry, says he harnesses his negative feelings, such as reluctance, nervousness and anxiety, and makes something good come out of them. Kapoor was promoting the second season of ‘The Night Manager’ along with co-actor Aditya Roy Kapur and director Sandeep Modi in Mumbai on Monday.

Some time back, the news that Kapoor was at first reluctant about his Shelly Rungta role went viral.

When asked about it, Kapoor said: “I am reluctant for each and every role; it was not that I was reluctant only for my role in ‘The Night Manager’. I am always overcome by this anxiety and nervousness about whether I will be able to do the role or not, and I use that energy to perform better.”

The senior actor continued: “I seriously don’t know how to do a role with over-confidence. Somehow, these little...

Mumbai, June 24 (Ians) As the world celebrates Pride Month in June, Sandeep Modi, the director of the soon-to-be-released ‘The Night Manager: Part 2’ and the writer of the Sushmita Sen-starrer streaming show ‘Aarya’, feels that the audience also is now more open to the idea that Lgbtqia+ characters represent the truth of our times.

The director has crafted queer characters for both ‘Aarya’ and the Indian adaptation of ‘The Night Manager’.

Talking about his thought process behind queer characters, Sandeep said: “I have had two opportunities to bring to light this paradigm shift, firstly in Aarya through the representation of Acp Khan who does not want to publicly accept his identity; and secondly, in The Night Manager, Brij Pal’s (Bj) character who is open about his sexuality and carries his identity on his sleeve. Both these characters are very distinct and it was a fun challenge for me to...

Actress Tillotama Shome, who plays the role of Lipika in the streaming series ‘The Night Manager’, has shared the trick for cracking her character in the show. The actress revealed that to get the character right, she focussed on her walking and talking style.

Opening up about the preparations, Tillotama said, “For my character Lipika, I just had to pay attention to her walking and talking style. Multiple discussions with my directors really helped in fully fleshing out the small and big details. For example, after every location scout my directors, Sandeep Modi and Priyanka Ghose would personally show me spaces that they would have envisioned to shape Lipika. It felt really lucky to have directors who would share so much with me and this really pushed me to do more.”

‘The Night Manager: Part 2’, which stars Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead, is set to drop...

Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur, who plays leads in the Ott show ‘The Night Manager: Part 2’, were not allowed to meet during the preparations of the show, the director revealed. The two also attended the workshops separately.

Elaborating on the same, director Sandeep Modi said: “The gritty characters are the very core of a spy-verse and for The Night Manager saga, we have two powerhouse characters driving the narrative. Shelly and Shaan are the archnemesis that are constantly in a cat and mouse chase and we wanted them to have a certain hesitance towards each other.”

The show is a Hindi adaptation of author John Le Carre’s eponymous novel and follows the chase between Anil Kapoor’s character of an arms dealer and Aditya’s character who infiltrates Anil’s empire.

He further mentioned: “For this, we decided to keep Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur...

Talking about his relationship with his children, Sandeep Modi said, “My kids are my sanity. They mean the world to me. And I yearn to give them the same sense of comfort and strength that my parents gave me in my middle class upbringing.

He further adds, “It’s the small things that matter. My daughter and I have a regime we follow . However busy I am – I make it a point to try and make it before bedtime so I can read her a book. We even have a set morning regime for her and me. And my toddler and I get our me time when he is up, even at 4Am! Weekends are for them and if I am traveling for a shoot, I try to bring the whole family along if I can. The amount of peace and joy it brings me to be called their father,...

Mumbai, June 14 (Ians) The crime thriller series ‘The Night Manager’ has received a positive reception. One of the show’s biggest highlights is Anil Kapoor’s performance as the classy and stylish antagonist Shailendra Rungta, which impressed audiences and critics alike.

While Anil Kapoor has immersed himself into the role, the actor was initially sceptical of playing the antagonist.

Elaborating further, the creator of the show, Sandeep Modi said: “When I first approached Anil Kapoor for the role of Shailendra Rungta, he was reluctant to play the villain. He has always been this larger than life hero, so he was slightly sceptical to play an outright antagonist.”

He continued: “But once he sunk into the character, he made it his own and brought the smallest of nuances to his role. From suggesting the name of the character to bringing a factor of relatability and Indian-ness, it is safe to say...

The drama, the class, the glamour! everything is back but it’s even bigger, better and bolder. Disney+ Hotstar announces the long awaited trailer of the most watched series of 2023, Hotstar Specials’ The Night Manager: Part 2. The alliance has been formed between Shelly and Shaan leaving everyone surprised including the closest friends of Shelly but will this alliance be long enough or will Shaan deceit him. Get ready to find all the answers on June 30, 2023 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.

A Hindi-language adaptation of John le Carré’s novel ‘The Night Manager’ produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia, the series is created and directed by Sandeep Modi and second director Priyanka Ghose. The series is wrapped in lavish drama, picturesque sights and features the eclectic talent including Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Tillotama Shome, Saswata Chatterjee and Ravi Behl.

Creator and Director, Sandeep Modi says, “With The...

Streamer Disney+ Hotstar has unveiled a trailer for the second part of Indian series “The Night Manager.”

The first part of the Indian adaptation of the 2016 BBC series of the same name, based on John le Carré’s 1993 novel, began streaming in February and the second part will stream from June 30. Anil Kapoor plays arms dealer Shailendra Rungta, aka Shelly, who is pitted against Shaan Sengupta (Aditya Roy Kapur), the titular night manager.

In the second part, Shelly and Shaan join forces to run an empire.

Director Sandeep Modi said: “Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur, both have an aura of their own, when they were brought together for Shelly and Shaan, we were sure that it would be the biggest fight ever. The ‘Night Manager’ part 1 opened a web of secrets and brought Shelly and Shaan together. Now that both of them have joined hands, we are left in...

Mumabi, May 16 (Ians) Director Sandeep Modi, who has gone behind the camera for Hindi adaptation of ‘The Night Manager’, spoke about his favourite Superheros and shared his view on Iron Man.

He said: “Love Iron man! Simple reason, he came through when it was fashionable for superheroes to be bogged down by the idea of having superpowers. The responsibility was great but it felt like a curse to be one. But with Iron Man, here was a super hero who was unabashed and didn’t mind for once enjoying his powers.”

The director likes ‘Ant-Man’ too “as he again breaks the mould.”

Modi said: “The fact that he cares for his daughter and does everything just to keep her safe and happy is a beautiful feeling, and makes him a superhero one can connect with. Love Paul rudds portrayal of the superhero!”

“From friends to other comedies to now, such...

Mumbai, May 4 (Ians) Part 2 of the streaming series ‘The Night Manager’, which is the Hindi-language adaptation of the eponymous novel by John le Carre, is dropping on Disney+ Hotstar on June 30.

The series stars Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who plays an arms dealer, and Aditya Roy Kapur essaying the titular role of an agent planted by the government to dig out information about an international arm syndicate. The Hindi adaptation ended with a cliffhanger and its Part 2 is being awaited with much anticipation.

Talking about the show, Anil Kapoor said: “I am overwhelmed with the love and support that our fans have shown for ‘The Night Manager’. Their enthusiasm has pushed us to work harder. I can’t wait for everyone to witness the twists and turns that lie ahead. Shelly (my character in the show) will be seen at his best.”

The series has been created and directed by...

Exclusive: In February, we told you a second season of The Night Manager is finally under way for the BBC and Amazon, and we can now confirm Disney+ Hotstar is readying the next part of the Indian remake.

The Night Manager: Part 2 will launch on June 30 on the Disney streamer in India, with stars Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur returning as lead characters Shaan Sengupta and Shelly Rungta, respectively. Based on the John le Carré novel, the first season of the show launched this year, seven years after the original UK-u.S. series for the BBC and AMC launched.

The first season has in effect been split into two parts, meaning this is not a second season.

“It’s overwhelming to see the response for the first part and I am grateful for the love received by everyone,” said creator and director Sandeep Modi. “The Night Manager: Part 2 is twice the action and thrill.

Tom Hiddleston met his Night Manager counterpart Aditya Roy Kapur for the first time last night.

Hiddleston, who played Jonathan Pine in The Night Manager for the BBC and AMC in 2016, jumped on a video call with Kapur while attending a lively screening of Disney+ Hotstar’s The Night Manager India in London.

We’ve obtained exclusive images from the screening.

Also in attendance was Night Manager India director Priyanka Ghose and series creator/director Sandeep Modi, who set up the call when Hiddleston unexpectedly arrived with David Farr, the writer of the original BBC and AMC series.

Tom Hiddleston (second left), David Farr (third left), Simon Cornwell, Priyanka Ghose (second right) and Sandeep Modi (furthest right) at last night’s screening

“We went to the London screening with zero hopes of seeing Tom but to all of our surprise he walked in along with David Farr,” Modi told Deadline.

Mumbai, March 1 (Ians) Actress Tillotama Shome, who plays the character of Lipika in the recently released streaming show ‘The Night Manager’, has said that in real life, she is a very calm person who could do away with the adrenaline rush unlike her character, though she has a few things in common with Lipika.

Talking about the same, the actress said: “I am definitely less messy than Lipika. I will not put myself in a dangerous situation. I am quite okay to live without the adrenaline rush of the brave and the strong.”

However, there are two things that she shares with her character as she further mentioned: “I would like to think that I share Lipika’s sense of responsibility and middle class reality.”

‘The Night Manager’ is the Hindi-language adaptation of John le Carre’s eponymous novel. In addition, the show also stars Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sobhita Dhulipala,...

‘The Night Manager’ director Sandeep Modi revealed that Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor named his character himself in the web series. Anil plays the role of Shelly Rungta, a pivotal character in the story. Anil is an antagonist in the series and he is playing a character that is different from his previous ones. As an actor, he is exploring his grey side in the show and seems to be doing justice to his character as a gambler and ruthless businessman. He shared that originally there was another name for his character but he suggested this particular one.

“We cast Anil Kapoor as Shelly Rungta. By the way, the name Rungta came from him. It was called something else earlier,” said Sandeep.

Sandeep, who is known for ‘Aarya’, ‘The Lottery’,and ‘Neerja’, added how the ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’ actor came up with another option.

“He gave the last name Rungta. He...

Mumbai, Feb 21 (Ians) Actress Sobhita Dhulipala, who made her acting debut with ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ and is currently seen playing the mysterious role of Kaveri in the web series ‘The Night Manager’, recalled an experience in Sri Lanka during which Aditya Roy Kapur got terrified by fireflies.

She shared: “When we had gone to Sri Lanka, I was struck by its beauty, a beautiful tropical island, a new set, a whole new bunch of people and I couldn’t sleep first couple of nights so I went out for a walk in the vicinity. Aditya, me, Anil (Kapoor) sir, Sandeep (Modi), all our rooms were adjacent to each other and one night, I saw a swarm of fireflies outside Aditya’s room and I got damn excited.”

The actress is part of a spy thriller and she remembered how she got excited after looking at the fireflies outside Aditya’s room.

Anil Kapoor has never been afraid of taking risks. The Indian film icon, amongst the best-known Bollywood stars in the West after starring in 24, Slumdog Millionaire and Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, has always sought to blaze a trail, first by working in television well before it became acceptable for film stars in India to do so, and most recently by embracing projects for streaming platforms.

Kapoor’s latest endeavor is the Disney+ Hotstar streaming original limited series The Night Manager, which launched on the platform on Feb. 17. Created by Sandeep Modi, the spy drama is an adaptation of John le Carré’s 1993 novel of the same name. The series tells the story of Shaan Sengupta (Aditya Roy Kapur), an Indian intelligence operative who goes undercover as a hotel night manager at a luxury resort in Bangladesh to surveil arms dealer Shailendra “Shelly” Rungta (Kapoor). The thriller also stars Sobhita Dhulipala,...

The Night Manager

Directed by Sandeep Modi, Priyanka Ghose

It is immaterial whether you are familiar with John Le Carre’s espionage novel or not. As a stand-alone piece of kitschy art The Night Manager works just fine. The writers Sridhar Raghavan and Sandeep Modi make just the right switches and shifts of mood and location from the original to the remake, rendering the remake so distinct that even those who enjoyed the original would love the desi avatar of The Night Manager.

It is easy to miss out on the nuances that have gone into creating this self-contained world of intrigue and suspense. Outwardly The Night Manager is a routine thriller about an entrepreneur tycoon Shailendra Rungta moonlighting as an arms dealer .

Anil Kapoor plays Rungta with the kind of archaic bland swag that went out of style with Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. He is shown to be a sinister global criminal,...

The Night Manager is an official remake of the British TV crime thriller series of the same name based on the John le Carré’s novel created by Sandeep Modi and Priyanka Ghose. For the audience who have an appetite for crime thrillers involving spy craft and deceptive characters with twists and turns might appreciate. Moreover, Anil Kapoor’s presence in the series naturally adds to the excitement coupled with Aditya Roy Kapoor headlining the cast.

The Night Manager is about Shaan Sengupta (Aditya Roy Kapur), employed as the night manager at a luxury hotel in Bangladesh. Shaan stumbles upon a strange looking mother-daughter duo (Supriya Shukla and Arista Mehta) as his guests only to later find that the girl is the wife of one of the owners of the hotel. The girl approaches Shaan to help her escape from the clutches of her husband of a forced juvenile marriage.

Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur have featured on the cover of the new edition of British-Irish author John le Carre’s novel ‘The Night Manager’, on which their upcoming eponymous streaming show is based. This is the first time ever that an Indian show has featured on an international bestseller.

Reacting to the news, Anil Kapoor said, “To be featured on the cover of a bestselling novel, this has to be one of the most incredibly memorable moments of my acting career. When you’ve been in the industry for as long as I have, it’s easy to think that you’ve seen everything, but I could not have imagined something like this even in my wildest dreams. So grateful and humbled by this honour!”

Anil’s fellow actor Aditya Roy Kapur, who plays the titular character in the series, also shared, “‘The Night Manager’ has...

Exclusive: The Night Manager’s Indian remake launches this week and its stars are now set to feature on the cover of the original John le Carre novel — a first for an Indian series.

Stars Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur will appear on a re-issue of the novel, which was first published in 1993, following an discussions involving Disney+ Hotstar, The Manager Rights owner The Ink Factory and Penguin Random House India.

This is believed to be the first time characters from an Indian series have appeared on an international bestseller. It provides more momentum for the buzzy series, which launches in India on Disney+ Hotstar on February 17 under the Hotstar Specials brand. The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia made the show, with Sandeep Modi the showrunner.

In the series, Kapoor and Kapur take on the roles Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddlestone first made famous in the BBC and AMC series back in 2016. Sobhita Dhulipala,...

Indian actor Aditya Roy Kapur plays the titular lead in the Disney+ Hotstar Indian adaptation of “The Night Manager.”

Based on the 1993 espionage novel by British writer John le Carré, the series follows the night manager of a hotel who is recruited to infiltrate an arms dealer’s inner circle. It was previously adapted in 2016 by David Farr as a BBC/AMC series, with Tom Hiddleston playing the titular night manager and, as revealed by Variety, Anil Kapoor (“Jug Jugg Jeeyo”) as the arms dealer antagonist.

The Ink Factory, which was behind the 2016 adaptation, is also producing the Hindi-language Indian version alongside Banijay Asia. The creator of the Indian version is Sandeep Modi (“Aarya”). When Kapur was approached for the show, he was aware of the earlier production but had not watched it, something he rectified immediately.

“Tom Hiddleston’s performance is wonderful, everyone in the cast did a great...

The cast and crew of the upcoming webseries, ‘The Night Manager’, had to leave their shoot mid-way in Sri Lanka and recreate the country in Mumbai as they were facing difficulties to film after the pandemic.

The crew was shooting for their Sri Lankan sequence in December 2021, immediately after the pandemic. The whole crew got tested negative and they travelled together. The crew was super excited to shoot for the sequence, but there were problems like filling fuel was taking time, food wasn’t getting delivered on time and there was water shortage among many others.

So, the crew had to leave and recreate Lanka in Mumbai. They shot for only 23 days in Sri Lanka from February 1 to 23 when the original schedule was to shoot the entire February month there.

Talking about the difficult times, creator and director Sandeep Modi, said, “The whole team was excited to shoot one of...

When Anil Kapoor was offered a lead role in the Hindi adaptation of UK drama series The Night Manager, his first thought was how he could apply what he’d learned while making the Indian version of U.S. crime drama 24.

Kapoor plays the role of an international arms dealer, played by Hugh Laurie in the original English-language series, based on the John le Carre novel, while Aditya Roy Kapur has been cast as the solider turned hotel night manager infiltrating his circle, played by Tom Hiddleston in the original show.

After being approached by Disney+ Hotstar content chief Gaurav Banerjee to play the role, he started watching the English series, which had been broadcast by BBC and AMC in 2016 and streamed by Amazon Prime Video in India. “I was impressed by the original, but we had some very strong writers and talent attached to the remake from an early stage,...

The Hindi adaptation of UK mini-series The Night Manager, based on the John Le Carre novel, is shaping up to be one of the most highly-anticipated shows in a busy Indian web series season. Produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia for Disney+ Hotstar, the show is set to start streaming on February 17.

Sandeep Modi, who is on board as director and showrunner of the Hindi version, with Priyanka Ghosh as co-director, has creatively helmed the project and tell Deadline of an ambition is to shoot a second season in India. “I keep joking with Simon [Cornwell, Le Carre’s son and co-ceo of The Ink Factory] that we’ll make season two before you do and you can use that for the English version,” says Modi.

The first adaptation of the novel, for BBC and AMC back in 2016, was a ratings hit and rumors of a second run have continued ever since without an official announcement. Le Carre passed...

Two powerhouses, two different sides, one massive clash – witness loggerheads Shelly Rungta and Shantanu Sengupta get into the cinematic showdown of the year! Get ready to check-in as Disney+ Hotstar introduces you to the spiraling world of revenge, deception and revelation, the much-awaited spy thriller Hotstar Specials’ The Night Manager. A Hindi-language adaptation of John le Carré’s novel ‘The Night Manager’ produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia.

The series is created and directed by Sandeep Modi and second director Priyanka Ghosh. Get ready to open the doors to a web of secrets and conspiracies with The Night Manager exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar, 17th February onwards.

Anecdotes from sets are always a fun thing to look out for, afterall, unplanned stories are the most memorable ones. It’s an act very few dare to attempt. Sandeep Modi talks about one such scene with the super cool Anil Kapoor.