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Abhishek Banerjee is a rising star in Indian cinema, recognized as one of the most talented actors in the industry. He’s delivered standout performances in hit series and films like “Stree,” “Mirzapur,” “Paatal Lok,” “Ajji,” and more. His latest role is in Nikkhil Advani’s “Vedaa,” where he plays Jitendra Pratap Singh, a self-appointed village chief who presides over matters of caste and marriage.

Zee 5 Global recently acquired the streaming rights of “Vedaa,” and we at HighonFilms had a chat with Abhishek, where he opened up about his character, his co-stars, and the powerful themes explored in “Vedaa.” It was a fascinating conversation that shed light on the depth of his role and the important messages the film conveys.

You can read the full conversation below:

Rishabh Shandilya: Hello, Abhishek Banerjee! My name is Rishabh Shandilya, I am a writer for “High on Films” and one of your most...

Stree & Paatal Lok Star Abhishek Banerjee Exposes Bollywood Industry Trends.( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Abhishek Banerjee surprised everyone with his impactful acting chops in Paatal Lok. And while he may come across as someone new to the industry, the reality is the opposite. Abhishek is the founder of one of Bollywood’s most sought-after casting agencies. So, regarding industry trade and trends, we trust Abhishek’s word. The Paatal Lok and Stree actor recently surprised everyone with his candid answers about industry trends. Abhishek Banerjee’s honest review of the pay disparity in the industry shocked everyone.

Large budgets and the unbridled demands of big-name actors have been in the news since this year’s horrendous box office performances of Hindi films produced at exorbitant costs began. Abhishek Banerjee, a prominent figure in the industry recognized for his work on films such as Stree, Bhediya, Dream Girl, Dream Girl 2, Pataal Lok,...

Over the last few years, globally, there has been a significant increase in our degree of viewership due to the proliferation of various Ott platforms. As it has embraced niche audiences and content, it has empowered filmmakers and emerging talent to showcase their work to a wider audience. In India too, the wave has been felt with web series such as Sacred Games (2018), Scam 1992 (2020), Paatal Lok (2020), Jubilee(2023), and The Railway Man (2023), among others. The recent Netflix extravaganza, Heeramandi, directed by auteur filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whose image among cinephiles and general viewers is held with respect, also roused similar expectations. Unfolding across eight episodes, the ambitious series centers around the lives of tawaifs (nautch girls) in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore, before the partition of India. The series has all the signature styles of the filmmaker of displaying exuberance and is crammed with exquisitely choreographed songs,...

Actor Ishwak Singh, who is known for his work ‘Rocket Boys’, ‘Paatal Lok’, and ‘Aligarh’, has shared that his upcoming film ‘Berlin’ pays homage to the Delhi of the early 1990s.

‘Berlin’, directed by Atul Sabharwal, follows the story of a deaf-mute man who becomes embroiled in espionage accusations. As the authorities intensify their pursuit, a proficient sign language interpreter emerges, entrusted with untangling the truth on behalf of a government operative.

The film, which delves into the themes of deception, betrayal, and redemption, received huge acclaim at the Habitat International Film Festival in Delhi.

Talking about the film, Ishwak said, “Berlin is a deeply rooted and authentic film. Aside from the plot and the character arcs, the film’s strength lies in its strong cultural, political, and social references beautifully ingrained in the narrative. It’s an ode to Delhi of the ’90s, the time when I grew up in the city,...

Actor Jaideep Ahlawat, who is receiving a lot of acclaim for his work in the recently released streaming title ‘The Broken News 2’, shared that he has a WhatsApp group with fellow actors and longtime friends, Rajkummar Rao and Vijay Varma.

This WhatsApp group is called the ‘Majboot Actors Association’. The friendship between these actors dates back to their days as students at the Film and Television Institute of India (Ftii). The three of them graduated from Ftii in 2008.

While Vijay went down south to find work in the early phase of his career, Jaideep got his break with the Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Khatta Meetha’ in 2010. Rajkummar Rao, too, got the cult-classic film ‘Love Sex Aur Dhokha’ in 2010.

Vijay made noise in 2016 with the film ‘Pink’ in which he starred in a negative role. Later, he starred in ‘Gully Boy’, and established himself as one of the most sought-after actors in Hindi cinema.

Indian actor Vipin Sharma is earning global acclaim for playing a trans character in Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut “Monkey Man.”

Sharma plays Alpha, the leader of a trans community known in India as hijras, who is instrumental in providing a new lease on life to Patel’s character when he’s down and out in “Monkey Man.”

Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” (2007) was Sharma’s breakthrough role, and since then he has won plaudits for “Paan Singh Tomar,” “Gangs of Wasseypur” and “Shahid” (all 2012), “Raanjhanaa” (2013), “Raman Raghav 2.0” (2016), “Paatal Lok” (2020) and “Dear Jassi” (2023).

When director Anthony Maras offered Sharma a role in “Hotel Mumbai” (2018), starring Patel, the actor accepted. “He said, ‘It’s not a very big part, but it’s a very interesting part.’ I immediately took it because it was going to make me meet Dev who I really wanted to meet,” Sharma tells Variety.

Actor Ishwak Singh, who is known for ‘Rocket Singh’, ‘Paatal Lok’ and ‘Made In Heaven’, has shared that the theatre culture of Mumbai and Delhi differ a lot in terms of their larger craft and pitching of the stories.

The actor recently did a play in Delhi titled ‘Ek Mamooli Aadmi’, and garnered a lot of positive responses. On the occasion of World Theatre Day, the actor spoke with Ians and shared that Delhi theatre is fuelled by raw passion while the Mumbai theatre circuit has a certain finesse which comes from the involvement of actors like Naseeruddin Shah.

Ishwak told Ians: “There is a finesse in Bombay theatre which comes from the active involvement of legends like Naseer sahab (Naseeruddin Shah) which is quite unique. Delhi theatre is fuelled by raw passion and driven by theatre gurus who are working against the tide to keep the art robust. Groups...

Deepika Padukone vs Anushka Sharma vs Katrina Kaif Net Worth 2024 (Photo Credit –Instagram)

Bollywood is a constant battle, even for the best in the business. Every single day, a new idea is developed, and every director wants to cast the actress who is in demand. And when we’re talking about the Hindi film industry, how can we miss out on the three leading beauties – Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, and Deepika Padukone? While they’ve all proved their acting chops, guess who’s made the most fortune? Scroll below for all the details!

Deepika Padukone was among the lucky few who worked alongside superstar Shah Rukh Khan in their first film. After being a part of the Kannada film Aishwarya, she made her Bollywood debut with Om Shanti Om (2007). Anushka Sharma also followed her lead in 2008 with Srk’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. On the other hand, Katrina Kaif...

New Delhi, Nov 12 (Ians) Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time of celebration and reflection on the triumph of good over evil. And what better way to embrace the spirit of the season than to indulge in some binge-worthy series that capture this eternal battle between light and darkness.

From thrilling crime dramas to supernatural showdowns, here are some web series and audio series that will keep you on the edge of your seat while highlighting the timeless importance ofgoodversusevil.

‘Asur2’

The Cbi is back in action, racing against time to hunt down the diabolical serial killer, Shubh Joshi. Shubh is on a mission to prove that there’s nogoodleft in the world, and darkness will consume humanity. As heroes crumble and the stakes rise, can the shattered Dhananjay Rajpoot (Arshad Warsi) and devastated Nikhil Nair (Barun Sobti) unite to stop Shubh’s vengeful quest? Join the chase, witness the relentless pursuit,...

New Delhi, Nov 12 (Ians) Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time of celebration and reflection on the triumph of good over evil. And what better way to embrace the spirit of the season than to indulge in some binge-worthy series that capture this eternal battle between light and darkness.

From thrilling crime dramas to supernatural showdowns, here are some web series and audio series that will keep you on the edge of your seat while highlighting the timeless importance ofgoodversusevil.

‘Asur2’

The Cbi is back in action, racing against time to hunt down the diabolical serial killer, Shubh Joshi. Shubh is on a mission to prove that there’s nogoodleft in the world, and darkness will consume humanity. As heroes crumble and the stakes rise, can the shattered Dhananjay Rajpoot (Arshad Warsi) and devastated Nikhil Nair (Barun Sobti) unite to stop Shubh’s vengeful quest? Join the chase, witness the relentless pursuit,...

Actor Jaideep Ahlawat, who is known for ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘Gabbar is Back’ and ‘Raazi’, feels that the medium of audio storytelling enhances the imagination of the audience in a big way. The actor recently lent his voice to the Hindi version of the Marvel superhero Hawkeye in the audio podcast ‘Marvel’s Wastelanders’.

Talking about the same, Jaideep told Ians: “Audio storytelling enhances your imagination a lot more compared to the visual medium. In old times, grandmothers used to narrate fables to the kids, that too was audio-driven storytelling and what it did to kids was it opened up their imagination.”

“Those fables gave the power of a vivid imagination to kids as they pictured in their minds the characters and the world of the story narrated to them. So, audio storytelling is more fun and exciting because it demands an active participation of the listener,” he added.

Actor Jaideep Ahlawat, who is known for ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘Gabbar is Back’ and ‘Raazi’, feels that the medium of audio storytelling enhances the imagination of the audience in a big way. The actor recently lent his voice to the Hindi version of the Marvel superhero Hawkeye in the audio podcast ‘Marvel’s Wastelanders’.

Talking about the same, Jaideep told Ians: “Audio storytelling enhances your imagination a lot more compared to the visual medium. In old times, grandmothers used to narrate fables to the kids, that too was audio-driven storytelling and what it did to kids was it opened up their imagination.”

“Those fables gave the power of a vivid imagination to kids as they pictured in their minds the characters and the world of the story narrated to them. So, audio storytelling is more fun and exciting because it demands an active participation of the listener,” he added.

Actor Jaideep Ahalwat, who is now making inroads into the world of audio-books and comics as he gives the Hindi voice for the Marvel archer-superhero Hawkeye, in the audio-series ‘Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye’, described it “an ode to the indomitable human spirit”. The audio series dropped on streaming medium on Friday.

Talking about the series, the ‘Paatal Lok’ actor said, “‘Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye’ is an inspiring story that humanises the superhero. The series is an ode to the indomitable human spirit and I am confident that it will inspire listeners to confront their challenges fearlessly.”

Detailing his experience, Jaideep added: “Portraying Hawkeye has been a rewarding journey for me because of the remarkable strength and resilience he showcases in the face of adversity. You will witness him on a journey to honour the memory of his loved ones, amidst the shifting sands of time.”

Presenting an alternate scenario, similar to MCU’s ‘What If…...

Actor Jaideep Ahalwat, who is now making inroads into the world of audio-books and comics as he gives the Hindi voice for the Marvel archer-superhero Hawkeye, in the audio-series ‘Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye’, described it “an ode to the indomitable human spirit”. The audio series dropped on streaming medium on Friday.

Talking about the series, the ‘Paatal Lok’ actor said, “‘Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye’ is an inspiring story that humanises the superhero. The series is an ode to the indomitable human spirit and I am confident that it will inspire listeners to confront their challenges fearlessly.”

Detailing his experience, Jaideep added: “Portraying Hawkeye has been a rewarding journey for me because of the remarkable strength and resilience he showcases in the face of adversity. You will witness him on a journey to honour the memory of his loved ones, amidst the shifting sands of time.”

Presenting an alternate scenario, similar to MCU’s ‘What If…...

Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who is known for his work in ‘Stree’, ‘Bhediya’, ‘Paatal Lok’ and other, has shared that his portrayal of Bhuvan in the streaming show ‘Aakhri Sach’ has taught him that there are a lot of suppressed emotions in a person which they need to be vocal about.

The final episode of the show dropped recently, and for Abhishek playing Bhuvan was understandably difficult as the character goes on to kill his entire family.

Talking about the same, Abhishek said: “Playing Bhuvan was very difficult because he is somebody who is responsible for killing his entire family. Recently I read an article about somebody taking their entire family to a bridge for a selfie and pushing all the family members in the water.”

He further mentioned: “We need to understand that this happens among us and people like this live among us and when it is someone from...

Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who is known for his work in ‘Stree’, ‘Bhediya’, ‘Paatal Lok’ and other, has shared that his portrayal of Bhuvan in the streaming show ‘Aakhri Sach’ has taught him that there are a lot of suppressed emotions in a person which they need to be vocal about.

The final episode of the show dropped recently, and for Abhishek playing Bhuvan was understandably difficult as the character goes on to kill his entire family.

Talking about the same, Abhishek said: “Playing Bhuvan was very difficult because he is somebody who is responsible for killing his entire family. Recently I read an article about somebody taking their entire family to a bridge for a selfie and pushing all the family members in the water.”

He further mentioned: “We need to understand that this happens among us and people like this live among us and when it is someone from...

Exclusive: One of the leading actresses in the Hindi film industry, Kareena Kapoor Khan is making her streaming debut in Netflix original film Jaane Jaan, an adaptation of Japanese author Keigo Higashino’s The Devotion Of Suspect X, which launches worldwide on the streaming service today (September 21).

Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, the film also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma and is produced by 12th Street Entertainment and Northern Lights Films in association with Kross Pictures and Balaji Motion Pictures. Higashino’s novel has previously been adapted into Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Tamil versions.

Kapoor Khan plays a very different character to the glamorous Bollywood roles that we’ve previously seen her in. Dressed down and without make-up, her character Maya is a woman living peacefully with her daughter in a remote town, until her abusive husband finds her.

Her neighbor, a talented mathematician who has a crush on her,...

New Delhi, Aug 14 (Ians) Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who has won hearts with his portrayal of Hathoda Tyagi in ‘Paatal Lok’, will now be seen as ‘Bhuvan’ in an upcoming investigative thriller ‘Aakhri Sach’.

One night, one family, multiple deaths, an investigating officer and various theories, ‘Aakhri Sach’ is inspired by true events. Set against the backdrop of simmering tension, the series will delve into the lives of each character as Tamannaah Bhatia, playing the role of Anya, the lead investigative officer embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of the deaths.

Sharing the inner struggles of portraying a complex character, Abhishek said: “I tried to think like him. It was very difficult to rationalise his thoughts in my mind, but I had to do it. It’s scary when I think about how easily an actor justifies even the crimes of their character in their head. But that’s the job.

Mumbai, Aug 11 (Ians) Actor and casting director Abhishek Banerjee, who will be soon seen in the upcoming comedy film ‘Dream Girl 2’, has shared that he will be seen essaying the role of Shah Rukh in the film, no not the Bollywood megastar but a regular guy, who is battling depression. In fact, the actor was under the impression that his part would be of Srk or a romantic character at the very least, in the film.

Abhishek Banerjee, who has earned a reputation for his versatility, is known for his work in ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Stree’, ‘Bhediya’, ‘Paatal Lok’ and several other projects.

Speaking about his character, he revealed, “My character’s name in the film is Shah Rukh, which initially led me to wonder if I was supposed to portray the real Shah Rukh Khan or a romantic character. However, after reading the script, I discovered that this character is entirely different.

Since launching on Netflix on July 15, Indian crime drama Kohrra has shot to the top of the streamer’s Indian rankings and had critics, audiences and industry figures including Karan Johar raving about the show.

In addition to describing it as an atmospheric murder mystery, local critics have praised the series for being an incisive portrait of contemporary Punjab, the northwestern Indian state where it is set.

The six-part series follows two cops – played by Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti – investigating the murder of an Nri (non-resident Indian) who lives in London but has travelled to India for an arranged marriage. After he’s found dead in a field, with the British friend who had accompanied him also missing, the cops start to unravel not just a murder case, but a complex web of family secrets, land-related power plays, childhood trauma and parental patriarchy.

Randeep Jha, who was recently a...

Indian police procedural noir “Kohrra” (“Fog”) is the latest hit for streaming service Netflix.

The six-episode Punjabi- and Hindi-language drama bowed July 15 atop the Netflix India chart, where it remains in pole position for a second week. It also placed highly in the streamer’s top 10 charts across much of South Asia and the Middle East.

In the show, when a bridegroom from the U.K. is found dead days before his wedding, two cops must unravel the troubling case as turbulence unfolds in their own lives. The cast is led by Suvinder Vicky, known for Cannes title “The Fourth Direction” and Venice festival title “Milestone,” and Barun Sobti.

The series is created by Gunjit Chopra and Sudip Sharma, who previously teamed on hit Prime Video police procedural series “Paatal Lok” (2020), and Diggi Sisodia, co-creator of Zee Studios’ Berlin Series Market Selects series “Brown.” It is directed by Randeep Jha,...

Sushant Sreeram, country director of Prime Video India, has reiterated the streamer’s intention of doubling down on investments in the territory.

“Our five-year plan in India for Prime Video is to double what we have done in the last seven years. And our investment thesis is actually an apt reflection of that. We have committed to doubling our investment over the next five years compared to what we have invested in the previous five. We said this recently and we continue to stick to it,” Sreeram told Variety. “The question that I and the entire team in India is asked is, ‘Can we do this twice as bigger? Can we deliver, twice as much for customers across shows movies and the whole works? That’s the simple summary of what the five-year plan is.”

Earlier this year, Prime Video signed a deal with the Indian government to boost the country’s creative economy.

Actor Ishwak Singh, who is set to act in the horror series ‘Adhura’, said that the series pushes the boundaries of the horror genre and it brings out its essence beautifully.For the series, helmed by the duo Gaurav of and Ananya Banarjee, Ishwak Singh has joined forces with co-stars Rasika Dugal and Aparshakti Khurana.

Elaborating on the point, he said: “’Adhura’ is a gutsy horror show with a medley of emotions, for me it’s a story of friendship, love and longing. Being authentic to the horror storytelling Ananya Banerjee and Gaurav Chawla have brought out the essence of the genre so beautifully.”

Talking of the show’s theme, he said: “The show is a portal to the supernatural realm with spirits that gives a very unsettling feeling but the true masterstroke of the show is that it delves into the demons within us.”

‘Adhura’ is a horror series...

Ever since various Ott platforms waltzed into our lives, the Indian cinema space has been booming, for it has given viewers a plethora of options to choose from. With access to foreign content, the demand for gritty storytelling coupled with drama suddenly increased. This led to Indian makers jumping into this genre, which gave us shows like Sacred Games, Delhi Crime, Mirzapur, and Paatal Lok, to name a few. Just last week, Disney+ Hotstar forayed into the Telugu language web series with Shaitan, and Prime Video in 2022 gave us Suzhal: The Vortex, a Tamil language murder investigation story. With regional cinema, especially from the south, being the talk of the town, Disney+ Hotstar’s brand new Malayalam language police investigation thriller Kerala Crime Files is here for you to understand how a murder case turns into a chase to catch the culprit.

The plot of Kerala Crime Files revolves around...

Actor Ishwak Singh, who is known for ‘Paatal Lok’ and ‘Rocket Boys’, will be seen sharing the screen with the Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor in the upcoming social comedy film ‘Sarvagunn Sampanna’. The movie marks the directorial debut of Sonali Rattan.

Ishwak has already completed shooting for his part in ‘Sarvagunn Sampanna’, a source informed. The film is set in the 1990s and will see Vaani portraying the character of a porn star lookalike in the film.

Speaking about Ishwak’s involvement, a source in the production said: “Ishwak is the perfect fit for this role. His chemistry with Vaani Kapoor will undoubtedly captivate audiences, and we are excited to present their fresh pairing on-screen.”

Director Sonali Rattan, has been an associate director to filmmaker husband Kunal Deshmukh on notable films like ‘Jannat’, ‘Tum Mile’, ‘Raja Natwarlal’ and ‘Shiddat’. The film blends comedy and social commentary, offering a fresh perspective...

Actor Ishwak Singh, who is known for his work in ‘Rocket Boys’ and is currently busy with the second season of ‘Paatal Lok’, has shared that his co-actor Jaideep Ahlawat has a very encouraging vibe as it pushes him to do better.

Ishwak essayed the role of a cop Imran Ansari, who was assistant to Hathiram Chaudhary, Jaideep Ahlawat’s character in the first season of the show, which was released on Ott during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

Heaping praise on his co-actor, Ishwak said: “Jaideep is one of the best actors of our generation and his in-depth knowledge of various aspects of filmmaking is truly inspiring. His biggest strength is that his craft is not imposing at all, on the contrary it enhances his co-actor’s performance.”

“He has always been very receptive to what I’d do and the two of us over...

Mumbai, June 5 (Ians) One of India’s second generation of streaming shows ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Mirzapur’ have emerged as the table toppers on the list of IMDb top 50 all-time most popular Indian web series.

Interestingly, both the shows belong to the genre of crime thrillers, a space that the Ott platforms aim to leverage and rightly so given the audience response to titles that have a good mix of crime and thrill. Crime genre occupies 30 out of 50 slots on the list.

Vikramaditya Motwane, showrunner and co-director of ‘Sacred Games’, said: “I’m absolutely honoured and delighted by the fact that ‘Sacred Games’ has been ranked at No. 1 by IMDb users. A huge thanks to all the amazing people who’ve loved the show and, as always, an even bigger thanks and congratulations to the incredible cast and crew.”

Pankaj Tripathi has played prominent roles in three out of the top...

Mumbai, May 30 (Ians) Actor-casting director Abhishek Banerjee, who received a lot of positive response for his role of Hathoda Tyagi in the hit streaming series ‘Paatal Lok, has shared that his mother didnt like him in the role and he considers it as an appreciation for playing the role convincingly.

In the series, Abhishek’s Hathoda Tyagi, who doesn’t speak much, is known for murdering people in cold blood with a hammer.

Talking about it, Abhishek Banerjee said, “My mom didn’t like my role as Hathoda Tyagi in ‘Pataal Lok’. She said “kya hain ye” (what’s this)? “Hathoda mein tum kya kar rahe ho” (What are you doing in the role of Hathoda)? But she loved my role in ‘Bhediya'”.

He also spoke about how his perception about memes have changed. He mentioned, “At first I used to think memes are just for fun, but when Hathoda Tyagi memes got viral,...

Mumbai, May 27 (Ians) Director Avinash Arun, who is known for the hit streaming series ‘Paatal Lok’, is coming up with another Ott series, ‘School of Lies’, which tells the story of a missing school boy.

Interstingly, Avinash initially intended to make it a horror series, but eventually decided to turn it into its present-day form.

The series, which stars Nimrat Kaur as a school counsellor, follows the Rise – a boarding school – from where 12-year-old Shakti goes missing. Soon things start to go out of control, revealing the hidden skeletons in the closets of the boarding school.

Sharing the anecdote with Ians, Avinash said, “The earlier idea was to make ‘School of Lies’ a horror series. I had planned it around a boy going to a boarding school. His parents get separated and then how he copes up with the same in the school where he sort of makes an imaginary friend.

"I fell completely in love with the role, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it had the potential to change my life. Of course, I had no idea that people would probably know me as ‘Hathoda Tyagi’. I have to constantly try and do something which is as exciting as Hathoda, which is going to be very difficult," actor Abhishek Banerjee tells Ians.

The actor will soon be seen in the Short ‘Sex, Likes and Stories’, directed by Keith Gomes on an iPhone, where he plays the character of ‘Chokra Boy’, hailing from a simple social and economic background who uses the social media to pretend to be someone else and tries to live a completely different life. Banerjee smiles that the character is completely opposite to who he is. "I am who I am. Believe me, I cannot even pretend in an interview with a media person.

Actress Gul Panag, who started her career in Bollywood in 2003 with the movie ‘Dhoop’, will be sharing screen with Erica Fernandes in the short film ‘The Haunting’ where she is investigating a murder mystery.

Gul said: “So, my character is an investigator. She works with the police, she is a psychoanalyst and she’s profiling this character, who allegedly has committed this murder and she believes that this girl is making up stories.”

The 44-year-old actress has been part of a number of TV shows and films. She acted in movies like ‘Dor’, ‘Hello’, ‘Summer 2007’, ‘Straight’, ‘Ab Tak Chappan 2’, ‘Ambarsariya’, ‘Student of the Year 2’, among others. Gul also hosted a few shows such as ‘Kismey Kitnaa Hai Dum’, ‘Musafir Hoon Yaaron’, and was also seen in web series like ‘The Family Man’, ‘Paatal Lok’, and many more.

The story is surrounded by supernatural incidents that took place after the...

Actor-casting director Abhishek Banerjee known for his work in ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Pitchers’, ‘Stree’ and ‘Paatal Lok’, has joined the cast of courtroom thriller film ‘Section 84’. The film stars veteran Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role and is being helmed by Ribhu Dasgupta of ‘Teen’ fame.

Expressing his excitement on joining the film and working with Mr Bachchan, Abhishek said: “‘Section 84’ is my moment of Eklavya meeting Dronacharya. When I knew nothing about acting, I only knew one name, Amitabh Bachchan. From a boy who’s hypnotised by him to actually getting the opportunity to stand alongside him in one frame, life has truly completed a circle for me.”

Recently, the makers also announced Diana Penty in one of the key roles.

He further mentioned: “This is what dreams are made of, as the Bachchan mania continues for me. This time I am a part of it !! Thank you, thank you Ribhu sir,...

Acclaimed actor Vijay Varma is one of the leads in “Dahaad” (“Roar”), the first Indian series to compete in the Berlinale Series competition.

Produced by Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby and directed by Reema Kagti (Amazon’s Prime Video series “Made in Heaven”) and Ruchika Oberoi (Venice winner “Island City”), the series’ other leads are Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah and Sohum Shah.

“‘Dahaad’ is about the investigation of a series of crimes conducted by a small town, rookie police officer at a small police station in Rajasthan [western India]. There are these disappearing girls and somehow the young police officer finds a certain similarity between these these disappearances,” Varma told Variety, talking from Berlin. “It’s a slow burn, investigative drama and it’s also very atmospheric and moody and noir-ish.”

About his own character Varma said: “I play a literature professor in a girl’s college, seemingly having a normal, good life.

Actor Abhishek Banerjee, who is known for his work in ‘Paatal Lok, ‘Stree, ‘Bhediya and ‘Tvf Pitchers, essayed “by far the most difficult” character in the upcoming crime-thriller series titled ‘Rana Naidu, which also stars Venkatesh and Rana Daggubati.

Abhishek recently told the media, “It is by far the most difficult character I have attempted. It was way out of my comfort zone. Lately, I have done all the UPites and North Indian characters, which made people think I am from Kanpur or Allahabad. But I was looking for something that challenged me more. And I think, whenever you have to get to some kind of diction or like an accent which is not very familiar to you, I think you start thinking about it more. So, to do that was the most challenging part for me.”

He added, “You will see how messed up my character is when you see the show.

Exclusive: Indian director Dibakar Banerjee’s Tees has been shelved by Netflix and the auteur is now seeking a new home for the feature.

Netflix confirmed it has no plans to release the feature, but has not commented on the reasons for shelving it.

Tees was announced in 2019 as a Netflix original under its previous title Freedom as “the story of an Indian family interwoven with the personal, ideological and sexual history of India.”

Banerjee shot the Hindi-language film in 2020 and delivered it to Netflix in May 2022, but it remained in limbo for several months until the streamer confirmed that it has no plans to proceed with a release.

The International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) invited Tees to premiere in the Limelight section of this year’s edition, but Banerjee was unable to secure Netflix’s approval to screen the film.

Netflix confirmed that it has given Banerjee permission...

Amazon miniTV today unveiled a highly engaging trailer of their upcoming show Physics Wallah. Directed by Abhishek Dhandharia, the show captures the journey of a teacher who brought a revolution to India’s education space. Featuring Shriidhar Dubey in the lead, playing a popular Edtech Guru, the show is set to stream on Amazon miniTV from 15th December.

The trailer gives a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary teacher (played by Shriidhar Dubey) as he sets his foot on a road to build an institution for students to learn physics even in the most remote areas of the country. He is seen as a strong-headed individual who is determined to build a platform that not only benefits children, but also changes the way education is perceived in the country. The trailer also gives a sneak peek into a viral video that changed his life.

‘Paatal Lok’ actor Shriidhar Dubey,...

Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana, who is currently busy with the promotions of his upcoming movie ‘An Action Hero’, is a Shah Rukh Khan fan. Well, who isn’t? But the ‘Andhadhun’ star took it a bit further and confessed about being an “SRKian” on his social media.

The actor took to his Instagram and shared a picture of himself passing by Srk’s iconic Mumbai bungalow – Mannat. In the picture, Ayushmann can be seen surrounded by scores of Srk fans as he waves at the bungalow.

Writing in the caption, Ayushmann noted: “Mannat se guzar raha tha. Toh ek mannat maang li. #AnActionHero #2ndDecember #SRKian.”

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Ayushmann’s film ‘An Action Hero’, which also stars ‘Paatal Lok’ actor Jaideep Ahlawat, is set to hit the theatres on December 2.

Recently, the makers unveiled the item number ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’, which...

Slice-of-life comedy series “Brown Nation” will have its Indian television premiere on Comedy Central during the Diwali holiday frame. The series will bow on Oct. 22, 2022, with all episodes playing back-to-back.

Produced in 2016, the series initially played on Netflix. It follows characters Hasmukh and Dimple from Queens, New York, who attempt to balance their work-life troubles, keep their romance alive all whilst living under the same roof with Papaji, Hasmukh’s father-in-law. It stars Rajeev Varma (“Inside”), Shenaz Treasury (“The Big Sick”), Omi Vaidya (“3 Idiots”) and Melanie Chandra (“Hot Mess Holiday”).

The series is directed by Abi Varghese and written by Matt Grubb, George Kanatt, and Varghese.

“We created ‘Brown Nation’ because it is the sort of fun and breezy show that we love to watch on TV. We are truly excited that it is premiering on Comedy Central”, said Varghese.

Abi Varghese is represented globally by Tulsea, the talent...

Actor Ishwak Singh will be seen portraying a range of different characters in his upcoming projects. The actor, who gained prominence with ‘Paatal Lok’ and ‘Rocket Boys’, feels that it’s imperative for him to mould himself fully as per the demand of the script and characters.

Talking about the same, he said, “I have immense faith in the makers, if a filmmaker sees me as a certain character, I feel doubly reassured and that also becomes one of the factors for me to decide what I want to do.”

He further mentioned that portraying a range of character makes him better as an actor, “I believe in playing different characters, some I relate to directly which is very personal and takes me down the memory lane and some I am aware of but there are also parts and characters that belong to a world I’m completely oblivious to,...

Kelly Day, Amazon Prime Video Vice President, International, outlined the company’s localization efforts across Asia, Europe and Latin America in the first keynote session of Apos 2022, which is taking place virtually and as an in-person event in Singapore (September 27-29).

After initially focusing on Japan and India, Amazon Prime Video launched a slate of local-language originals and localized user experience across Southeast Asia just last month. Speaking from the U.S., Day told Apos: “We try to be thoughtful in not only bringing all these amazing global series and tentpoles, but also doing it right locally, so we’ve got a brand new team just hired, based in Singapore. We’ve seen the response in Indonesia and the Philippines really strong right out of the gate.”

In India, Amazon Prime has already scored successes with Hindi-language scripted series including Paatal Lok, The Family Man and Made In Heaven, and...

‘Paatal Lok’ actor Ishwak Singh, who will be reprising his character of physicist Dr Vikram Sarabhai in the second season of ‘Rocket Boys’, said he spent long hours doing the research for his role.

The entire series is based on the life of Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, an astronomer and physicist, who had a major contribution towards the development of nuclear power in India and in fact he is known as Father of the Indian Space Programme.

Bringing him alive on screen was not at all an easy task and thus Ishwak read a lot of books about him and attended lectures also.

He said: “I prepared for Vikram Sarabhai with a multipronged approach. I wanted to know him inside out, right from his childhood days in Ahmedabad to his education in Cambridge, the various aspects of his personal and professional life.”

“It was like going back to school as I...

Actor Ishwak Singh, who received positive response for his work in the streaming series ‘Rocket Boys’ is about to complete ten years in the industry and the actor gives the credit to another hugely popular streaming series ‘Paatal Lok’ for bringing him the audience love and recognition.

In ‘Rocket Boys’, Ishwak played Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme, but it was ‘Paatal Lok’, where he played the character of Imran Ansari, a policeman who makes it to the Ips, and grabbed eyeballs, thanks to his work.

The actor is extremely grateful for the opportunities that have come his way. But he confesses he has a special spot for ‘Paatal Lok’ that saw him achieve a major breakthrough.

“It’s almost a decade since my journey in the film industry began but it was ‘Paatal Lok’ that catapulted my career in the industry,” he said.

“It gave me...

Unfazed by the box-office failure of Aamir Khan’s ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, where she played his character’s love interest, Kareena Kapoor has started work on her maiden production. She, however, has not revealed its name or other details.

The actress took to the story section of her Instagram and posted an image of a film’s script with ‘Shahid’ helmer Hansal Mehta’s name in the director’s credit.

The actress smartly concealed the title of the project by keeping a pen over it, though one can see the words ‘The’ and ‘Murder’.

A year ago, in August 2021, Kareena had announced on Instagram that she was getting into production in collaboration with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms.

Kareena had posted a picture of herself with Ekta Kapoor and Hansal Mehta, announcing that she would be donning the producer’s hat ‘soon’.

In addition, Kareena also has Sujoy Ghosh’s...

Leading entertainment marketing and content production company Trailer Park Group is continuing its Asia Pacific expansion drive with the hiring of two key executives.

The company, which recently acquired Mumbai-based boutique creative agency White Turtle Studios, has appointed Tamagna Ghosh as Apac MD, and Gina Grosso as senior VP of global production, both reporting into group CEO Rick Eiserman. Specializing in streaming, film, gaming, technology and lifestyle brand clients, including Amazon, Disney, HBO, Netflix and Xbox, the group has production capabilities across its specialty studios – Trailer Park, Art Machine, Mxw, Mirada, and now White Turtle Studios.

Mumbai-based Ghosh joins from Amazon India, where during his six years as head of creative marketing for Prime Video, he led campaigns for hit originals “The Family Man,” “Mirzapur,” “Paatal Lok” and “Made in Heaven.” During a previous stint with Walt Disney Studios he introduced Indian localized theatrical marketing strategies for the Avengers and...

Varun Agarwal’s bestseller “How I Braved Anu Aunty and Co-Founded a Million Dollar Company” is being adapted as young-adult comedy-drama film “Bas Karo Aunty!”

The project is backed by some of the biggest names in Bollywood, including the “Dangal” director Nitesh Tiwari and “Break Point” filmmaker Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s Earthsky Pictures, Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP, Siddharth Roy Kapur’s Roy Kapur Films and Star Studios.

The film is about today’s youth and their dilemmas, the thrills, risks, and romance of embarking on a new life path and chasing one’s dreams, and aims to capture the zeitgeist and entrepreneurial spirit of young India. It is directed by debutant filmmaker Abhishek Sinha and written by Nitesh Tiwari and Nikhil Mehrotra (“Chhichhore”). The cast includes Ishwak Singh and Mahima Makwana (“Antim”). “Bas Karo Aunty!” has started principal photography and will be shot across Mumbai.

Star Studios is the rebranded...

India’s T-Series, Reliance Entertainment and Match Cut Productions have teamed on Srijit Mukherji’s Hindi-language satire “Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga.”

Inspired by true events, the film is about the adverse effects of urbanization, human-animal conflict and poverty, leading to a bizarre practice in a village located on the edge of a forest.

It stars Pankaj Tripathi (“Sacred Games”), Neeraj Kabi (“Paatal Lok”) and Sayani Gupta “(Four More Shots Please”).

Mukherji’s credits include Bengali-language films “Autograph” (2010), which was a Glasgow International Film Festival and Abu Dhabi International Film Festival selection, “Jaatishwar” (2014), “Chotushkone” (2015), “Rajkahini (2015) and “Ek Je Chilo Raja” (2019), which played at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. “Sherdil” will be his second Hindi film after the 2017’s “Begum Jaan,” the remake of “Rajkahini.”

Mukherji said: “I got inspired by the real incident of tragic practises in villages bordering the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and I knew I had to capture it in my next.

OTTBilled as a supernatural thriller, ‘Dhootha’ starring Naga Chaitanya, Parvathy Thiruvothu and others in the lead will release on Amazon Prime Video later this year. IANSAmazon Prime Video Tollywood actor Naga Chaitanya and director Vikram K Kumar are collaborating for what will be the actor’s web series debut, an Amazon Prime Video original. The makers of the series, which has been titled Dhootha, made an official announcement on Thursday, April 28. "Superstar @chay_akkineni like never before #PrimeVideoPresentsIndia #SeeWhereItTakesYou", Amazon Prime Video's official tweet reads. The makers of the web series also revealed the crux of the Naga Chaitanya-starrer, as they wrote, "In this supernatural horror, possessed inanimate objects wreak havoc on the lives of people who commit deadly sins.” Dhootha stars Naga Chaitanya, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Prachi Desai, Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam, and others in the lead roles, as announced by the makers. Bankrolled under the production banner Northstar Entertainment,...

‘Paatal Lok’ fame Jaideep Ahlawat has completed his part of shooting for the upcoming film ‘An Action Hero’. The film, directed by Anirudh Iyer, stars ‘Andhadhun’ actor Ayushmann Khurrana as the lead. The film went on floors in January 2022 with its first schedule being shot in London. Commenting on the completion of his part […]...

Vijay Subramaniam, the former Amazon India and Disney India executive, has launched an independent venture that will develop, produce and finance content for the Indian market.

29SeptemberWorks will have a focus on the Southern Indian region, a booming hub for content that has been growing in influence in recent years.

Headquartered in Bangalore with presence in Chennai and Kochi, the company said it is underway with its first slate of films and shows and is in the process of expanding its creative and development team. On the slate are films in Malayalam and Tamil and series in Tamil and Kannada. It is also partnering with local production houses to co-produce projects.

At Amazon, Subramaniam played a key role as the streamer looked to establish itself in the booming Indian market with originals including Mirzapur, Paatal Lok and Breathe: Into the Shadows. The exec also previously had roles at Star Network and MTV Networks.

“Bloody Brothers,” the Indian adaptation of BAFTA winning BBC series “Guilt,” is set to bow on South Asian focused streamer ZEE5.

Directed by Shaad Ali (Netflix’s “Call My Agent Bollywood”), the show is produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India. Reset in the picturesque South Indian hill town of Ooty, “Bloody Brothers” follows two brothers, Jaggi and Daljeet, who, while driving home late one night, run over an old man. They put the body back in his house, but when people become suspicious, the brothers’ lives fall apart.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub (“Tandav”) plays Daljeet, while Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”) is Jaggi. Both actors chose not to watch “Guilt” prior to filming. “That was a conscious decision that it’s better not to watch the original show, as per se, we are adapting it to India,” Ayyub told Variety. “Everything changes – the scenario, the culture of how characters would react.