Hindi
A boring week for box office
MUMBAI: Shaukeens, the remake of 1982 Basu Chatterjee film, Shaukeen, starring old stalwarts Ashok Kumar, Utpal Dutt and AK Hangal is below the mark. The three characters being re-enacted by Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor and Piyush Mishra are no patch on the veterans they replace. Plus, the script has been mutilated badly in an attempt to better it (old classics can’t be bettered). The film opened low despite a weak opposition. And, the film has managed to collect just Rs 13.5 crore for its opening weekend.
Rang Rasiya, an attempt to sell some nudity in the name of an artistic biopic about a celebrated artist Raja Ravi Varma, has not worked. Biopics about known recent heroes don’t work with our audience and this film working was a long shot. The film fares poorly, missing a first day crore by miles and going onto end the weekend with a poor Rs 2.1 crore.
Super Nani fails at the box office. The subject, despite Rekha enacting the protagonist, is outdated and treated badly. The film has managed to collect a meagre Rs 2.75 crore in its first week.
Roar, a rare film on human vs man eater tigers in a game of survival offered some novelty value which was not enough to save it at the box office. Laden with heavy special effects, which costs dearly, the film has managed just Rs 7.85 crore in its first week.
Happy New Year, despite its negative reports, gets the advantage of poor oppositions and does better than merited in its second week. Even while on decline after its opening day, the film manages to collect Rs 32.4 crore in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 162.4 crore.
Haidar has added Rs 10 lakh in its fifth week to take its five week total to Rs 40.5 crore.
Bang Bang has collected Rs 15 lakh in its fifth week to take its five week total to Rs 145.75 crore.
Hindi
Edstead unveils ambitious H1 2026 content slate
New originals feature Adarsh Gourav in Northeast docu-series, Aditi Kotak in Next Class, and Adil Hussain in Stories of India.
MUMBAI: Edstead just dropped a content menu so rich it could make even the pickiest viewer say “encore” because when storytelling meets substance, the binge becomes inevitable. The fast-rising Mumbai-based studio, founded by Shekhar Bhattacharjee, today revealed its H1 2026 slate, a bold expansion of premium non-fiction that blends cultural depth, innovation, and legacy into cinematic factual narratives. The lineup cements Edstead’s niche at the crossroads of authenticity and global appeal, delivering research-driven stories that stay rooted in the Indian experience while aiming for wider resonance.
Headlining the fresh originals:
- An untitled docu-series starring Bollywood actor Adarsh Gourav, who journeys through Northeast India to spotlight living cultural traditions, indigenous voices, music, oral histories, and everyday resilience. Presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment as integration partner.
- Next Class, an eight-episode impact series fronted by entrepreneur and former Miss India Aditi Kotak, decoding career pathways, emerging fields, and real-world outcomes through leading institutions and forward-thinking disciplines.
- Stories of India with Adil Hussain, India’s first weekly OTT series dedicated to social impact, profiling organisations driving meaningful change and connecting purpose with tangible results.
- Toast to Tomorrow, exploring how leading alcohol brands craft immersive, culture-led experiences that celebrate regional identities and redefine legacy.
- No Cap Abroad – UAE Edition, following Indian students through their first week at UAE colleges—navigating homesickness, culture shock, and independence in a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.
Edstead is also returning with expanded seasons of breakout hits, The Future School (progressive Indian education), Molecules of Hope (healthcare innovation), and Great Indian Residential Schools.
Edstead founder Shekhar Bhattacharjee said, “At Edstead, we are focused on building narratives that carry depth, context, and long-term relevance. Every project begins with research and a clear purpose… Our ambition is to create globally competitive factual content from India that remains culturally grounded while shaping conversations, inspiring trust, and contributing to the growing culture economy.”
From education and healthcare to enterprise and cultural revival, the slate reflects Edstead’s full-stack approach developing original IPs and guiding them through a robust distribution network spanning digital, OTT, and broadcast. In a content world chasing quick trends, Edstead is quietly betting on stories built to last, ones that don’t just entertain, but linger long after the credits roll.
