Hindi
Is B’wood moving towards equality?
MUMBAI: It has been spoken about many times, but this year seems to attest that Bollywood is actually shunning gender-biases and is moving towards equality. That is what is evident from the movies releasing this year. Many movies of the year are giving prominence to its female actors.
While Parineeti Chopra’s character in Hasee Toh Phasee is a well-etched out role with eccentricities that makes it stand out among all the other characters in the film (even the hero Siddharth Malhotra), in this week’s release – Highway – Alia’s character has been written with similar fervor as well. In fact, Alia’s father and one of the most lauded filmmakers of the country – Mahesh Bhatt – thinks that Alia has ‘lived’ the role of her lifetime.
“Thank you Imtiaz Ali for making Alia ‘live’ the role of her life time. The women of our country will empathise with this heartfelt tale,” wrote Bhatt on Facebook.
In the months to come, Bollywood is going to spring up many such surprises where women will get a chance to not just live their lives but raise the bar too. Many movies with strong women characters and centered around women are going to make a mark at the big screen.
There’s Queen starring Kangana Ranaut that tells the story of a girl whose wedding is called off when her fiancé passes away and she, instead of crying over her situation, decides to move on. The focus of the film is on the character growing up as an individual.
Another one in the pipeline is Gulaab Gang starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla among host of other female actors. Again a woman-centric film based around the activist group Gulaabi Gang, shows how women have started getting prominence in the film industry with diverse being written for them.
One of the other movies being looked forward to is Bobby Jasoos starring Vidya Balan in which she portrays the character of a sleuth. The film is not just being anticipated as Indian cinema’s answer to detective films but probably is also one of the first in India to be bringing in a female actor to play a sleuth.
Mary Kom’s biopic with Priyanka Chopra portraying the sportstar in the film is another addition to the list. While biopics are any way not too regular in India, one on a female sportstar is something very rare. And thus this is one movie that every movie buff is waiting for, especially after Irrfan and Farhan Akhtar have raised the bar of getting in to the skin of the real life people they portrayed in Paan Singh Tomar and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Priyanka is surely being watched out for in this upcoming movie.
Doesn’t it seem to be a great year for women in the film industry?
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.
