Hindi
Disney India and Anil Kapoor team up to produce ‘Khoobsurat’
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Studios has announced its next film ‘Khoobsurat’, a wholesome family entertainer in association with actor-producer Anil Kapoor and producer Rhea Kapoor. The film is being directed by writer and an ace ad-film director Shashank Ghosh and will star Sonam Kapoor in the lead role.
The film has great ensemble cast which includes Kirron Kher, Ratna Pathak Shah and Amir Raza Hussain. The film narrates the story of Mili (Sonam Kapoor), an exuberant, vivacious and fun girl, who turns the lives of a royal family upside down.
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For a long time now we were looking for a script with Disney’s values and we’re happy to have found that in ‘Khoobsurat’. A delightful film, I believe that ‘Khoobsurat’ is entertainment with a heart. We are also looking forward to working with Anil Kapoor Film Company on this lovely film,” said Disney UTV senior creative director – studios Rucha Pathak.
“We are so excited to bring you ‘Khoobsurat’ with Disney India. Disney always stood for wholesome and heartwarming entertainment and we look forward to creating that with this film as well. Shashank’s take on the film is unexpected, colourful and fun everything you find in your favourite Disney movie!” added producer Rhea Kapoor.
The film went on the floors recently in Bikaner, Rajasthan and will hit the screens by mid-2014.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
