Hindi
Kaushik Ghatak to direct Samrat And Co for Rajshri Productions
MUMBAI: Rajshri Productions‘ Kavita Barjatya is all set to produce Hindi cinema‘s first detective saga filled with suspense and adventure. Titled Samrat And Co, the movie will be directed by Kaushik Ghatak.
What‘s more, the movie may also see Rajshri Productions branching off a new wing under which the movie will be produced. Rajshri is looking at making Samrat And Co a dedicated detective franchisee in Bollywood.
Specially targeting India‘s young audiences, Barjatya has embarked on bringing to Bollywood, the first of its kind detective franchisee, wherein the very nuances of crime solving, human nature and the world of standalone private investigators will be presented on the big screen.
Barjatya said, "Today is a wonderful time for cinema… People are ready to accept different stories, different genres, different characters and a different treatment. Today we can tell the story which we wish too and not be caught up in boundaries of formulas… We have also seen that the uniqueness of the concept is the driving force in today‘s films. When Kaushikji narrated me a couple of subjects, this one really excited me. I have known and worked with Kaushik ji since 2004. He has directed most of my TV shows and they were all landmarks. Hope to create the magic on big screen now. It‘s going to be a challenge to cater to the typical Rajshri‘s family audiences as well as today‘s youth".
Ghatak added, "Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Feluda, Byomkesh Bokshi, etc were my best friends since childhood, of course through their books… I have grown up with this genre. Their adventures always fascinated me… For a very long time I wanted to create a detective in our very own Bollywood cinema…but in our own style which is apt for our entertainment – loving hindi movie goers. Thanks to Kavitaji, with whom I have shared a long and wonderful working relationship, for understanding this new kind of cinema and making it happen".
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
