Hindi
Oh My God is 4th Bollywood film to be banned in the UAE
Mumbai: Though the Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal-starrer Oh My God (OMG ) has been released all over India today, the film is the latest to have been banned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Earlier films that were banned in the UAE were Pankaj Kapur‘s Mausam, Vikram Bhatt‘s Raaz 3 and Sachin Yardi‘s Kya Super Kool Hain Hum. Needless to say that filmmakers are alarmed. It is also said that the Hindi film industry has incurred losses to the tune of a whopping Rs 20 crore in just the past one year, because of UAE‘s actions.
Similarly, the makers of OMG Oh My God were shocked to learn of the ban on Monday.
It all started in July last year when Mausam, a love story between an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot ( Shahid Kapoor) and a Kashmiri woman ( Sonam Kapoor) was replaced at the last minute by a Hollywood film in theatres across UAE.
Next, in August 2012, Kya Super Kool Hain Hum produced by Ekta Kapoor, got the axe in Kuwait and Muscat. This was just after the Bandra Police registered a FIR (First Information Report) against the film for having hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community. Apparently, the film featured a priest in a cassock with cross around his neck and rosary in hand, solemnizing the marriage of two dogs and later sprinkling holy water, which didn‘t go down well with the community.
Earlier this month, Raaz 3 that opened to packed houses in India, was banned in the UAE; the reason being: the sexually explicit content and portrayal of the spiritual world that didn‘t cut ice with the Censors in that country.So much so, that the production hose Vishesh Films ended up losing up to Rs 5 crore in the bargain.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
