Hindi
Salt grosses Rs 78 million in opening weekend
MUMBAI: Angelina Jolie‘s latest film Salt that opened in India with 464 prints in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu simultaneously on 23 July became the star‘s biggest opening film in India when it garnered Rs 78 million in its opening weekend.
The success of the espionage thriller that released on 23 July has cemented Jolie‘s position as an action star comparable to James Bond and Bourne. It opened with a solid $36m at the US box office.
Said Sony Pictures India MD Kercy Daruwala, “The film has done great business thanks to Angelina Jolie‘s appeal with both men and women. Moreover, the spy genre has always appealed to Indian audiences. In fact this looks like it could be the highest grossing female-led Hollywood film in India.”
Salt follows the tremendous success of Sony Pictures‘ The Karate Kid which is still continuing a long run at the box-office in its seventh week.
Sony Pictures‘ next releases are the $150m plus Adam Sandler comedy Grown Ups on 13 August as well as the studio‘s next four-language release, Resident Evil: Afterlife, in 3D that will release on 10 September. This will be followed shortly by the much-awaited Julia Roberts starrer Eat Pray Love in October.
Hindi
Kayhan Entertainment shifts focus to original IP creation
New studio founded by VFX veterans aims to build globally scalable Indian stories.
MUMBAI: India’s VFX talent has long helped Hollywood create blockbusters now a new studio wants to write the stories as well as the special effects. Kayhan Entertainment Private Limited is entering its next phase of growth as a next-generation storytelling studio focused on creating original intellectual property for global audiences. Founded by Dalbir Singh and Arushi Govil, the studio blends strong storytelling with world-class VFX and CGI across films, television, advertising and digital platforms.
While India has established itself as a global hub for VFX and animation services, Kayhan is making a strategic shift from pure execution to IP ownership. The studio aims to move beyond project-based work and develop culturally rooted content designed to travel internationally, while remaining open to strategic collaborations.
Dalbir Singh, with over 15 years of experience in VFX and filmmaking, has contributed to major global productions including Avengers: Endgame, Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Venom. He leads creative direction at Kayhan. Arushi Govil brings deep production expertise from leading studios such as MPC, Framestore and DNEG, having worked on Tenet, Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Brahmastra.
A key milestone for the studio was the launch of its first IP, Chote Tara Ka Bada Gadar, on Kids Zee in 2025. Kayhan is now expanding its slate with FAB 5, an original animated series that combines action, humour and emotional storytelling while promoting teamwork, courage and kindness. The fast-paced episodic format is positioned for long-term franchise potential across platforms.
Dalbir Singh, Co-Founder, said the studio’s primary focus is building an IP-led creative enterprise, while remaining open to the right collaborations. Arushi Govil, Co-Founder, added: “As we scale, our focus is on building the right mix of talent and capability… At Kayhan, we are investing in people as much as we are in IP, bringing together global experience and emerging creators to build stories that can compete at an international level.”
Looking ahead, Kayhan plans to evolve into a broader IP-led ecosystem spanning media, consumer products, education, talent development and immersive experiences such as AR and VR. The studio also intends to establish an IP incubator and develop transmedia storytelling formats.
From blockbuster VFX credits to building its own story universe, Kayhan Entertainment is stepping into the spotlight with a clear ambition, to create Indian IP that doesn’t just shine on screen, it travels the world.
