Hindi
IIFA to help Sri Lanka build brand internationally
COLOMBO: Bollywood is not just limited to India anymore. It is now an international extravaganza!
For instance, ask any Sri Lankan who their favourite actors are (without naming the industry you are referring to) and they almost jump off their seats to say “of course Amitabh Bachchan.” It is almost unanimous. Shah Rukh Khan is, no doubt, the heartthrob of the pearl island while just a tiny mention of Aamir‘s name can bring a glee on their Bollywood-bright face.
The government of this isle knows this truth well and therefore, through IIFA, expects to garner massive international coverage, showcasing the country as the destination of choice for business enterprise and tourism.
“IIFA will do a lot of good to brand Sri Lanka. India is an extremely important market for us as almost 20 per cent of our tourists come from this land. Also, as Bollywood films are always on the lookout for new locales to shoot, Sri Lanka could become the next stop for various film shoots. Additionally, Bollywood is no more an Indian affair and neither is IIFA. The event will be showcased to at least 600 million viewers and will give us an opportunity to put brand Sri Lanka before the rest of the world,” said Sri Lankan minister of economic development Basil Rajapaksa.
IIFA will also initiate engagement and discussion with the Sri Lanka Tourism for various projects, with a special focus on the north and east regions of the island.
Speaking on the way forward and growing importance of the Sri Lanka-India partnership, Wizcraft International director Sabbas Joseph said, “Our work with the Unicef, Habitat for Humanity and the discussions at the FICCI IIFA Global Business Forum, will bring focus to the development and reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. With the glamour quotient being at an all time high we are delighted that all roads lead to Colombo, as IIFA puts on a grand three day show in the heart of Sri Lanka. ”
Meanwhile, the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum presented by ERI (Environmental Resources Investment PLC) on 4 June will be inaugurated by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and will be addressed by respected personalities from the world of business, entertainment and cricket from India and Sri Lanka.
The speakers list include likes of Basil Rajapaksa; Sri Lanka Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal; Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha; Indian MP and former MoS External Affairs Shashi Tharoor; The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group chairperson Jyotsna Suri; Steria Ltd India CEO Mukesh Aghi; Micromax Mobile business director Vikas Jain and film producer Karan Johar will discuss the building of economic partnerships between India and Sri Lanka, investing and rebuilding the new North – East Sri Lanka and the future of ‘cricketainment’.
The event is co-sponsored by BOI and Green Lanka Shipping, while Hilton Colombo is the hospitality partner.
Hindi
Dhurandhar 2 hit by YouTube leak amid record box office run
Cam-rip surfaces online but blockbuster streak continues at record pace
MUMBAI: It has been a dramatic week for Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Even as the espionage thriller smashes box office records, a piracy scare briefly threatened to steal its thunder after a full-length version surfaced on YouTube.
The leak emerged on March 30 via a channel titled “A2z movie”, which uploaded what appeared to be a cam-recorded print of the film. Clocking in at nearly three hours and 49 minutes, the footage was reportedly blurry but complete enough to spark spoilers and fan outrage online.
Soon after, users on X began flagging the issue, explicitly naming the “A2z movie” channel in their posts while tagging the film’s makers and urging swift legal action. Fans of director Aditya Dhar and lead star Ranveer Singh were particularly vocal, helping the issue gain rapid traction.
Within hours, the video was taken down, likely through a mix of platform detection systems and intervention by producers Jio Studios and B62 Studios.
Despite the leak, the film’s theatrical run remains virtually unshaken. As of March 31, the sequel has raked in an estimated Rs 872.17 crore net in India, with worldwide collections soaring to Rs 1,392.23 crore. Its Hindi opening day alone brought in Rs 102.55 crore, setting a new benchmark.
In a notable milestone, the film has matched Pushpa 2 as the fastest Indian release to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark globally, achieving the feat in just seven days.
Interestingly, the version leaked online is believed to be an earlier cut. Midway through its theatrical run, the makers issued revised prints after eagle-eyed viewers spotted a fleeting editing error involving a cameraman’s reflection. The corrected version now plays across cinemas, adding an unusual twist to the film’s release journey.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the high-stakes sequel stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun. The film has drawn praise for its scale and action sequences, though some critics have pointed to its intense violence and layered political themes.
For now, piracy may have made noise, but it has not slowed the juggernaut. If anything, the episode underlines the film’s cultural grip, proving that even a leak cannot derail a box office storm already in full force.
