Hindi
Greek producer James Mimikos returns to Whistling Woods
MUMBAI: Ever since Whistling Woods International (WWI) introduced the ‘Short Course Unit’ this year, noted Greek producer James P Mimikos is back to the WWI campus for an intensive week-long workshop with students who have opted for ‘Film Production”.
Drawing upon his extensive experience in international co-productions, Mimikos laid emphasis on the skills required by the students as producers – from the development process right up to the post-production of a film project.
Says Mimikos, “Enough thought needs to be given even at the development stage about the potential of the film to bring in audiences and also match the budget. The task of a producer is to deliver a film on time and on budget.”
WWI’s ‘Short Course Unit’ has also conceptualised a workshop on ‘Fundamentals of Motion Picture Pre-production Skills‘ that will stress upon the importance of planning at the pre-production stage of a film project.
The workshop, which is aimed at line producers, executive producers and also assistant directors, will involve systematic working on a script, keeping in mind the time, the budget and also the quality of the film.
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.
