Hindi
Mike Pandey documentary has wildlife species protected
MUMBAI: For the fourth time, an endangered wildlife species has been given protection by the Government, thanks to a documentary film by the renowned filmmaker Mike Pandey.
Following the persistent efforts following the film, Timeless Traveler- the horseshoe Crab, believed to be the oldest living being on earth (reportedly older than the dinosaurs), has been put under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Act. This means that it can be used for research but cannot be killed or poached by anyone including private collectors.
The crab has been considered important to humanity as scientists want to know how it has survived for millions of years.
Timeless Traveller – the horseshoe crab was made by a team of young filmmakers like Gautam Pandey, Arjun Pandey and Doel Trivedy and produced by Mike‘s production house.
The documentary was awarded two prestigious international awards at the Albert Festival in 2005: the ‘Best Film for Protection Of Wildlife‘ award and the ‘Best Film for Protection Of Marine Life.‘
Earlier, Mike‘s films on wild elephants The Last Migration – Wild Elephant Capture in Sarguja in 1994, on whale sharks Shores of Silence – Whale Sharks in India and on vultures Broken Wings had led the government to act to protect these species.
Recently, the ‘Time‘ magazine listed him at the third place in its list of Environment Heroes of the Twentieth Century.
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.
