Hindi
Shakti Samanta passes away at 83
MUMBAI: Noted Hindi filmmaker Shakti Samanta passed away today at 6.30 pm, creating a void in the film industry. He was 83.
Samanta was recovering from a stroke. His funeral would be held at Santacruz crematorium at 10.30 am tomorrow, a family member said.
Samanta churned out several box-office hits like Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Aradhana and An Evening in Paris.
In all, Samanta directed 43 feature films, including 37 Hindi and 6 Bengali films.
Says yesteryear film actress Asha Parekh, “Today has turned out to be a very bad day for me. I cannot believe that this down-to-earth person is not amongst us anymore. A wonderful human being, Shaktida had a lot of music sense and was instrumental in dishing out memorable music in all his films. My hearty condolence to the entire Samanta family.”
Samanta is credited for starting the trend of making double-version films in Hindi and Bengali with Amanush in 1974. He also made the first co-produced film between India and Bangladesh in 1984.
Incidentally, Samanta was the former president of Indian Motion Pictures Association of India (IMPAA).
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
