Hindi
UTV recovers cost before Goal release
MUMBAI: UTV Motion Pictures claims to have got close to Rs 160 million by selling a bunch of rights for its soon-to-be released Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal.
“We have recovered our cost of production even before Goal‘s worldwide theatrical release on 23 November. We have sold different rights and the revenue from the home video segment is based on projections. Bindass is our brand partner,” says UTV EVP marketing, distribution and syndication Siddharth Roy Kapur.
The cost recovery comes from syndication of satellite and music rights, territory pre-sales, home video, in-film advertising with brands like Reebok, Western Union and Gillete.
The music rights have been sold to T-Series. “We can‘t disclose whom we have sold the other rights to,” says Kapur.
So were the satellite telecast rights sold to Bindass? “We can‘t say anything at this stage,” says Kapur.
UTV has a joint venture with Malaysia‘s Astro for Bindass.
To promote the film, the star cast of Goal have appeared in reality talent shows like Nach Baliye3, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 2, Voice of India and Indian Idol 3.
As promotional campaign, Reebok, which sponsored the clothing line in the film, will retail the ‘Goal‘ range across 535 outlets in India. There will also be co-branded window-displays in Reebok showrooms promoting the ‘Goal‘ collection, which includes apparel and accessories related to football that figure in the movie.
UTV has also licensed the gaming rights for the film to Indiagames, which has tied up with FIFA to launch the Goal-FIFA challenge on the games-on-demand platform. UTV holds majority stake in Indiagames.
ESPN Star Sports will integrate the catch-line of ‘Goal – Duniya Goal Hai‘ to promote English Premier League matches to be telecast on ESPN in the month of November.
John Abraham and Bipasha Basu will promote the line on ESPN Star Sports through channel ID‘S all through November when the channel will run a contest to select five winners who get to watch an English Premier League match in the UK.
UTV has tied up with Zee Sports to organise the ‘Goal Bus Tour‘ in Delhi. The entire Goal team comprising the lead actors and other players of Southall Team have visited malls, schools and colleges in Delhi and interacted with their fans.
Hindi
Edstead unveils ambitious H1 2026 content slate
New originals feature Adarsh Gourav in Northeast docu-series, Aditi Kotak in Next Class, and Adil Hussain in Stories of India.
MUMBAI: Edstead just dropped a content menu so rich it could make even the pickiest viewer say “encore” because when storytelling meets substance, the binge becomes inevitable. The fast-rising Mumbai-based studio, founded by Shekhar Bhattacharjee, today revealed its H1 2026 slate, a bold expansion of premium non-fiction that blends cultural depth, innovation, and legacy into cinematic factual narratives. The lineup cements Edstead’s niche at the crossroads of authenticity and global appeal, delivering research-driven stories that stay rooted in the Indian experience while aiming for wider resonance.
Headlining the fresh originals:
- An untitled docu-series starring Bollywood actor Adarsh Gourav, who journeys through Northeast India to spotlight living cultural traditions, indigenous voices, music, oral histories, and everyday resilience. Presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment as integration partner.
- Next Class, an eight-episode impact series fronted by entrepreneur and former Miss India Aditi Kotak, decoding career pathways, emerging fields, and real-world outcomes through leading institutions and forward-thinking disciplines.
- Stories of India with Adil Hussain, India’s first weekly OTT series dedicated to social impact, profiling organisations driving meaningful change and connecting purpose with tangible results.
- Toast to Tomorrow, exploring how leading alcohol brands craft immersive, culture-led experiences that celebrate regional identities and redefine legacy.
- No Cap Abroad – UAE Edition, following Indian students through their first week at UAE colleges—navigating homesickness, culture shock, and independence in a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.
Edstead is also returning with expanded seasons of breakout hits, The Future School (progressive Indian education), Molecules of Hope (healthcare innovation), and Great Indian Residential Schools.
Edstead founder Shekhar Bhattacharjee said, “At Edstead, we are focused on building narratives that carry depth, context, and long-term relevance. Every project begins with research and a clear purpose… Our ambition is to create globally competitive factual content from India that remains culturally grounded while shaping conversations, inspiring trust, and contributing to the growing culture economy.”
From education and healthcare to enterprise and cultural revival, the slate reflects Edstead’s full-stack approach developing original IPs and guiding them through a robust distribution network spanning digital, OTT, and broadcast. In a content world chasing quick trends, Edstead is quietly betting on stories built to last, ones that don’t just entertain, but linger long after the credits roll.
