News Broadcasting
UTV’s three film projects go on floor
MUMBAI: Integrated media major UTV has kicked off the production of three of its films. Projects titled Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh, Blue Umbrella and D are currently on the floor.
The first of its productions Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh, is being directed by Chandan Arora. To be co-produced by UTV with Star, the movie, currently being shot in Lucknow, introduces model Neetu Chandra with Rajpal Yadav and Kay Kay Menon, informs an official release.
Second in line – Blue Umbrella is an adaptation of a Ruskin Bond novel, to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. Featuring Pankaj Kapoor in the title role, the movie is being shot in Dalhousie.
The third production, which is being shot in Mumbai, is in association with Ram Gopal Varma. A prequel to his previous hit, Company, D is being directed by newcomer Vishram Sawant, and stars the Monsoon Wedding fame Randeep Hooda. Varma is quoted in the official release as saying, “My reason for teaming up with UTV is because of my immense belief in their marketing sensibilities and aggressiveness in promoting innovative cinema.”
UMP, the Motion Picture Division of UTV is in the scripting and casting stage for three projects to be directed by David Dhawan, Prakash Jha, Aatish Kapadia/JD. Active discussions are also on with directors like Milan Luthria, Somnath Sen, Priyadarsan, Samir Karnik and Ken Ghosh, among others, adds the release.
The budgets of all these projects vary from Rs 50 million – Rs 250 million. They will be committed to production in early 2005, mostly simultaneously, giving an added boost to the studio model, the release states.
UMP’s distribution model also kicks in with UTV’s own co-production of Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades, Mahesh Dattani’s Morning Raga and Mahesh Manjrekar’s Virudh among others.
Says UTV’s Motion Picture Division general manager Ram Mirchandani, “Our focus and time is disproportionately spent on script whetting, feedback and even research with focused groups.”
“Our Indian and international distribution model is completely in place and our planned agenda of distributing at least a movie a month worldwide from March/April next year is very much on track,” chips in film distribution division vice chairman Sanjeev Mehta.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
