Movies
Karnataka film producers association plans protest rally
BANGALORE: Karnataka Film Producers Association (KFPA) has called for a rally on 9 August, protesting the government’s decision to reduce entertainment tax from 70 per cent to 40 per cent for non-Kannada films.
The association had also been demanding that the government should extend subsidy to all the Kannada films produced in the state, with the exception of remakes and sex and violence-dominated films.
Though KFPA has asked prominent Kannada actors to participate in the rally, their confirmation is still awaited. Hence, till the time of filing of this report, industry sources were unsure whether the rally would be held or not.
Fresh Kannada films have a benefit of no entertainment tax at all being levied on them, while remakes are taxed at a reduced rate of 30 per cent. A section of the producers would like this 30 per cent entertainment tax also to be waived, while some others would like it to continue.
On an average, Karanataka film industry has been producing 80 to 90 movies annually. But for Karnataka, which has the maximum number of cinema halls in the South, this is not at all a sufficient figure. Also, some producers are often reluctant to release their movies in certain theaters in the state. In such a scenario, theater owners cannot do away with non-Kannada films.
The Karnataka Theater Owners Association (KTOA) has approved the deputy chief minister’s decision to bring down the entertainment tax. They would also like the government to re-introduce the service tax of Rs1.50 per ticket, which could be utilised for improving the theatre conditions.
Some industry sources feel that reduction of entertainment tax would improve compliance and the tax collections and make more exhibitors to come forward and declare correct ticket sales figures. But another section feels that lower tax declarations and collections would force the government to reverse its decision to bring down entertainment tax.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
