Movies
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ wins big at the UK-Asian Film Festival 2024
Mumbai: The debut Directorial of actor Anshuman Jha – ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ – bagged him the ‘BEST Director’ award & his leading man Arjun Mathur the ‘Best Actor’ Award at the prestigious UK-Asian Film Festival 2024.
The black comedy thriller – which has been having a wonderful festival run over the past 6 months – got a standing ovation at packed theatre at the historic Regent Street cinema in London last Saturday.
And the team was present to feel the audience loved. Says Anshuman ‘This win feels like a full circle for it has come in the UK. The film is about Asians in the West, identity, immigrants – thereby we are thrilled on the win in London. Because we shot the film in the UK & have been travelling with it around the world & now to win at our British Premiere is something I am truly grateful for. Especially for Arjun because I truly feel this film is one of his finest, if not, his best performance. Films need to entertain and ask questions. Can’t wait for it to release later this year.’
Lord Curzon is the first mainstream Indian feature films which has been entirely shot on a single lens technique & has been garnering applause around the world for it.
Hollywood
Iger’s final act: Disney boss wraps up epic saga with a new captain at the helm
After 15 turbulent years, two stints in the c-suite, and billions spent on blockbuster acquisitions, Bob Iger is stepping away from the Magic Kingdom.
CALIFORNIA: The 75-year-old chief, hailed as one of the most transformative leaders in modern media, officially hands over to former parks chief Josh D’Amaro on 18 March. And this time, he’s getting the succession right.
Iger’s legacy glitters with big bets and epic wins: the $7.4bn Pixar buy, $4bn Marvel swoop, and the colossal $71bn 21st Century Fox deal. He dragged Disney into the streaming age, fought off activist investor Nelson Peltz, and saw off a political scrap with Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
But it hasn’t all been pixie dust. The forced return of Iger in 2022—after the short, shaky reign of successor Bob Chapek—tarnished an otherwise stellar run.
Now, D’Amaro takes the wheel with a streamlined leadership team and Disney firing on all cylinders. The firm’s streaming business is in the black, theme-park attendance is soaring, and five global films have hit $1billion at the box office in the past two years. Not bad for a firm that was on the ropes just months ago.
D’Amaro’s first move? A slick reorg under new president and chief creative officer Dana Walden, folding film, tv, streaming and gaming into one punchy unit. Sean Shoptaw, heading up the gaming division, now reports directly to Walden—bringing Fortnite and Epic Games collaborations closer to Disney’s creative heart.
Iger isn’t sailing off into the sunset just yet. He’ll keep busy with Angel City FC, the women’s football club he owns with his wife. And as Ann Mooney Murphy of Stevens Institute predicts: “A guy like that never truly retires.”
One era ends. Another begins. And the House of Mouse bets big on a future beyond the king.
