iWorld
Amit Khan, the celebrated novelist and OTT creator, is now stepping strongly into the fast-rising world of micro-drama series
Known for more than a hundred published novels across Hindi, English, Punjabi, and Bangla, Amit Khan began his literary career at just 12 and published his first novel at 15. His hit series Commander Karan Saxena and Reeta Sanyal were adapted into successful web series on Jio Hotstar, while Bichhoo Ka Khel, produced by Ekta Kapoor, also became a major success.
After three superhit web series, Amit Khan is now expanding his creative universe. Several micro-dramas based on his stories are currently under production. His first two micro-drama series — Paagal Ishq and Gabbar Ka Game for Amazon MX Player — have already been shot, and more than ten new micro-dramas for various platforms will begin shooting soon.
Amit Khan explains that micro-dramas are designed for today’s fast-moving audience. Shot in reel format, every episode is just two minutes long, with rapid storytelling meant for instant binge-watching.
Speaking about Paagal Ishq, now streaming on Amazon MX Player, he describes it as a supernatural love story taken to shocking extremes — where a boy, madly in love, commits suicide and his spirit enters the body of the man whom the girl loves, allowing him to marry her even after death. The series uses extensive VFX and AI for a striking visual experience.
Amit Khan is confident about the future of micro-dramas. With over 576 million global viewers in 2024 and rising popularity in China, Korea, and the USA, he believes India is on the verge of a similar boom. According to him, micro-dramas are like the T20 or T10 format of cricket — extremely fast, extremely entertaining, perfect for smartphone audiences.
With two projects completed and ten more in the pipeline, Amit Khan aims to deliver premium, world-class short-format storytelling. “I want to create content that isn’t just a good story, but visually spectacular and at par with international standards,” he says.
Amit Khan’s entry into micro-dramas marks the beginning of a bold new chapter in Indian short-form entertainment.
iWorld
Meta warns 200 users after fake Whatsapp spyware attack
Italy-targeted campaign used unofficial app to deploy surveillance spyware.
MUMBAI: It looked like a message, but it behaved like a mole. Meta has warned around 200 users most of them in Italy after uncovering a targeted spyware campaign that weaponised a fake version of WhatsApp to infiltrate devices. The attack, first reported by Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, relied on classic social engineering with a modern twist: persuading users to download an unofficial WhatsApp clone embedded with surveillance software. The malicious application, believed to be developed by Italian firm SIO through its subsidiary ASIGINT, was designed to mimic the real app closely enough to bypass suspicion.
Meta’s security teams identified roughly 200 individuals who may have installed the compromised version, triggering immediate countermeasures. Affected users were logged out of their accounts and issued alerts warning of potential privacy breaches, with the company describing the incident as a “targeted social engineering attempt” aimed at gaining device-level access.
The malicious app was not distributed via official app stores but circulated through third-party channels, where it was presented as a legitimate WhatsApp alternative. Once installed, it reportedly allowed external operators to access sensitive data stored on the device turning a simple download into a potential surveillance gateway.
According to Techcrunch, Meta is now preparing legal action against the spyware developers to curb further misuse. The company, however, has not disclosed details about the specific individuals targeted or the extent of data compromised.
A Whatsapp spokesperson reiterated that user safety remains the top priority, particularly for those misled into installing the fake iOS application. Meanwhile, reports from La Repubblica suggest the spyware may be linked to “Spyrtacus”, a strain previously associated with Android-based attacks that could intercept calls, activate microphones and even access cameras.
The episode underscores a growing reality in the digital age, the threat is no longer just what you download, but where you download it from. As unofficial apps become increasingly convincing, the line between communication tool and covert surveillance is getting harder to spot and far easier to exploit.
