MAM
Anupama Chopra’s digital entertainment platform ‘Film Companion’ turns five today
MUMBAI: Five years back, the entertainment universe got a new platform which took over all spheres to provide us a wholesome deal of narratives and perspectives. Film Companion is a pan-Indian platform for entertainment journalism which offers a 360-degree coverage on everything that’s trending in pop culture. Helmed under the aiges of Anupama Chopra, the main focus of the platform is films ranging across the world of Bollywood, Hollywood, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi and Bengali.
With an aim at keeping the audience up to date with the what’s happening around, Film Companion carries reviews, interviews, features and masterclasses around cinema while also, covering television, short films, web series, stand-up comedy, cinema-related books and music- which has been a treat to the audience over these five years!
Expressing her journey through the five years, Anupama Chopra shares, “Film Companion has been a great adventure. The dream was to create a pan-Indian entertainment platform. It’s been a joy to toil in the trenches with my wonderful colleagues. I have learned so much from all of them. I genuinely think that barriers between the many exciting film industries in India are disappearing. And we at Film Companion are here to celebrate all industries and all cinemas.”
Holding a massive influence across social media with the pop culture relevance, Film Companion has over 8 lakh subscribers across two YouTube channels – Film Companion and Film Companion South (headed by National-Award winning journalist Baradwaj Rangan). Over the years, many of the interviews under the banner have triggered larger conversations about the industry bringing a narrative shift towards a more inclusive and entertaining time.
Some of FC’s most talked-about interviews are Roundtable with leading stand-up comics on gender equality and competition in the industry. Secondly, the story of Mumbai watchman Savi Sidhu’s tryst with movies along with a roundtable with film producers on the content crisis in Bollywood as a separate evening.
Also, very recently, the interview with Sandeep Reddy Vanga post-release of Kabir Singh was another hit amongst the audience.
Film Companion is led by founder and editor Anupama Chopra, who has over 25 years of experience in entertainment journalism which continues to be the driving force behind the successful five years and the times to come!
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
