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Two’s company as Ratpack and Mad Man roll camera on fresh film pact
Nikhil Bhat and Saket Chaudhry set to helm two feature films under new tie-up.
MUMBAI: When filmmakers find the right co-producers, it is not just lights, camera, action, it is alignment. Ratpack Stories and Mad Man Films have come together in a new production partnership to jointly develop and produce two feature films, signalling a director-led collaboration built for the big screen.
The partnership will see two distinct feature projects developed in parallel, to be directed by Nikhil Bhat, whose cult action thriller Kill earned global attention, and Saket Chaudhry, best known for the commercially successful Hindi Medium. Both films are currently in development and are expected to span different genres, united by an emphasis on strong theatrical appeal and distinctive storytelling.
The collaboration brings together Mad Man Films, founded by producer Madhu Mantena, and Ratpack Stories, led by Kshitij Mehta. The partnership is supported by the wider ecosystem of Collective Artists Network, underlining its focus on creator-first, scalable content models.
Speaking on the collaboration, Collective Artists Network founder and group CEO Vijay Subramaniam said, “This collaboration reflects Collective’s focus on enabling long-term creative partnerships. Bringing together Mad Man Films and Ratpack Stories allows us to support ambitious producers and filmmakers while building scalable, creator-first content ecosystems.”
For Mantena, the partnership also marks a new chapter. He said, “Collective, under our founder Vijay’s leadership, is pushing boundaries in ways no Indian media company has before. The true scale of what he’s building will become clear in the coming years, and I’m excited to be part of that journey. After exiting Phantom last year, building a film production company from scratch again has been very intense and at times, lonely. Therefore I am very excited and happy that over the past few months, Kshitij and I have been collaborating on several films, he’s an outstanding producing partner. I’m confident this partnership will lead to some exceptional work.”
Mehta echoed the sentiment, noting that the alliance formalises a collaboration already in motion. “We have been collaborating creatively with Mad Man Films over the past few months, and formalising this partnership felt like a natural next step. With filmmakers like Nikhil and Saket, our shared intent is to back bold, distinctive stories that connect strongly with audiences,” he said.
With two films now in development and directors known for both critical credibility and box-office connect at the helm, the partnership positions itself as one to watch. Details around casting, timelines and release plans are expected to be announced in due course, but the intent is already clear: this is less about volume, and more about making every story count.
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ITC Sunfeast Farmlite launches Sugar Free Cookies range
New variants offer guilt-free indulgence for health-conscious snackers.
MUMBAI: ITC Sunfeast Farmlite is sweetening the deal for biscuit lovers who want to have their cookie and eat it too without the sugar. The better-for-you biscuits range from ITC Foods has expanded its portfolio with the launch of an all-new Sugar Free Cookies line, aligning with the company’s vision of ‘Help India Eat Better’. The range is designed for consumers who are rethinking sugar in their daily snacking but refuse to compromise on taste and indulgence.
The collection debuts with two tempting variants: Choco Nut Cookies and Hazelnut & Oats Cookies. Both are a source of protein and contain no trans-fat, while the Hazelnut & Oats variant is also lactose-free.
ITC Ltd. vice president (marketing), biscuits, foods division, Suraj Kathuria said, “At Sunfeast Farmlite, we believe mindful snacking should never come at the cost of indulgence. With this launch, we are catering to the growing need for guilt-free snacking while delivering a rich, satisfying cookie experience.”
ITC Ltd. vice president & head of food sciences for foods division Dr Shantanu Das added, “We have applied robust food science to develop cookies that are sugar-free while preserving the taste and texture consumers love.”
Each cookie comes in convenient single-serve packs to maintain texture and freshness. Both variants are available in 100g packs priced at ₹100 and can be found on quick-commerce platforms including Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto.
In a market increasingly leaning towards healthier choices, ITC Sunfeast Farmlite’s new Sugar Free Cookies prove that cutting sugar doesn’t mean cutting joy. For the health-conscious yet indulgent snacker, this could be the perfect bite-sized solution.
