Hindi
Canada set to welcome Bollywood at IIFA awards this June
MUMBAI: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, having a viewership of between 700 million to 800 million globally, is also known as Bollywood’s Oscar equivalent.
Says IIFA director Sabbas Joseph, “We consider this a landmark event, huge in proportion. It is the highest-rated, most-watched Indian television event.”
“The difference between this and the Oscars is that our film stars sing and dance, compared to Hollywood stars. So the stars themselves provide the entertainment of the night,” he added.
But surprisingly, the IIFA now in its 12th year, have never been held in India. It was earlier held in countries like the U.K., South Africa, the Netherlands, Thailand, China and Sri Lanka.
That is why the organisers chose North America this time. It will be held in Ontario, Canada from 23 to 25 June. Events lined up at this year’s awards include a gala screening in Brampton, a major centre of Toronto’s Indian community; a music and fashion show for Canadian and Indian designers, including Indian singers and film stars and a convention in Toronto for Canadian and Indian businesses.
Anil Kapoor is currently in Toronto to promote the awards event in the country. Said Kapoor, “Because of the hyper-attention paid to Indian film stars, the focus on Toronto in the months to come will be no small affair. In India, public appearances by film stars often create massive crowds. “People from all ages react the same way. They all become like teenagers.”
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
