Hindi
Dig into storehouse of Indian stories for films: Dibakar Banerjee
NEW DELHI: Perhaps the largest contribution that the media including cinema can make to promote Brand India is to make positive and realistic films that also touch upon the developments taking place in various fields.
This was one of the main points of consensus that emerged in a panel discussion ‘Brand India : Determining the Future’ organized by NewsX (which is being renamed from next month as IMN News) in collaboration with the CEO Club of India before an invited audience.
It was also generally agreed that irrespective of whether India wins many medals or not, the forthcoming Commonwealth Games will help improve the image of the country and prepare it to host other international sporting events, apart from creating greater sportsmanship.
Those who took part included Union Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, National Films award winner Dibakar Banerjee, KPMG India Head of Advisory Richard Rekhy, Collage Sports Management Latika Khaneja and renowned surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan. The discussion was moderated by NewsX head Jehangir S Pocha.
Banerjee said there was greater need to make films on contemporary India that reflects reality. Bollywood has to work harder to make the kind of impact overseas that a Hollywood film does in India.
In answer to another question, he said it was common to artists in all countries that they were often not allowed to say what they wanted, but that should not deter them from attempting to do so.
He also stressed that India was such a rich storehouse of original stories that filmmakers did not need to take ideas from overseas for their films. Such films would win greater laurels overseas, he said.
But filmmakers appeared to be obsessed with either dreams, or the dreary period that society may be passing through at a particular time.
He said filmmakers were aware that they could not do very much to promote Brand India, but they could at least help in creating a oneness among Indians all over the world.
The hour-long discussion also discussed several other subjects relating to politics, economy and other matters.
Hindi
Dhurandhar 2 hit by YouTube leak amid record box office run
Cam-rip surfaces online but blockbuster streak continues at record pace
MUMBAI: It has been a dramatic week for Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Even as the espionage thriller smashes box office records, a piracy scare briefly threatened to steal its thunder after a full-length version surfaced on YouTube.
The leak emerged on March 30 via a channel titled “A2z movie”, which uploaded what appeared to be a cam-recorded print of the film. Clocking in at nearly three hours and 49 minutes, the footage was reportedly blurry but complete enough to spark spoilers and fan outrage online.
Soon after, users on X began flagging the issue, explicitly naming the “A2z movie” channel in their posts while tagging the film’s makers and urging swift legal action. Fans of director Aditya Dhar and lead star Ranveer Singh were particularly vocal, helping the issue gain rapid traction.
Within hours, the video was taken down, likely through a mix of platform detection systems and intervention by producers Jio Studios and B62 Studios.
Despite the leak, the film’s theatrical run remains virtually unshaken. As of March 31, the sequel has raked in an estimated Rs 872.17 crore net in India, with worldwide collections soaring to Rs 1,392.23 crore. Its Hindi opening day alone brought in Rs 102.55 crore, setting a new benchmark.
In a notable milestone, the film has matched Pushpa 2 as the fastest Indian release to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark globally, achieving the feat in just seven days.
Interestingly, the version leaked online is believed to be an earlier cut. Midway through its theatrical run, the makers issued revised prints after eagle-eyed viewers spotted a fleeting editing error involving a cameraman’s reflection. The corrected version now plays across cinemas, adding an unusual twist to the film’s release journey.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the high-stakes sequel stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun. The film has drawn praise for its scale and action sequences, though some critics have pointed to its intense violence and layered political themes.
For now, piracy may have made noise, but it has not slowed the juggernaut. If anything, the episode underlines the film’s cultural grip, proving that even a leak cannot derail a box office storm already in full force.
