Hindi
Eros to invest Rs 2.8 bn to fund 11 movies
MUMBAI: Eros International Ltd, which has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in India, has earmarked a budget of Rs 2.8 billion to fund 11 movies in Hindi, Tamil and Marathi.
The 11 titles include four each in Hindi and Marathi while three are in Tamil. Eros already has deployed Rs 254.10 million in respect of the Hindi film projects, according to information provided till 24 December.
Among the Hindi projects are three co-productions- Anjana Anjaanee, Desi Boys and a untitled project with Saif Ali Khan. The company has also acquired a Red Chillies Entertainment’s untitled movie starring Shah Rukh Khan.
Eros International has inked co-production deals for Marathi movies like Punha Dhakka, Haapus, Shodh and Phakt Ladh Mhana.
The company has also acquired Tamil movies like Murattu Kalai (remake), Arjunan Kaadhal, and Krishna Leelai.
Eros‘ business model is to release at least 50 movies a year. For the fiscal ended 31 March 2009, the company released 19 Hindi and 75 regional language films. In the year prior to that, Eros released 23 Hindi and 42 regional language films.
Eros International Media, a subsidiary of Aim-listed Eros International Plc, plans to raise Rs 3.5 billion via an IPO.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
