Hindi
Eros ups Jyoti Deshpande to CEO and MD
MUMBAI: In his bid to split his role as chairman and CEO of Eros International Plc, Kishore Lulla has handed over the role of Group CEO and managing director to Jyoti Deshpande. He will, however, continue to drive the vision and strategy of the Group as executive chairman.
Deshpande, a director of Eros International Plc since 2006, was Group COO and commercial director before being promoted.
Says Kishore Lulla, “Having worked closely with Jyoti since 1998 when we set up B4U as well as later in Eros, I am delighted that she has agreed to take up the responsibility of Group CEO. She has been an integral part of Eros‘s exciting growth journey and I have seen her rise through the ranks with us. This move acknowledges her significant contribution to Eros‘s success over the years and her knowledge and passion for the business. I would like to take this opportunity to wish her the very best in her new role and I am confident the Group will continue to thrive under her leadership.”
Eros plans to raise Rs 3.50 billion via an initial public offering in India.
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.
