Hindi
Mani Shankar set to make film on RTI
MUMBAI: Filmmaker Mani Shankar, known for the films like Knock-Out, 16 December and Mukhbiir, is all set to direct a film on the Right to Information (RTI) Act said to be one of the biggest political thrillers ever attempted in India.
The filmmaker who claims to have deep contacts in the bureaucracy has apparently chanced upon shocking and unbelievable details on the RTI issue that involves the entire government machinery.
“The RTI Act is very important for all of us, but it is horribly flawed. So many innocent, courageous people have died simply because they have asked difficult questions. I want to dedicate this film to those who have lost their lives for asking powerful politicians uncomfortable questions,” Shankar has been quoted in media reports.
To kick off his film, the director has decided to get Julian Assange to sound the first ‘clap‘. If it works out, this will be the first time ever when Assange, whether from Sweden or London, will give the “clap” for a film made in India through a cyber-optic camera.
It is said that Shankar has also asked Arvind Kejriwal to give the clap in India. “To me Julian Assange and Arvind Kejriwal are the two faces of the RTI,” Shankar quipped.
Shankar has already approached actors Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan to be part of the film‘s cast. He also wants to rope in either John Abraham or Ranbir Kapoor to essay the third character in the film.
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.
