Hindi
Marathi film on surrogacy has Americans in stellar roles
MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of Marathi films, debutante filmmaker Samrouddhi Porey has cast Americans in stellar roles.
The film titled Mala Aai Vhayacha Ahe is made on the issue of surrogacy in India. The subject is about India becoming the hotspot for childless foreigners looking for surrogate mother.
The movie has four-year old lead actor Aiden Barkley speaking Marathi throughout the film. There are two other foreigners in the film, Stacy Bee and Mat Barkley, father of Aiden.
Porey hesitates to divulge any details of the story saying that ‘the issue is very sensitive’. To a query as to how did she spot Aiden, Porey says, “ I spotted the boy in the market and immediately knew he was my lead. Though everyone tried to dissuade me doubting Aiden’s ability to speak Marathi, I went ahead and managed to convince his parents to give it a shot. And the rest is history.”
After months of working, Porey came to know that Aiden was born through a surrogate mother. Wasn’t she afraid that the touchy topic might hurt local sentiments? Porey explains, “ When making a film, we don’t intentionally want to hurt anybody’s feelings. However, it’s possible that after release, some people might get offended.”
Hindi
Kayhan Entertainment shifts focus to original IP creation
New studio founded by VFX veterans aims to build globally scalable Indian stories.
MUMBAI: India’s VFX talent has long helped Hollywood create blockbusters now a new studio wants to write the stories as well as the special effects. Kayhan Entertainment Private Limited is entering its next phase of growth as a next-generation storytelling studio focused on creating original intellectual property for global audiences. Founded by Dalbir Singh and Arushi Govil, the studio blends strong storytelling with world-class VFX and CGI across films, television, advertising and digital platforms.
While India has established itself as a global hub for VFX and animation services, Kayhan is making a strategic shift from pure execution to IP ownership. The studio aims to move beyond project-based work and develop culturally rooted content designed to travel internationally, while remaining open to strategic collaborations.
Dalbir Singh, with over 15 years of experience in VFX and filmmaking, has contributed to major global productions including Avengers: Endgame, Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Venom. He leads creative direction at Kayhan. Arushi Govil brings deep production expertise from leading studios such as MPC, Framestore and DNEG, having worked on Tenet, Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Brahmastra.
A key milestone for the studio was the launch of its first IP, Chote Tara Ka Bada Gadar, on Kids Zee in 2025. Kayhan is now expanding its slate with FAB 5, an original animated series that combines action, humour and emotional storytelling while promoting teamwork, courage and kindness. The fast-paced episodic format is positioned for long-term franchise potential across platforms.
Dalbir Singh, Co-Founder, said the studio’s primary focus is building an IP-led creative enterprise, while remaining open to the right collaborations. Arushi Govil, Co-Founder, added: “As we scale, our focus is on building the right mix of talent and capability… At Kayhan, we are investing in people as much as we are in IP, bringing together global experience and emerging creators to build stories that can compete at an international level.”
Looking ahead, Kayhan plans to evolve into a broader IP-led ecosystem spanning media, consumer products, education, talent development and immersive experiences such as AR and VR. The studio also intends to establish an IP incubator and develop transmedia storytelling formats.
From blockbuster VFX credits to building its own story universe, Kayhan Entertainment is stepping into the spotlight with a clear ambition, to create Indian IP that doesn’t just shine on screen, it travels the world.
