Hindi
Mike Pandey documentary has wildlife species protected
MUMBAI: For the fourth time, an endangered wildlife species has been given protection by the Government, thanks to a documentary film by the renowned filmmaker Mike Pandey.
Following the persistent efforts following the film, Timeless Traveler- the horseshoe Crab, believed to be the oldest living being on earth (reportedly older than the dinosaurs), has been put under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Act. This means that it can be used for research but cannot be killed or poached by anyone including private collectors.
The crab has been considered important to humanity as scientists want to know how it has survived for millions of years.
Timeless Traveller – the horseshoe crab was made by a team of young filmmakers like Gautam Pandey, Arjun Pandey and Doel Trivedy and produced by Mike‘s production house.
The documentary was awarded two prestigious international awards at the Albert Festival in 2005: the ‘Best Film for Protection Of Wildlife‘ award and the ‘Best Film for Protection Of Marine Life.‘
Earlier, Mike‘s films on wild elephants The Last Migration – Wild Elephant Capture in Sarguja in 1994, on whale sharks Shores of Silence – Whale Sharks in India and on vultures Broken Wings had led the government to act to protect these species.
Recently, the ‘Time‘ magazine listed him at the third place in its list of Environment Heroes of the Twentieth Century.
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.
