Hindi
PVR defers acquisition of DLF’s cinema biz
MUMBAI: In a bid to end speculation over the proposed acquisition deal, Delhi-based cinema exhibition major PVR Ltd said Wednesday that the completion of DLF’s DT Cinemas has been deferred till 15 February due to pending compliance issues.
In a filing to the BSE, PVR said that the two parties have mutually agreed to extend the deadline for completing the deal until 15 February 2010.
As part of an acquisition deal signed in November 2009, PVR was supposed to acquire DLF Group‘s cinema business in a stock-and-cash deal.
The multiplex operator was to make a payment of Rs 202 million and to issue 2.56 million shares to DT Cinemas representing 10 per cent of the fully diluted paid up share capital of PVR Ltd on a preferential basis for the acquisition.
However, the company said that the issue of preferential shares was subject to completion of certain pending compliances by DT Cinemas and the deal could be terminated if the acquisition conditions were not satisfied within 60 days of signing the agreement unless the period was mutually extended.
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.
