Hindi
Shree Ashtavinayak raises $33 million via FCCBs
MUMBAI: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision has raised $33 million (approximately Rs 1.32 billion) via foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs), with an option to raise an additional $5 million.
“The proceeds of the issue shall be utilised for production of movies and purchase of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of movies outside India,” says a company statement.
The bonds have a maturity of five years due in 2012. The underlying equity shares on conversion will be listed on BSE and NSE. The FCCBs will be listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
In July, the company had decided to raise funds for expansion by issuing FCCBs to the extent of $50 million. The board had also decided to issue warrants on preferential basis to the extent of $20 million.
Shree Ashtavinayak has nearly 12 films already on the floors for release next year including Golmaal Returns, Superstar, Chala Murari Murder Karne and Mr Fraud.
Hindi
ZEE5, Applause announce new film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
Rajat Kapoor’s dark comedy thriller to stream on ZEE5 from April 10
MUMBAI: ZEE5 and Applause Entertainment have announced their next direct-to-digital collaboration, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a darkly comic whodunnit set to stream from April 10.
Produced in association with Mithya Talkies and written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, the film marks the latest addition to a growing slate of genre-diverse titles from the two partners. Their previous collaborations include dramas, psychological thrillers and dark comedies, with this outing leaning into a layered murder mystery.
The film features an ensemble cast including Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The narrative promises a mix of satire, strained relationships and hidden tensions, inviting viewers to look beyond the crime to the dynamics that lead up to it.
ZEE5 business head hindi and chief channel officer Andtv Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has been instrumental in building a strong slate with titles such as Bloody Brothers, Mithya and Jab Khuli Kitaab. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, aligning with our focus on genre-led content that resonates with audiences.”
Applause Entertainment business head movies Sunil Chainani said, “This collaboration with ZEE5 continues to stand out for its diversity of genres and narrative styles. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa adds a sharp, darkly comic whodunnit to that mix, driven by Rajat Kapoor’s distinct voice.”
Sharing his creative approach, Rajat Kapoor said he was drawn to the emotional layers behind the genre. “I was interested not just in the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who appear close, yet carry unspoken tensions that eventually surface.”
The partnership between ZEE5 and Applause continues to build on a shared focus on distinctive storytelling, with each project exploring a different tone and genre.
With its mix of humour, tension and ensemble storytelling, the film aims to offer more than just a mystery. It promises a closer look at the secrets people keep, and the consequences when they finally come to light.
