Hindi
Shree Ashtavinayak to invest Rs 5 bn for expansion, plans listing of subsidiary
MUMBAI: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd (SAVCL) plans to invest Rs 5 billion to fund its expansion plans that include overseas distribution, acquisition of satellite rights, entering new geographies for content buying and making small budget movies (Rs 50-150 million).
The company also plans to raise Rs 3 billion through an initial public offering (IPO) of one of its newly-formed subsidiaries, Shree Ashtavinayak Lights Camera Action, in the next fiscal. The proceeds of the issue will be used for the expansion of the subsidiary into new geographies for content buying, acquiring satellite rights and scaling-up annual production of movies from the present three to 10.
Shree Ashtavinayak plans to either build a new studio in and around Mumbai or acquire one depending on the feasibilty report.
However, the distribution of films, both overseas and domestic, will be done by the parent company SAVCL.
The company said in a filing to BSE that it will produce eight movies next year at an estimated project cost of Rs 5 billion. It also said that the shareholders have approved a bonus of four new shares against one share held in the company.
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.
