Hindi
UN video spot on human trafficking to precede ‘Welcome’ screening
NEW DELHI: A video spot on the crime of human trafficking in India, One Life, No Price is to precede every show of the Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer Welcome.
In addition, Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif are recording messages separately in support of the cause.
The spot has been commissioned by The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for South Asia.
The two-minute spot will bring the issue squarely into the open. The spot aims to sensitize millions of movie-goers to this form of modern-day slavery and galvanize action to prevent and combat human trafficking by civil society and law enforcement partners.
The Movie Welcome being released on 21 December is produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwala of Base Industries Group, Mumbai, India who earlier produced Akshay Kumar starrer Hera Pheri. It showcases major Indian movie stars such as Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal and Mallika Sherawat.
UNODC’s partnership with the Indian Film Industry is part of the its awareness-raising strategy under UN.GIFT, an initiative launched in March 2007 to provide a framework for action by governments, business, academia, civil society and the media in the fight against human trafficking.
UNODC has also enlisted the support of Bollywood greats such as Amitabh Bachhan, Preity Zinta and John Abraham for the making of public service announcements for UN.GIFT.
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.
