Hindi
UTV, multiplexes end dispute over Jodhaa Akbar; no release yet in Rajasthan
MUMBAI: UTV and multiplex operators have reached a settlement to show Jodhaa Akbar, ending a dispute over revenue sharing terms. The Hritik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer and UTV production, however, escapes screens in Rajasthan. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com after a late-evening meeting with multiplex operators, UTV Motion Pictures Plc director Siddharth Roy Kapur said: “All multiplexes will start screening of Jodhaa Akbar from Saturday.” He, however, declined to divulge the commercial terms of UTV‘s settlement with the multiplexes. Indian multiplex chains like Inox theaters, Adlabs Cinemas, Fame, Fun Cinemas, Cinemax and Movietime could not agree on the revenue sharing model, leading to a boycott of the Rs 400 million period film in 430 cinema screens across the country. Jodhaa Akbar released on 15 February across 26 countries. Prior to launch, UTV said it would release the movie in 1,325 screens, of which 500 will be through digital cinemas and 825 through physical prints. In the US, the film released with close to 122 prints. Cinema halls in Rajasthan continue to boycott the film amid protests by Rajput groups against “distortion of historical facts” in the movie based on Mughal emperor Akbar. In Rajasthan, Karni Sena activists had written letters in blood against the film‘s release and submitted it to theatre owners. Karni Sena patron Lokendra Kalvi had said they would not stop the film but the Vasundhara Raje government would be held “responsible” if any untoward incidents occurred.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
