Hindi
WWE re-brands film division as WWE Studios
MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is changing the name of its subsidiary WWE Films to WWE Studios.
The aim is to better represent its focus on creating a diversified mix of filmed entertainment, including theatrical films, direct-to-DVD movies, scripted television movies, series and reality programming.
WWE Studios president Michael Lake says, “The name change reflects our focus on expanding the variety of projects that WWE intends to pursue, from theatrical films to direct-to-DVD to television and other media platforms. WWE Studios will continue to pursue opportunities which expand the integration of the WWE brand and its superstars into filmed entertainment.”
In early 2009, WWE Superstar John Cena’s latest theatrical film 12 Rounds directed by Renny Harlin, will be released by 20th Century Fox, under the WWE first look deal with Fox Atomic.
WWE Studios, in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, also will debut its first direct-to-DVD film Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia starring WWE Superstar Mr. Kennedy.
Since the subsidiary’s formal inception in 2002, WWE has produced three films See No Evil, The Condemned and The Marine.
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.
