Hindi
Bhanushali Studios and Aaz Films roll camera on new alliance
MUMBAI: It’s lights, camera, collaboration! Bhanushali Studios Ltd. and Aaz Films have inked a strategic partnership to co-produce a fresh slate of mainstream films designed to woo cinephiles from the heartland to the high-rises. The new banner promises everything from soulful romances to edge-of-your-seat dramas — all with box-office buzz in mind.
At the helm are Bhanushali Studios Ltd chairman & MD Vinod Bhanushali, and of Aaz Films’ Himanshu Mehra, with filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar jumping aboard as creative producer.
The first project under the pact is set to roll in June 2025, with more titles and starry cast details to be revealed soon.
“Ali, Himanshu and I have always admired each other’s work. When the opportunity to collaborate came up, it felt like the perfect time. These films will tell compelling stories and create a strong connect between heartland and urban audiences,” said Bhanushali.
Mehra echoed the excitement: ““We are excited about this strategic collaboration focused on heartland cinema. This partnership opens doors for young, fresh storytellers to bring their vision to the big screen.”
Ali Abbas Zafar, known for his masala-meets-mettle filmmaking style, added, “Bhanushali Studios Ltd. and Aaz Films share the same passion for telling impactful, mainstream stories. This collaboration aims to deliver content that resonates deeply with today’s audience.”
With the creative dream team in place and the first shoot just around the corner, this partnership is set to script a blockbuster chapter in Indian mainstream cinema.
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.
