Hindi
BO: ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’ disappoints with Rs 15.8 crore opening weekend
MUMBAI: Vishesh Films and the men behind the banner, Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt are known to follow this sequence of one hit after a couple of flops. And, on that count as well as for the reason that Mahesh Bhatt had penned the script after a gap of almost a decade and a half, expectations were aplenty.
However, Hamari Adhuri Kahani has come as a big disappointment with the film’s main culprits being the story and the scripting.
What’s more, it is a totally regressive film for no reason and at an unjustifiable cost. For a change, critics as well as the audience seem to be on the same side on this one. The film has managed to collect Rs 15.8 crore for its opening weekend.
Dil Dhadakne Do, a pretentious movie about a Delhi Punjabi family trying to put up a show of affluence despite dire situation, does not go well with the audience in general. The film finds patronage in few metros at select multiplexes. The film has many flaws and takes it audience for granted. It creates a number of tracks of various characters including a parallel love story but fails to sum them up in the end. The film has managed to put together Rs 54.4 crore for its first week thanks to lack of any challenging opposition and increased admission rates (which the distributor planned to continue throughout the week instead of the opening weekend as is the practice with major films but relented after the response to the film, which was weak). The film will scrap the bottom after its second weekend.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns is the flavor of the season and the reason is Kangana Ranaut, the force behind the film with her captivating performance in a dual role. While the comparison to the first version may be unfair, which many feel was much better, this one will be five times bigger hit at the box office as things stand. Finally, the figures speak; opinions may differ. The film has an amazing third week befitting a Salman Khan starrer (or better) adding Rs 20.18 crore in its third week to take its three week tally to Rs 138.13 crore for three weeks.
Piku adds Rs 1.05 crore in its week to take its five-week total to Rs 79.77 crore, whereas Gabbar Is Back collects Rs 30 lakh in its fifth week thus taking its five-week total to Rs 80.05 crore.
Hindi
YRF Entertainment appoints Saugata Mukherjee as head of content
Former SonyLIV content head to steer films and series at streaming arm
MUMBAI: YRF Entertainment, the streaming arm of Yash Raj Films, has appointed Saugata Mukherjee as head of content, signalling a strong push to scale its original films and series slate.
Mukherjee joins the company following a successful three-and-a-half-year stint at SonyLIV, where he served as executive vice president and head of content. In his new role, he will report to CEO Akshaye Widhani and lead the creative direction and commissioning strategy for YRF Entertainment’s growing slate.
The appointment comes on the back of YRF Entertainment’s recent global success with titles such as The Romantics, The Railway Men and Mandala Murders, which have helped position the studio as a serious player in the streaming space.
At SonyLIV, Mukherjee played a key role in shaping the platform’s identity as a premium content destination. Under his leadership, the service delivered acclaimed originals across genres, building a reputation for storytelling depth and creative risk-taking. His exit was described as “one of the harder goodbyes”, reflecting both the impact of his tenure and the strength of the team he leaves behind.
Mukherjee brings with him a wide-ranging career that spans publishing, television and streaming. Before SonyLIV, he led content initiatives at HBO Max under Warner Bros. Discovery, where he was instrumental in shaping the platform’s India strategy. His earlier roles include senior leadership positions at Hotstar and Star TV, where he worked on building original content pipelines and collaborating with top creative talent.
With a career that began in publishing at firms like HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan, Mukherjee’s journey reflects a deep-rooted understanding of storytelling across formats and platforms.
His move to YRF Entertainment comes at a time when the battle for streaming audiences is intensifying, with studios doubling down on high-quality originals to stand out in a crowded market.
For YRF, the appointment is more than just a leadership hire. It is a clear signal that the studio is ready to scale its streaming ambitions, with Mukherjee expected to play a central role in shaping its next chapter.
