iWorld
‘Bombay Velvet’ exclusive preview unveiled on Hotstar
MUMBAI: Stepping up on its film marketing initiatives by setting new precedents, Fox Star India has rolled out its third digital-first initiative on Hotstar in less than a month for its upcoming movie Bombay Velvet.
The studio unveiled an exclusive preview of the film to Hotstar’s 15-million-strong audience base on 10 May.
The Hotstar movie preview of Bombay Velvet comprises four minutes of handpicked scenes from the soon-to-be-released film. The preview was packaged with a specially shot sequence, which had Karan Johar introducing the movie’s stars Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma with their on-screen names of Johnny Balraj and Rosie Noronha, and inviting the audience to watch the exclusive footage that followed. It ended with the trio reminding the audience of the film’s release date, and inviting them to watch it in theatres on 15 May.
Fox Star Studios India CMO Shikha Kapur said, “We are delighted to be the first studio in India to introduce a series of Digital-first initiatives for film marketing on mobile, and that too with a huge multi-starrer like Bombay Velvet. While initially it was all about creating buzz, with the film now getting closer to its release date, we thought the audience would be excited to preview some of Bombay Velvet’s high-quality content, and hence the Movie Preview. This is a part of the build-up strategy which has worked very well so far. Hotstar is poised as the go to destination for digital content platform on mobile today, and we believe it will help us effectively fill the market gaps for movie promotions on digital, and through the innovations, set a precedent for film marketing not only in our country, but also in other world markets.”
This promotional activity came on the heels of a one-hour talk show featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap, which was shot for and premiered exclusively on Hotstar. This was preceded by yet another world-first initiative, the video premiere on Hotstar of the popular song, Mohabbat Buri Bimari, from Bombay Velvet.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
