Hindi
Bond’s Skyfall grosses Rs 275 mn in 4-day opening weekend
MUMBAI: Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment‘s 23rd Bond film Skyfall has grossed approximately Rs 275 million in its four-day opening weekend in India.
This makes the second biggest opening weekend ever for a Hollywood film in India and the highest for a non-3D film, Sony Pictures India said.
The film was released on 1 November with 907 prints in four languages — English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu — and in 2D and IMAX formats.
Said Sony Pictures India managing director Kercy Daruwala, “Skyfall has not only continued India‘s fascination with the James Bond franchise, but has also expanded it. The anticipation for the film has been unprecedented, going into high gear with the celebrations of the 50th year of the film franchise earlier in October. Extremely positive reviews and word-of-mouth will ensure that the film will have a long and successful run at the box-office and garner repeat viewings as well.”
Skyfall‘s weekend had the best opening for a Bond film in India so far, exceeding other big box office performers Quantum of Solace (2008) and Casino Royale (2006). Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale posted lifetime gross box office of Rs 444 million and Rs 403 million respectively. It also posted the biggest ever Thursday opening for any Hollywood title with Rs 65 million.
In Skyfall, Bond‘s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under an attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
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.
