Hindi
Chhota Bheem to take on Bombay Talkies & Shootout at Wadala this Friday
MUMBAI: With the nationwide release of Chhota Bheem & The Throne of Bali popular animation character Chhota Bheem will be seen taking on real life stars from Bombay Talkies and Shootout at Wadala this Friday, 3 May. To be released in three languages – Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and in over five hundred theatres, this will be one of the largest ever-theatrical releases of an Indian animation film.
"Children as an audience are more loyal. We are quite certain that Chhota Bheem & The Throne of Bali will emerge top release of the week and over time give one of the best box office returns," stated co producer Samir Jain.
Allu Arvind‘s Geetha Film Distributors and Yash Raj Films will distribute the film in South and rest of India respectively. This is the second Chhota Bheem film to be released. The previous film, Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan was released in May 2012 and drew a collection of Rs 49.2 million, which is the highest ever collection for an Indian animation film.
"Being our first release, the film was exhibited as a morning show in most theatres. But this time round the distribution, marketing and promotions are on a scale," added Jain.
"This movie is based on the Bali islands and is an out-an-out adventure ride for kids with thrill, action, suspense and loads of fun. We did far-reaching research in Bali and ended up doing most recordings in Bali with its natural surroundings and have captured the sights and sounds. Shaan has sung the title song for the film," director Rajiv Chilaka commented.
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.
