Hindi
Coffin Maker to premiere at the River To River Florence festival
The much awaited announcement of the Indian Panorama bouquet for IIFI Goa 2013 has been declared and the life changing film Coffin Maker, starring Nasseruddin Shah, Randeep Hooda and Ratna Shah, was in the forefront of the short listed film for the prestigious panorama section.
Directed by ad film maker Veena Bakshi, Coffin Maker has been short listed among the 210 films that were eligible for entries by the nine member jury. Nasseruddin is in super form with his acting prowess that is being touted as a must see film for every Indian for its theme.
The film is just not high on content but also have actors known for their real portrayal. So besides Shah, the film has a diverse cast that includes Ratna Pathak Shah, Benjamin Gilani, Amit Sial, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, Shilpa Shukla, who have substantially contributed in the excellence of its execution under the direction and vision of Bakshi.
Producer Bharat Vijan of Shree Narayan Studios is ecstatic as the film is doing really well at the festivals. Just a few weeks back the film was selected to premiere at the prestigious River To River Florence festival, as well as Rome.
A visibly excited Bharat said: “I am truly overjoyed as the debut film from my studio is doing really well. Every member of the star cast is a true professional in their own right and have given their best performance for this film. Nassersaab is a true genius, and his acting prowess has been the force behind this wonderful film. My wife Ambika and I feel truly justified in backing this high concept content-driven entertaining film. It has got a universal appeal and though the setting is a reflection of the lifestyle of Goa, it is a reflection of life itself.”
The film represents cinema that inspires! Set against the authentic and seductive spirit of a Goan Village, Coffin Maker is a poignant tale about a reluctant Coffin Maker who learns about life from a very unusual and mysterious source.
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.
