Hindi
Day one of the Jagran Film Festival Commences with a dazzling lineup of movie stars
Mumbai: the eagerly awaited Jagran Film Festival 2023 had a grand inauguration at Cinepolis, Mumbai, commencing an exceptional cinematic journey. Presented by Rajnigandha in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the first day promised a remarkable cinematic adventure. The inaugural ceremony was graced by renowned director, screenwriter, and producer Anees Bazmi, joined by Amit Rai, DK, and Raj.
The eleventh edition of the festival glittered with Bollywood luminaries, including Bhumi Pednekar, Rhea Kapoor, Karan Boolani, and casting director Mukesh Chhabra. It also aims to honour Indian cinema legends like Satish Kaushik, Lata Mangeshkar, Vikram Gokhale, and K Viswanath, with a special focus on movies “Kaagaz” and “Lamhe” as a tribute to Satish Kaushik and Lata Mangeshkar.
Day one featured engaging panel discussions with celebrities like Anees Bazmi, Bhumi Pednekar, Rhea Kapoor, Karam Boolani, Amit Rai, Mukhesh Chhabra, DK, and Raj. They shared valuable insights and experiences from their illustrious careers, captivating the audience with their dialogues.
In a candid discussion moderated by Nayandeep Rakshit, accomplished directors Anees Bazmi, Amit Rai, DK, and Raj shared their experiences and early career challenges in crafting stories for OTT and theatrical releases, underscoring the importance of well-crafted scripts and casting choices.
The team of “Thank You for Coming” engaged in an open discussion. Rhea Kapoor acknowledged the potential criticism of her film choices but emphasized the connection with her target audience. Bhumi Padnekar discussed the film’s message of self-acceptance and personal responsibility for happiness. Karan Boolani emphasised the importance of empathising with characters and understanding their perspective, highlighting the hidden forces perpetuating inequality. This discussion was moderated by Nayandeep Rakshit.
Mukesh Chhabra, in an engaging casting discussion, discussed his career journey and his deep love for the film industry, emphasizing his unique path to making a meaningful contribution.
The festival premiered with “Guthlee Ladoo,” including a special screening of “Darran Chhoo,” “Eismayer” for the international opening, and “Jananam: 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu” for the regional opening.
As the festival partner, Custard Apple Pictures presented the Hindi film “Banwari Ki Amma,” directed by O.P. Srivastava. Set in 1970s Lucknow, it explores the life of an ambitious middle-class family, featuring an elderly maid known for her culinary skills, and their shared existence in a cramped house.
Day two will witness in-conversations with stars like Aanand L. Rai, Piyush Mishra, Vishal Batra (brother of Kargil war hers Param Veer Chakra- Vikram Batra) and Anmol Ahuja
The world’s largest travelling film festival is all set to enrapture audiences with an exceptional array of world-class films from all around the globe.
For Registration log on to: www.jff.co.in.
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.
