GECs
Disney UTV to make screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Revolution 2020’
MUMBAI: Disney UTV is all set to direct the screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Revolution 2020’. The studio has roped in Raj Kumar Gupta of Aamir, No One Killed Jessica and Ghanchakkar fame to direct a movie based on Bhagat’s novel ‘Revolution 2020’.
This will be studios second adaptation of Bhagat’s novel, the first being Kai Po Che!, an adaptation of Bhagat’s ‘The 3 Mistakes of My Life’.
It was during the pre-production of Kai Po Che! that Bhagat shared the draft of his latest book with the creative team at Disney UTV. The Studio saw the cinematic potential in the novel, which is high on drama and entertainment and at the same time hugely relevant to the youth of today.
Disney UTV had snapped up the rights to the book, a few months before it was launched. The novel will be made into an epic drama with strong roles for the three main leads, who will play the characters of Gopal, Raghav and Aarti, whose destinies are intertwined.
“We are really excited about working again with two incredibly talented individuals, with whom we’ve made some great movies. In the past, Raj Kumar Gupta directed powerful films like Aamir and No One Killed Jessica for us. And there’s Chetan Bhagat who we’ve had a great time working with on the immensely successful Kai Po Che! So we’re looking forward to bringing both of them together on ‘Revolution 2020’. Raj Kumar Gupta bringing his cinematic vision to Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Revolution 2020’ is something to look forward to,” Disney UTV senior creative director – Studios Rucha Pathak.
“I am delighted to work with UTV again after Kai Po Che!, that not only did extremely well at the box office but also was considered one of the best films of the year. Raj Kumar Gupta is brilliant director, especially for a story like ‘Revolution 2020’, steeped in contemporary Indian realism with a strong emotional content. ‘Revolution 2020’ is an intense love story, in the backdrop of corruption in the education sector, which exists and affects millions of youth across the country. Set in Kota and Varanasi, the book has sold a million and half copies, and has held pan-Indian appeal, including in the smaller cities. I expect the film to do the same. I can’t wait for Gopal, Aarti and Raghav to be cast and come to life,” added author Chetan Bhagat.
“I read Bhagat’s ‘Revolution 2020’ and was quite moved by it. It is a very simple and heartfelt story about being young, being confused, being in love, getting corrupt. I am looking forward to writing and directing this book for the screen,” said Raj Kumar Gupta
The screenplay of the film is currently underway and it is expected to go on the floors mid 2014.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
