Hindi
Distributors’ ‘star films’ gamble backfires
Jagga Jasoos is the latest film to release last Friday. The team of Anurag Basu and Ranbir Kappor who combined to give Barfi (2012) were expected to come up with something better. What is more, even Ranbir Kapoor had put his faith Basu and turned a co-producer in the project!
The film, in the making since 2014, however, turned out to be a major disappointment at the box office. At some places, the early morning shows (9 am) which normally draw the college crowds because of low admission rates, had to be cancelled due to lack of audience.
The film collected Rs 7.9 crore on day one which was not impressive since the film was given an extensive 1800-screen release. Whatever the film collected was mainly from two metros, especially Mumbai followed by Delhi with rest of the circuits being way below par and none crossing even a one crore mark on day one.
The film did show some improvement over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday as children took to the film but, considering the public reports are negative on the film and that it needs to work its way to over Rs 200 crore (Rs 2k million) figure to break even, the figures are not at all encouraging. What is more, there has been a considerable drop on Monday.
On Tubelight front, distributors with the principal distributor, N H Studioz, are reported to have approached Salman Khan Esq for the refund of some amounts as they have suffered huge losses. The film was reportedly sold to N H Studioz for reportedly a whopping Rs 135 crore (Rs 1350 million) which would need a recovery of Rs 325 crore. There are just few precedents of a film doing that kind of business and the gamble by the distributor backfired. The film has fallen short of the target by as much as Rs 225 crore. The Khan Esq is said to be considering the distributors’ request favourably.
*Jagga Jasoos, a film inspired by The Adventures of Tin Tin and other sources, does not quite get the opening it should have considering the film’s cast and others in the billing. The film manages to collect 7.9 crore on its opening Friday. It improves a bit on Saturday and Sunday. The film ends its first weekend with Rs 31.3 crore. The Monday footfalls are not encouraging.
*Mom, again a costly film compared to its face value, stands to lose big time considering it had nothing new to offer. Woman oriented action have it tough to find a slot with the Hindi audience unless backed by a solid story. They are few and far in-between. Bad for Mom that it followed in the same plot as the recently released Maatr, which stole it of its novelty. The film collected Rs 22.5 crore in its first week.
*Guest In London fails badly ending its first week with a meagre Rs 6.7 crore.
*Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha adds Rs 30 lakh in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 1.35 crore.
*Tubelight has collected Rs 80 lakh in its third week to take its three week tally to Rs 115.1 crore.
Hindi
Kridhan Infra enters film production with AI-led feature film
Infra firm debuts AI-powered film marking RSS centenary
MUMBAI: Kridhan Infra Limited is swapping hard hats for headsets. The infrastructure company has announced its entry into film production and media technology through its subsidiary, Kridhan Mediatech Private Limited, with the nationwide theatrical release of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, an AI-led feature film.
With Shatak, the company is not just stepping into cinema but staking a claim in what it describes as one of the world’s early full-length AI-driven feature films. Artificial Intelligence has been embedded across the creative and production process, from script visualisation and environment creation to modelling and production design.
The film commemorates 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, tracing defining moments, personalities and historical phases that shaped its journey. By combining archival storytelling with algorithm-powered creativity, the project attempts to blend heritage with high technology.
For Kridhan Mediatech, this is only the opening scene. The subsidiary’s broader ambition spans AI, CGI, virtual production systems and scalable content models for both theatres and digital platforms. The move signals a strategic diversification for Kridhan Infra, traditionally rooted in engineering and construction.
The timing aligns with India’s growing push to become a global AI powerhouse. At the 2026 AI Impact Summit, prime minister Narendra Modi urged innovators to design in India and deliver to the world. Kridhan Mediatech’s initiative positions itself squarely within that narrative, aiming to export technology-enabled storytelling beyond domestic audiences.
India’s media and entertainment industry, valued at over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, alongside a rapidly expanding AI economy projected to cross Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the coming years, offers fertile ground at the intersection of cinema and code.
“With Shatak, we proudly present one of the world’s first AI-led full-length feature films while marking our strategic entry into film production and media technology through our subsidiary,” the company said in a statement. “Our vision is to combine India’s rich narrative heritage with forward-looking innovation. This is just the beginning of building globally competitive, technology-enabled cinematic experiences.”
From infrastructure to imagination, Kridhan’s latest venture suggests that in today’s India, even storytelling can be engineered.
