Hindi
Entertainment tax relief for Krishna aur Kans
MUMBAI: 3D animated feature film Krishna aur Kans has been declared tax-free in six states including Maharashtra.
Produced by Reliance Animation, the film, which released on Friday, has been declared tax-free in Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
Other states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are also considering the proposal.
“We are thankful to all the state governments for such overwhelming support towards the film for the cause. We want every family in our country to celebrate Janmashtami with ‘Krishna aur Kans‘ and enjoy the adventures and pranks of their favourite Krishna,” said Reliance Animation CEO Ashish Kulkarni.
Krishna Aur Kans is the story of Lord Krishna and the brutality of Kans. It highlights Krishna’s birth and his victory over Kans. “We’ve watched many animated films revolving around the Gods in the Hindu mythology but this one takes Hindi 3D animation to a new level,” the CEO observed.
The film has voiceovers by Juhi Chawla, Manoj Bajpayi, Om Puri, Prachi Save, Anupam Kher, A.K. Hangal and Mukesh Khanna.
“Schools across the states have started doing block bookings of the shows for their students. Even corporate, social groups and clubs in various cities across the country have done block bookings for their employees and members. Also, religious organisations have made bulk bookings,” Kulkarni said.
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.
