iWorld
Eros Now joins hands with RCB for IPL debut
MUMBAI: Eros Now has made its debut in IPL 11 as the title sponsor of Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The digital venture of Eros International is the first over-the-top (OTT) platform to become the lead sponsor of a league team in the world’s premier T20 event. Though there is a speculation that the deal is worth Rs 54 crore, the company declined to comment on the number.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Eros Now COO Ali Hussein said that the deal with RCB was a media brand association, entailing the meeting of sports and entertainment meet via T20.
“The innovation with RCB is a perfect mélange of sports and entertainment and enables our endeavour to connect with our youth and offer a consumer experience bringing stars from the cricketing and Bollywood world together. By integrating with RCB and T20, Eros Now is investing in other entertainment vehicles to share our vision and passion of presenting the best in entertainment. RCB have garnered tremendous support and confidence in their partners and fans and we wish the team good luck this season, ” said Eros Digital CEO Rishika Lulla Singh.
For Eros Now, the deal brings together the synergies entertainment and sports thanks to the snacky nature of the T20 format.
Eros Now has replaced mobile handset brand Gionee, a brand that was associated with the team in 2017 IPL. Last year, Gionee was the first brand ever to sponsor front jerseys of two IPL teams—Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals—in the same edition. But the company has decided to stay away for this year’s edition of IPL.
“We are delighted to have a leading entertainment entity like Eros Now on board as RCB’s title sponsor. Entertainment and cricket have always been India’s biggest passion points and the synergy that this partnership will create is definitely going to up the excitement quotient among fans and viewers,” RCB chairman Amrit Thomas said.
Also Read:
HP is RCB’s new principal sponsor
Mumbai Indians gets Goibibo as principal sponsor for IPL 2018
iWorld
Prime Video drops trailer for Lukkhe, a rap crime drama starring KING in his acting debut
Eight episodes of revenge, redemption and hard-hitting rap arrive on the streaming platform on 8th May
MUMBAI: Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for Lukkhe, an eight-episode musical action drama built around the world of rap, crime and bruised relationships — and it has done so in suitably loud fashion, launching it at a live concert in Mumbai featuring electrifying performances by KING, Amira Gill, Akshath, Raashii Khanna, Ruaa Kayy and RUTVXK. As if that were not enough, the show’s music album was also dropped at the event, in collaboration with exclusive music streaming partner Amazon Music and music label Warner Music India.
The series is directed by Himank Gaur and produced by Vipul D. Shah and Rajesh Bahl under the banners of Optimystix Entertainment and White Guerrilla LLP. It is created and executive produced by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha.
The cast is the talking point. KING, the acclaimed Indian rapper and songwriter, makes his acting debut as MC Badnaam, a performer consumed by rivalry and hunger for recognition. Raashii Khanna, returning to Prime Video after Farzi, plays Gurbani. Palak Tiwari, making her streaming debut, plays Sanober. Lakshvir Singh Saran plays Lucky. The ensemble also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Kritika Bharadwaj, Shivankit Parihar, Yograj Singh and Ayesha Raza Mishra in pivotal roles.
The trailer plants its flag squarely in the tension between MC Badnaam and his rival MC OG, played by Parihar, while threading in the love story between Lucky and Sanober. The soundtrack, which spans hard-hitting rap anthems to emotionally charged melodies, is as much a character in the show as any of its leads.
Gaur was candid about what drew him to the project. “Lukkhe gave me a chance to dive into a world that’s loud, emotional, and constantly on edge,” he said. “What stayed with me was how every character is chasing something personal, and music becomes their way of expressing it. Working with this cast, especially KING in his debut, along with Raashii, Lakshvir, and Palak, was incredibly rewarding because they brought honesty that elevated every moment.”
Khanna reflected on her character with evident relish. “Playing Gurbani in Lukkhe was a really intense and fulfilling experience,” she said. “What I found most interesting was how her strength comes from something deeply personal, which shapes every decision she makes. It was about finding that balance between vulnerability and grit.”
KING, stepping in front of the camera for the first time, was characteristically direct. “Stepping into Lukkhe as MC Badnaam has been a defining moment for me,” he said. “What drew me in was how real his hunger and need to be heard felt. It’s something I connect with as an artist. Bringing music into his journey made the experience even more personal.”
Tiwari described the role as a first on multiple fronts. “It was my first time working with Prime Video, and the whole experience felt new and creatively satisfying,” she said. “Being part of a story that has both intense and heartfelt moments, along with a team that brought so much honesty to it, made this journey truly memorable.”
Saran, for his part, zeroed in on what made Lucky tick. “Lucky is someone who’s trying to move forward while still carrying the weight of his past, and that push-pull made him really interesting to explore,” he said. “There’s a sincerity to his journey that I hope people connect with.”
Lukkhe premieres on Prime Video in Hindi on 8th May, across India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In a streaming landscape drowning in crime dramas, this one is betting that putting a rapper at its centre – and meaning it – is enough to cut through the noise. On the evidence of the trailer, it might just be right.
