Hindi
Film industry protests against service tax and VAT
MUMBAI: Emboldened by the day-long fast that film and TV actors, filmmakers, technicians, theatre owners and distributors down South resorted to, the Film and Television Producers Guild of India has threatened the government that if the 12.36 per cent service tax is not rolled back, they will be forced to stop all film shootings from February onward. They have also threatened to not allow any film to release during this period either.
It is well-known that many actors do not pay their service tax from their own pocket; most of them openly tell the producer that he has to pay them 12.36 per cent by way of service tax over and above their acting fee. Producers have evaluated the cost of every project to be 12.5 per cent more, thanks to this additional service tax passed on to them by a majority of actors.
“The latest findings have put the Hindi film industry on the back foot. First of all, there is no guarantee of films doing well these days. Add to that the burden of service tax even before you start rolling the cameras. This is grossly unfair,” pointed out the source.
Confirming the news Film and Television Producers Guild of India President Mukesh Bhatt said, “We have spoken to the I & B Ministry and the state government. We are compelled to enforce a closure by the end of January if service tax and VAT are not waived off. We cannot take the burden any longer.”
It is said that the film fraternity is again meeting on Wednesday to chalk out a final decision.
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.
