Hindi
Filmmaker Shyam Benegal unveils poster of ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’
Mumbai: Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal has unveiled a poster of his latest directorial “Mujib – The Making of a Nation,” a biopic on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known as the father of the nation in Bangladesh. The film is being made under an audio-visual co-production agreement between the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and it was extensively shot in India and Bangladesh.
Benegal released the poster at National Film Development Corp (NFDC) Mumbai, on the occasion of the 102nd birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Speaking about the film, the director said that it has been a tough task for him to bring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s towering life on the screen. “’Mujib – The Making of a Nation’ remains a very emotional film for me. To bring Bangabandhu’s towering life on the reel is a tough task. We have uncompromisingly portrayed his character. Mujib remained a great friend of India,” he shared.
“I am glad to be working on this feature film. It has always been a fruitful association working with NFDC since its inception and now collaborating with BFDC was a joyful experience,” he further said.
Written by Atul Tiwari and Shama Zaidi, the film features Arifin Shuvoo in the role of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The star cast includes Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Chanchal Chowdhury, and Nusraat Faria. “Fascinated to be playing the role of Mujib. This is a dream come true. I am honoured to be a part of this iconic project, and to be directed by the legend himself, Shyam Benegal,” said Shuvoo. “I felt the warmth and great hospitality during the production of the film in India. I hope that I have justified the role and the audiences will connect with me and love the film, the way they love Bangabandhu.”
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman provided the political leadership for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. At the early stage of his political career, he met Mahatma Gandhi who was a great source of inspiration for him to empower the masses, and inspiration that remained throughout his life. The biopic celebrates Mujib’s life and takes viewers into the course of history to depict the great leader whose accomplishments live on.
“NFDC has pioneered films by legendary directors who are renowned the world over even today,” remarked NFDC managing director Ravinder Bhakar. “To be associated with Shyam Benegal ji once again for this project is a great pleasure for the Corporation. Mujib – The Making of a Nation shall be a landmark film in NFDC’s history. Indeed, it is a pleasure associating with BFDC for an iconic film.”
“I am overwhelmed to see the film witness the light of the day. ‘Mujib – The Making of a Nation’ is an emotion for us,” commented BFDC MD Nuzhat Yeasmin. “On behalf of BFDC, I would like to extend my congratulations to our counterparts (NFDC) who have stood with us for making this dream a reality. Bangladesh is eagerly anticipating to watch Shyam Benegal Ji’s version of Bangabandhu’s biopic. He is a legendary filmmaker, greatly admired by all of us.”
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.
