iWorld
Five action heroes we’d love to see in the The Expendables 4 dream team
Mumbai: Track him, find him, kill him! In another action-packed, thrilling adventure The Expendables 4 is coming to Indian theaters on 22 September 2023. Swinging heavily with a star-studded cast like no other, the fourth installment of the cult franchise is stacked with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Liam Neeson, Steven Seagal, and even 50 Cent! But this isn’t the first time the franchise has showcased an abundance of A-listers in one movie. The first three installments, namely, The Expendables, The Expendables 2, and The Expendables 3, boast stellar casts with impeccable storylines and can be watched on Lionsgate Play today!
While The Expendables 4 already has an exhilarating cast, here are a few action heroes that could take things up to a whole new level!
The Rock
The Brahma Bull is all fired up and he’s ready to fight! As one of the most popular action heroes, The Rock seems a perfect fit for the indestructible squad of The Expendables. With a physique the size of a mountain, he’s sure to add a ton of firepower and fighting skills.
Keanu Reeves
With a wide range of fan-favorite cult classics to his name, Keanu Reeves comes with a heavy resume of amazing action and smooth fighting. Playing beloved characters like Neo and John Wick, Keanu has repeatedly displayed a propensity for success in the action genre.
Henry Cavill
Who better to add to the squad than the Man Of Steel himself? The charming, witty, and incredibly jacked Henry Cavill would be an extraordinary addition, especially considering his role in Mission Impossible – Fallout, playing a formidable foe.
Tom Cruise
Speaking of Mission Impossible, we have the legendary Tom Cruise. Needing no further elaborations after the enormously successful six Mission Impossible films, when you have Tom Cruise on your team, nothing is impossible.
Daniel Craig
The name’s Bond, James Bond! With his immense experience playing the world’s greatest spy, and a creative detective in Knives Out, Daniel Craig is someone who will add class and stealth to the Expendables, making them a dangerous combination.
Catch the first three installments of The Expendables on Lionsgate Play today.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
