Hindi
Hindi cinema shines bright at Filmfare’s 70th night
MUMBAI: Lights, camera, nostalgia! The 70th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2025 with Gujarat Tourism turned Ahmedabad into the heart of Hindi cinema, where stars, stories and songs collided in a night of pure cinematic magic. The telecast of the unforgettable evening airs on 9 November at 9 pm across Zee TV, Zing and Zest, promising fans a front-row seat to the glamour, grandeur and golden memories.
Hosted by the ever-charismatic Shah Rukh Khan, joined by Karan Johar and Maniesh Paul, the ceremony was a dazzling blend of celebration and emotion. The event honoured not just the brightest stars but the creative minds behind the camera, directors, writers, musicians and technicians, all of whom keep Indian cinema’s soul alive.
One of the night’s most goosebump-inducing moments came when SRK and Kajol brought back the magic of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, leaving the audience awash in nostalgia. Adding a heartfelt touch, Abhishek Bachchan paid tribute to his legendary father with a dynamic medley of Amitabh Bachchan classics, from Khaike Paan Banaras Wala to Jumma Chumma.
The evening’s rhythm soared higher with Akshay Kumar’s powerhouse performance of timeless hits and Kriti Sanon’s glamorous homage to Zeenat Aman, who, along with Shyam Benegal, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Ananya Panday brought Gujarat’s vibrant culture to life, while Siddhant Chaturvedi saluted Hindi cinema’s dance icons with electrifying energy.
Taking the celebration sky-high, a stunning drone show lit up Ahmedabad’s skyline, tracing the evolution of Hindi cinema through the decades. A nostalgic ‘Cine Icon Awards’ segment revisited legends like Bimal Roy, Sridevi, Dilip Kumar, Nutan, and Amitabh Bachchan, right up to the 1990s icons SRK, Kajol and Karan Johar.
The telecast also captures intimate moments, from the audience joining SRK to wish Big B a happy birthday to Ravi Kishan and Abhishek Bachchan winning their first-ever Filmfare trophies.
So, polish that popcorn bowl and prepare for an unforgettable evening. The 70th Filmfare Awards 2025 promises everything Hindi cinema stands for, emotion, entertainment and eternal magic, on 9 November at 9 pm only on Zee TV, Zing and Zest.
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.
