Hindi
IMPPA sets shooting guidelines in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) has written a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray about resuming shoots of films, TV serials and web originals with proper SOP in place.
This document suggests steps to be adopted to avoid contagion during shoots. It notes down detailed precautionary measures that will be followed by the cast and crew after the permission is granted.
The report talks about carrying out a daily drill session with the staff members so that it should be implemented in a proper manner. Crew, artists, technicians and participants will have to report 45 minutes before the shoot. Complete studio will be sanitised daily before the shoot.
Floor markings need to be in place so that people maintain social distance. Going forward priority will be given to portable chairs over standard benches.
The report suggests no physical greetings, handshakes, hugs and kisses and amongst other measures.Wearing triple layer masks and gloves is mandatory. Infact, an alternative to face masks is also provided. “A protective half mask with inhalation and exhalation filter will ensure lower costs, as the number of filming days will gradually increase. It would be specifically worn by actors and crew members having a negative Covid2019 test.”
Lightman or anyone handling other equipment has to be provided industrial hand gloves with proper training about their usage. Construction department and other designated individuals must wear protective gloves. Crew members leaving the filming location (e.g. production, drivers or runners, etc.) must be equipped with protective gloves to prevent contamination of the filming area.
A main element of the report is the hair and make-up protocol. Artists will remain in their rooms until required on set. Hair and make-up personnel will be wearing masks and gloves, which will be mandatory to wear during the entire shoot.
The guideline recommends single-use or disposable items; cleaning of hair wigs/ extensions before and after use; use of own make-up; and, most importantly, using a face shield, rather than a mask, once make-up has been applied.
The guild has also advised production units to avoid crew above the age of 60 years at least for three months from the date of shooting as and when it starts and cast above the age of 60 years should be judicially used.
As far as costumes used on the sets are concerned, the guild suggested that “every talent will use clothes allocated to him/her and they can never exchange clothes without having them properly disinfected beforehand.” In case of stuntmen, specialists and precision drivers they are to use their own clothes.
More importantly, every daily wage worker has to be paid their wages daily.
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.
