Hindi
Jackky Bhagnani justifies liquor mention in song lyrics
MUMBAI: Actor Jackky Bhagnani has justified the use of liquor in the song ‘Lalla Lalla Lori’ from his upcoming film Welcome to Karachi. The actor said, “The song is only for you guys to have a good time. This is India, it is a secular country and if we can have alcohol openly then I do not see anything wrong if the songs are based on that.”
Bhagnani, who was here to promote Welcome to Karachi, which is set to release on 29 May. The actor was answering a question on objections raised by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
His co-stars in this action comedy are Lauren Gotlieb of ABCD fame, and Arshad Warsi. The film is directed by Ashish R. Mohan and produced by Vashu Bhagnani. The film has been shot in various locations of the United Kingdom and sets were recreated to resemble Karachi.
The film revolves around two Indian men played by Warsi and Bhagnani, who reach Karachi in Pakistan without passports and gets trapped by the Taliban. The journey becomes adventurous and exciting in their quest to find a way back to India.
Lauren said, “Working in Bollywood adds to my learning experience. When I came to India, I never thought I would get such amazing offers. ABCD taught me Hindi and now with this film I have learnt Urdu. And I am coming up with a very different avatar, that’s the best part.”
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.
