Hindi
Katrina ready to sizzle with multiple projects
MUMBAI: She has created waves on-screen every time with her performance. Katrina Kaif, who has been voted the hottest actress four years in a row, is set to rule again with her upcoming release Dhoom 3.
Her last release Jab Tak Hai Jaan was one of the biggest successes of the year. Now, the actress is set to sizzle in Dhoom 3. The title song Dhoom Machale, the teaser of which was released recently, is already trending.
She has temperatures soaring with the song that is glamorously picturised on the actress. Sporting edgy couture be it the neon pink romper, skimming corsets and bustiers and knee high boots, Katrina is looking her best.
That’s not all, the actress also has a string of back to back releases in the coming year, including the action-romance Bang Bang with Hrithik Roshan, Kabir Khan’s gritty drama Phantom with Saif Ali Khan and Fitoor, a timeless love story.
A trade source says, “Katrina Kaif is making conscious decisions when it comes to her films stressing on quality and not quantity. She has created a unique space for her in the industry. Her releases next year too are amongst the most awaited. Her growth has been unprecedented and she has constantly proved with every film that she is here to stay.”
Hindi
Government backs film production through DCDFC, co-production push
Scheme funds cinema, WAVES 2025 boosts global ties and industry growth.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… policy action. As India’s screens glow brighter at home and abroad, the government is quietly scripting a bigger role behind the scenes funding films, fuelling collaborations and nudging the country closer to its “create for the world” ambition. At the centre of this effort is the Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) scheme, a 100 per cent centrally funded initiative designed to support film production across the country. Through this scheme, the government provides direct financial backing to projects, aiming to strengthen both mainstream and alternative storytelling ecosystems while encouraging cinematic excellence.
The implementation runs through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which plays a key role in facilitating film production, including regional cinema and documentaries. Beyond the screen, the scheme also feeds into the broader economy creating jobs for local technicians, artists and service providers, and strengthening grassroots production networks across states.
The push, however, is not limited to funding alone. India’s ambition to position itself as a global content powerhouse was on display at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 held in Mumbai, which brought together creators, producers, startups and global stakeholders from over 100 countries. The summit acted as a convergence point for Indian storytelling and international capital, with OTT platforms, investors and technology leaders exploring partnerships in a rapidly evolving content economy.
Complementing this is the government’s focus on audio-visual co-production agreements, which effectively operate on a public-private partnership model. By enabling Indian and international producers to collaborate, these agreements are designed to bring in investment, global expertise and advanced filmmaking practices while also giving Indian stories a wider global footprint.
Support also extends to film culture and preservation. Grants are provided for domestic film festivals recommended by state governments, alongside curated film packages, masterclasses and workshops to nurture talent and audience engagement. The NFDC further collaborates with State Film Development Corporations, offering technical expertise across the filmmaking value chain and supporting the preservation of local film heritage.
Many states, in parallel, are encouraging the development of film infrastructure including production studios often through public-private partnership models, signalling a coordinated push to build a more robust audiovisual ecosystem.
The update was shared in Parliament by Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a query from Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan, outlining a multi-layered approach that blends funding, infrastructure, policy and global outreach.
Taken together, the message is clear: India is not just telling more stories, it is building the machinery to tell them bigger, better and to the world.
