Hindi
KriArj gets into film acquisition & distribution, hires veteran Girish Johar
MUBAI: After the success of Rustom, Girish Johar has joined KriArj Entertainment, who will be leading its foray into film acquisition for the Indian & overseas markets.
This association will fully equip team KriArj to not only monetise its own films but will also give them the strength to provide marketing & distribution services to other independent film makers. Additionally, KriArj plans to acquire big films for not only their pan-India distribution but also for the overseas territories.
A graduate in Economic Honors and an MBA in Marketing and I.T, Girish Johar has worked with leading players like Balaji Motion Pictures, Sony, UTV Disney, PVR & Zee Studios, and has immense experience in marketing, production, exhibition and global distribution of films. During his tenure, he has defined the business and market for films releasing in various languages – Hindi, English, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi. Johar, a young veteran, has an experience of around 20 years in this field and was involved in more than 140 films, in various capacities. Jodhaa Akbar, DevD, A Wednesday, Ragini MMS, The Dirty Picture, Jazbaa, Rustom & many more form part of his repertoire within the industry.
KriArj has not only taken a strong foothold, within a very short span of time, but have also chalked out major plans for their foray into films acquisition aggressively.
Fresh from the success of Rustom and the much awaited Toilet-Ek Prem Katha, which is a summer 2017 release with Viacom18, KriArj has announced their association with John Abraham Entertainment for PARMANU The Story of Pokhran with Zee Studios & Kyta Productions , Clean Slate Films PARI (Anushka Sharma’s production banner), Anees Bazmi’s next with TSeries, Fanney Khan starring Anil Kapoor & Aishwarya Rai of a Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra production and also Vishal Bhardwaj’s production. They are also in the final stages for locking other prestigious projects with leading stars, details of which will be announced shortly.
Confirms Johar: “Films are made with lot of passion, energy & commitment, which I feel, am very lucky to have found in Prernaa Arora & Arjun N. Kapoor, as in their inherent DNAs! Super charged up, at KriArj Entertainment, to make good & economically viable content, not only in Hindi but regional languages too and not only for the BIG screen but Digital too.”
Says, KriArj chairman Virindrra Arora: “I am confident that Girish Johar’s passion in movies & his experience in business of movies will lead us through to our next stage in expansion. His leadership qualities and strong business acumen is utmost we are confident of. We, all at team KriArj, will not only fuel & streamline our present projects but also our build for our major expansion plans”
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
