Movies
Laloo Laughs to the Bank as Gujarati Cinema Hits Rs 100 Crore
MUMBAI: If cinema had a victory lap, Gujarati film Laloo just took it at full throttle. At a special felicitation ceremony hosted by Citara, the makers of Laloo were honoured for crossing the ₹100 crore box office mark, a milestone that not only rewrites records, but also redraws the map of regional cinema in India.
The film has delivered unprecedented numbers across Citara’s cinema network, including strong performances in smaller centres such as Jamkhambalia. Designed for Tier 2, 3 and 4 markets, Citara’s compact, tech-enabled theatres have emerged as unlikely but powerful launchpads for this historic run.
For Gujarati cinema, the moment feels less like a peak and more like a coming-of-age. Producers and director of Laloo credited the unwavering support of the Gujarati diaspora, both in India and overseas, for pushing the film beyond expectations and into the ₹100 crore club.
Citara founders Tutu Sharma and Rahul Nehra said the film had broken all previous records at their centres and confirmed that the company is on track to roll out 25 screens across Gujarat over the next 12 to 18 months. They attributed Laloo’s success to its emotional resonance and consistent focus on quality storytelling.
Producer Ajay Balwant Padariya and director Ankit Sakhiya described the milestone as both a celebration and a signal of what lies ahead. According to the team, Laloo’s journey reflects a growing appetite for strong regional stories that travel far beyond state borders.
The evening also sparked conversations about the future. Citara and the Laloo team revealed plans to explore a state-of-the-art Film City in Gujarat, alongside a world-class media school, with a detailed proposal expected to be shared with the government soon. The initiative aims to nurture local talent and position Gujarat as a serious global creative hub.
Actors Maulik Chauhan, Shruhad Goswami, Karan Joshi, Reeva Rachh, and cinematographer Shubham Gajjar were present at the ceremony, marking the occasion as both a celebration of one film and a statement about an industry finding its voice.
For Gujarati cinema, Laloo isn’t just a hit. It’s a headline.
Hollywood
Trump invested over $1.1m in Netflix bonds at the peak of Warner Bros bidding battle
Financial disclosures show U.S. president also bought Warner Bros Discovery debt during high-stakes media takeover race.
WASHINGTON: New government financial disclosures show that U.S. president Donald Trump purchased more than $1.1 million worth of bonds issued by Netflix over the past three months. The transactions occurred during a period when Netflix was engaged in a competitive bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, a potential merger that the Trump administration had publicly criticised on antitrust grounds.
Between December and January, the president acquired Netflix bonds valued between $1.1 million and $2.25 million. The bonds carry a 5.375 per cent interest rate and are scheduled to mature in November 2029. Financial disclosures also revealed an additional investment in Warner Bros Discovery bonds. The purchase was valued between $500,002 and $1 million, with the debt reportedly bought at roughly 92 cents on the dollar. The bonds are now trading at around 95 cents on the dollar, leaving the position currently in profit.
The timing of the investments has drawn scrutiny because the administration had been openly critical of Netflix’s market activities at the time. While the president’s trust was purchasing the debt, the administration reportedly pressured Netflix to remove board member Susan Rice and expressed concerns that a Netflix–Warner merger could harm competition.
The White House has dismissed conflict-of-interest concerns, stating that the president’s assets are managed independently by his children. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said U.S. presidents are legally exempt from the conflict-of-interest laws that apply to other federal officials.
Despite the financial interest, Netflix ultimately lost the race to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Paramount Skydance secured the deal on 27 February with a $110 billion offer. The acquisition was backed by Larry Ellison, who guaranteed $40 billion to support the bid, while major lenders including Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo Global Management provided $39 billion in financing.
The final acquisition leaves the combined Paramount entity carrying roughly $85 billion in debt, while Netflix withdrew its bid roughly two weeks before the official disclosure report was released.
