Hindi
MayaSabha teaser drops, Tumbbad director returns with new mind-bender
MUMBAI: Mystery is back on the menu and Rahi Anil Barve is serving it with a twist sharp enough to cut through the fog of Indian cinema.
The Tumbbad director has unveiled the first motion teaser of his long-awaited second film, MayaSabha, ahead of its theatrical release on 16 January 2026.
The teaser marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian storytelling, signalling Barve’s return after nearly a decade of experimentation, rebuilding and relentless creative chiselling. But Barve is clear: MayaSabha is not Tumbbad, and it’s not like anything audiences have seen before.
At the heart of MayaSabha lies an unusual narrative engine. The film places its viewers and its four central characters at the starting line of the same treasure hunt but the paths soon diverge. As the story progresses, the shocks that strike the characters come from the dangers they uncover within the plot, while the audience is blindsided by revelations the characters themselves can never perceive. Yet Barve ensures the emotional tether remains unbroken; viewers may see more, but they still feel alongside them.
The most radical choice, however, is saved for the climax, where Barve breaks almost every established rule of the mystery-thriller form, opting for an ending that is bold, unconventional and, by his own admission, risky.
Known for the atmospheric, textured world-building of Tumbbad, Barve once again leans into myth, philosophy and psychological unease. MayaSabha, he says, “promises a journey into guarded truths and power structures far more dangerous than they appear at first glance. The film steps boldly into territory where symbolism meets suspense, and where silence reveals more than dialogue.”
Produced by Zirkon Films, with Girish Patel and Ankoor J. Singh at the helm, and co-producers Shamrao Bhagwan Yadav, Chanda Shamrao Yadav, Kewal Handa and Manish Handa, MayaSabha stands poised to be one of 2026’s most enigmatic cinematic offerings.
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.
