Hindi
Multiplexes to participate in film industry’s token strike on 23 Feb
MUMBAI: Deciding to participate in a nationwide strike called by the Film Federation of India to protest against the government‘s proposal to bring the film industry under the purview of service tax, all cinema halls (single-screen and multiplexes) across the country will shut shop on 23 February.
Said multiplex owners‘ association president Deepak Asher, “All multiplexes in the country will be shut on 23 February. Not only us, single-screen theatres along with the entire film industry from production to distribution to exhibition, will be shut.”
But would a day’s token strike have any impact? “I guess no, but depending on the response we get on that day, we will think whether to go on an indefinite strike or not. All said and done, the one-day strike would definitely draw attention. People will sit up and ponder.”
Observed distributor Shyam Shroff, “ The matter being very serious, we have decided to protest. Generally, what happens is the service tax is collected from the consumer and passed on to the government. But in this case, it will pass from distributor to the exhibitor and the best part is that it should not pass to the consumer. So how are things to work out?”
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.
