Hindi
Nayanthara to play Vidya Bagchi in Kahaani remake
“A State Govt. cannot ban a film cleared by the Censors, says Tewari even as Court extends stay on Vishwaroopam”MUMBAI: After roping in critically acclaimed filmmaker Sekhar Kammula to direct the remake of Sujoy Ghosh‘s Kahaani for the South Indian market, Endemol India, Logline Productions Pvt. Ltd and Select Media Holdings Pvt Ltd have finally found their Vidya Bagchi in actor Nayanthara.
Starring as the female lead in several commercial films, Nayanthara has delivered super hit films across languages in the South and is well known for her character-driven roles.
Nayanthara said “I am extremely delighted to be a part of this movie. The character of Vidya Bagchi was beautifully essayed by Vidya Balan and I should say I am lucky that Endemol approached me for this role. It is definitely a performance oriented role and audiences will see me in a completely different avatar!”
Kammula said, “I am very excited to work with Nayanthara on this project. Going by her previous work, I truly feel that she can express and connect with the audiences beautifully. It‘s this endearing quality of hers that makes her our Vidya Bagchi!”
Endemol India CEO Deepak Dhar said, “With Nayanthara on board, audiences will get to see a whole new Vidya Bagchi. Nayanthara is very well known for her power packed performances and we are certain that she will not disappoint her fans this time around as well!”
The film is slated to go on the floors soon and the rest of the cast is currently getting finalised.
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.
