Hindi
NFDC Film Bazaar offers platform for film deals
MUMBAI: The 6th annual Film Bazaar organized by National Film Development Corporation Ltd. (NFDC) concluded with Vipin Vijay (‘Chavunilum, A Voice From Elsewhere‘) and Indranil Roychowdhury (‘Phoring‘) winning awards.
The Incredible India Award ceremony was attended by Ministry of Tourism secretary Parvez Dewan, NFDC MD Nina Lath Gupta, director Vishal Bhardwaj, film maker Sudhir Mishra, director Ashutosh Gowariker, film maker and screenwriter Dibakar Banerjee, actor Sanjay Suri and film critic Rajeev Masand.
The four-day film market which was held between 21 to 24 of November at the Marriott Resort, Goa, saw participation of about 750 Delegates from over 32 countries who used this platform to network with producers, filmmakers and distributors from across the world. Film Bazaar also promoted co-productions by facilitating collaborations among potential domestic and international partners.
During the course of the festival, Mumbai‘s Independent Movies has finalized the financing of Sunrise (Arunoday) following a deal with India‘s Infinitum Productions to increase its funding. Indian production house Sikhya Entertainment and Italy‘s Dugong Production have signed a deal to co-produce the documentary An Indian Kiss based on a concept by Nandana Sen and Franco La Cecla. Tulsea International, a Los Angeles and Mumbai based sales agent and talent management company picked up the international rights of Marathi film Masala, directed by Sandesh Kulkarni and produced by Arbhaat Films.
Cinemart Rotterdam selected four promising producers Aditi Anand (Little Red Car), Vivek Gomber (Zoo Films), Anusha Rizwi (Third World Films), Nilesh Navlakha (Navlakha) Arts and Holy Basil Combine to attend the Producers‘ Lab held alongside Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Also, NFDC Film Bazaar‘s new partner; Dubai International Film Festival has selected a co-production Market project, Biscuit Dour (Biscuit Race) by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki for the Dubai Film Market, which is held alongside the Dubai Film Festival.
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.
