Hindi
Panda approaches Gere for film on food security
MUMBAI: With both his debut film I Am Kalam and Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid having won rave reviews, Nila Madhab Panda is making a film based on the issue of world food security.
The film, which will span from 2001 to 2010, will be like a realistic version of Avatar.
Panda has approached Richard Gere to star in the film. If Gere accepts, he will play the sutradhar, that of a foreigner who comes to India and gets involved with the socio-political setup of a village in the India-Australia joint production.
The director has also proposed Harrison Ford’s name for the film.
“We’re talking to a lot of people. Nothing is confirmed yet, but this film will be much bigger (compared to his past films),” observed Panda.
Talking about Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid , Panda averred, “It’s more than just a children’s film. It falls in the family adventure space.”
Panda is gearing up to release Jalpari on 28 July through producer-distributor Ultra Distributors.
The distributor has already received distribution offers from far flung countries like Korea, Taiwan, Germany and Far East.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
