iWorld
Panorama Studios partners with One Digital Entertainment to launch ‘Bar Code’ web-series
MUMBAI: Panorama Studios is launching its first web-series titled Bar Code in partnership with One Digital Entertainment. The series will have 10 episodes and will be shot in real nightclubs in Mumbai.
Speaking on the new tie-up, Panorama Studios producer and MD Abhishek Pathak said ”With the current web-series space being heavily cluttered and with most of them being imitations of one another, we at Panorama Studios were on the lookout for something clutter-breaking and something that would stand out, and in Bar Code we found the right script which deals with the fascinating world of Bombay’s nightclubs, making it very exciting for us to to be launching it as the first web-series out of the variety of other web-content being developed at our studio.”
“Bar Code looks closely at what goes on behind the scenes in one of the most glamorous businesses in the world. The plot has an interesting hook, the characters, humor and the drama are very relatable while the whole look and feel will be very upscale and chic. The treatment of the music will have an interesting mix of EDM, Bollywood and Deep House, which should connect with youth segment across the country”, added writer-director Vignesh Shetty.
The casting process is underway and renowned actors are being considered to play the male and female leads. Production will begin in mid-June 2016.
Commenting on the association, One Digital Entertainment COO and co-founder Gurpreet Singh said, “Panorama Studios have delivered amazing stories in the form of bollywood movies so far and now with their entry into web shows, am pretty sure they will set new benchmarks in the industry. We are very delighted to partner with them and are looking forward to engage both the consumers and brands with such an innovative concept.”
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
