iWorld
Plan B takes centre stage as Chaniya Toli plots Its OTT heist
MUMBAI: Some plans whisper their way in. Others march straight up, smirk, and dare you to keep up. Chaniya Toli firmly belongs to the second kind. After a successful theatrical run that saw it emerge as the second highest-grossing Gujarati film of 2025, the film has now made its digital debut on Shemaroome, extending its offbeat charm to home screens and reaffirming the streamer’s appetite for stories that refuse to colour inside the lines.
Led by Yash Soni alongside Netri Trivedi, Chetan Dahiya, Heena Varde, Maulik Nayak, Sohni Bhatt, Kalpana Gagdekar and Jay Bhatt, Chaniya Toli starts as a personal search for purpose and swiftly snowballs into something far more audacious. At its heart is an outrageous scheme designed to outwit those responsible for pushing a village into financial despair. The real twist, however, lies in who drives the plan forward.
As the plot thickens, it is the women of the village who step into the spotlight, dismantling expectations and emerging as the backbone of the operation. What unfolds is less a conventional heist and more a playful act of rebellion, where community spirit and collective courage do the heavy lifting. Or, as the film cheekily suggests, sometimes the best plans are the ones nobody sees coming.
Speaking about the film’s digital premiere, Soni said the story’s unpredictability was its biggest draw, noting how the narrative constantly nudges the audience into doubting the plan, only to make it work in the most entertaining ways. The strong theatrical response, he added, made the OTT release a natural next step.
With its blend of humour, tension and social commentary, Chaniya Toli positions itself as more than just a caper. It is a celebration of everyday people daring to challenge their fate, with women leading from the front and logic gleefully put on trial.
Now streaming on Shemaroome, the film invites viewers into a world where intentions blur, plans spiral, and one improbably clever idea keeps everyone guessing right till the end.
iWorld
Rusk Media announces Battleground Season 2 on Amazon MX Player
Fitness reality show returns in April 2026 with bigger challenges and mentors.
MUMBAI: The arena is reopening and this time the competition promises even more sweat, strategy and spectacle. Rusk Media has confirmed the return of its fitness reality format Battleground for a second season, set to stream on Amazon MX Player from April 2026. The announcement follows the breakout success of the show’s debut season, which positioned itself as a high energy blend of sport, strategy and reality television. Season 1 brought together 16 contestants for a 28 day test of endurance and discipline, as aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts competed in physically demanding challenges and team based battles.
Divided into four teams, the participants trained under a panel of mentors drawn from the fitness and lifestyle space, with former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan serving as the show’s Super Mentor.
The format quickly found an audience among digital viewers and was listed among the most binged titles on Amazon MX Player. The show also picked up industry recognition, winning the “Most Popular Non Fiction Show” honour at the IWMBuzz Digital Awards 2025.
The first season also drew a slate of brand partnerships, including Honda Bigwing, Charged, American Pistachio Growers, Bigmuscles Nutrition, Ritebite Max Protein, Plix and Sparsh CCTV, highlighting the show’s appeal to brands targeting India’s rapidly growing youth and fitness audience.
For Season 2, the producers say the format will evolve with tougher physical challenges, a sharper competitive structure and deeper mentor involvement while continuing to focus on discovering the next generation of Indian fitness personalities.
Rusk Media, chief executive officer and co founder Mayank Yadav said the first season proved the appetite for competitive fitness storytelling. “Battleground was always envisioned as more than a show. Season 1 demonstrated that there is a massive audience for aspirational fitness competition at scale. With Season 2 we are going even bigger in ambition, intensity and opportunities for contestants and partners,” he said.
Rusk Ads lead Rahul Arora added that the series has also evolved into a strong platform for brand integration and advertiser engagement. “Season 1 showed that Battleground is not just compelling content but a powerful brand ecosystem. As we move into Season 2, we are looking to deepen brand collaborations and build more integrated partnerships,” he said.
With a larger format, an expanding fan base and a new season set to arrive in April 2026, Battleground is positioning itself as one of India’s emerging fitness reality franchises in the digital entertainment space.
