Documentary
Planet Marathi, Endemol Shine India to make a biopic on athlete Lalita Babar
Mumbai: Entertainment content format and production company Endemol Shine India and a Marathi industry’s production house Planet Marathi have joined hands for a regional production. The film will be a sports biopic based on the life of Indian long-distance runner Lalita Babar. The film is scheduled to release on 26 January 2024.
Bollywood and Marathi cinema actress, Amruta Khanvilkar, has been roped in to play the titular role of the film. Hailing from a small village in Satara, Lalita Babar competes in the 3,000 meters steeplechase and is the current Indian national record holder and the reigning Asian Champion.
Endemol Shine India will step into the regional cinema space for the first time with this film. On the other hand, Planet Marathi, a name behind spectacular Marathi productions, will produce its first ever biopic. Raising standards and putting the spotlight on Marathi cinema, Planet Marathi has given gems like the magnum opus Chandramukhi, the national award-winning Goshta Eka Paithanichi and Pondicherry’ to name a few. With qualities like Endemol’s pan-India scale combined with Planet Marathi’s regional expertise, the collaboration of both entities adds an extra special touch to the production.
National award winner, Planet Marathi producer & founder Akshay Bardapurkar said, “We are committed to the idea of telling disruptive stories that propel our industry to create a league of its own. The journey of Lalita Babar, which started from Satara, is a proud and epic moment for our Marathi community. It is important to note that though the story has a regional core, it has pan-India and global resonance. We are happy to give the project the scale it deserves in collaboration with Endemol Shine India, who share our sentiments for the film.”
“We at Endemol Shine India are working aggressively to diversify our portfolio in the scripted space. We are moving towards creating a strong foothold with regional content and this Marathi film reinforces our commitment to deliver world class content. It is a compelling story of a contemporary sportsperson, a subject which can inspire more women in sports. Planet Marathi’s track record of portraying regional stories distinctively has been impeccable which makes them great partners in this journey we have embarked on,” said Endemol Shine India COO Gaurav Gokhale.
The film is produced by Akshay Vilas Bardapurkar, Rishi Negi, Gaurav Gokhale, and Ronita Mitra.
MUMBAI: Faster than a speeding bullet and slicker than a pit stop Superman just joined Formula E. In a thrilling fusion of comic book cool and racetrack grit, Lola Cars has joined forces with Warner Bros. Discovery in a strategic partnership that brings superheroes to the circuit. And they’re not easing into it, a Superman-themed race car will blaze onto the track for the Berlin E-Prix this weekend.
The Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E team’s T001 car, driven by Zane Maloney and Lucas di Grassi, will sport an electrifying blue, red and yellow livery, complete with the iconic Superman shield. Even the drivers will suit up literally in race gear inspired by Clark Kent’s legendary alter ego.
Timed with the 11 July theatrical release of DC Studios’ Superman, the stunt marks the start of a long-term collaboration between Lola and Warner Bros. Discovery, who will co-create content around Lola’s motorsport ventures and bring sponsor stories to life across platforms.
But this isn’t just about eye-catching liveries. The partnership also includes integrated sponsorship opportunities, with WBD joining hands to help monetise and maximise exposure through enhanced media packages.
“This is more than a one-off activation,” said Lola Cars chief commercial officer Keith Smout. “It’s a new model for sports-marketing synergy where the track meets the theatre, and content fuels the connection.”
WBD, GVP global sales Patrick Maitrot added, “By pairing the power of Superman with the speed of Formula E, we’re engaging fans in a whole new way using our unrivalled IP and Lola’s racing prowess to tell stories that leap off the screen and onto the track.”
The Superman livery will light up both rounds of the Berlin E-Prix at Tempelhof Airport. For Formula E fans, it’s a visual treat; for Superman fans, a fast-track teaser; and for both brands, a bold play in content-fuelled fandom.
Superman, directed by James Gunn and produced by Peter Safran, is DC Studios’ first feature film and will hit cinemas in the UK and Ireland on 11 July 2025. Meanwhile, Formula E action continues to stream across TNT Sports, Eurosport, discovery+ and HBO Max, with WBD holding exclusive coverage rights across Europe.
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