News Headline
Prime Focus & Double Negative ready new VFX facility in Mumbai
mumbai: Prime Focus World (PFW), the creative services division of Prime Focus Limited, and VFX house Double Negative (Dneg) have entered the next phase of expansion plans with the building of a new VFX facility in Mumbai.
Located in Mumbai’s Film City, the new studio will be built to the same exacting standards as Dneg’s facilities in London, Vancouver and Singapore, with particular emphasis on providing one of the best working environment for artists.
Dneg’s technical infrastructure, tools and pipeline will be rolled out to the new facility as part of the build, mirroring Dneg’s other international locations.
Recruitment roadshows are being planned throughout India and key international locations to attract the best VFX talent across all levels of experience to work exclusively on Dneg VFX projects.
Movies already slated for work in Mumbai include The Huntsman for Universal starring Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt, and Inferno, Ron Howard’s latest movie based on the Dan Brown novel, amongst others.
The new VFX facility will also offer rigorous training programmes for staff with the intention of creating Asia’s leading ‘VFX Campus,’ complete with specifically-built classrooms and training areas, and offering Dneg’s training programmes.
“Prime Focus is the undisputed industry leader in India and knows the market, the culture and the landscape better than any other company. This collaboration plays to the strengths of both companies, the intention being to create a world-class VFX facility that can proudly sit alongside the rest of Dneg’s global network,” said Double Negative CEO Matt Holben.
“This is another great step forward for Prime Focus World and Double Negative, Prime Focus is committed to supporting Dneg in achieving its vision of becoming a truly global company in the high-end film industry, and this new state-of-the-art facility will help them to remain creative and competitive across all of their locations, and to continue producing award-winning visual effects work that is second-to-none,” added Prime Focus founder, executive chairman and global CEO Namit Malhotra.
Dneg and PFW have recently collaborated on a number of shows, providing VFX and stereo conversion services on projects such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, Terminator: Genisys and Ant-Man. Upcoming projects include Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Insurgent, Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, Tarzan, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Spectre.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
