Hindi
PVR introduces special merchandise for ‘Singham Returns’
MUMBAI: PVR Cinemas, a movie exhibition company in India has recently commenced another new venture to woo its audience. The company has launched an exclusive range of merchandise for its patrons to give them an even closer feel to the nuances of the movie. These merchandises are integrated with PVR’s F&B service.
PVR, being the cinema partner of the film Singham Returns, has associated with the Bollywood production house for the first time. As part of this, it will introduce exclusive Singham Returns popcorn bags, sippers for beverages and lunch boxes that can also be carried home by patrons, as souvenirs.
PVR Pictures president Kamal Gianchandani said, “Cinema watching in India is changing at a dynamic rate. Today, the patrons demand a personal- visual treat when they enter to watch a movie. Internationally, movie merchandising is extremely popular with cult movies like Star Wars, Harry Porter series, Jurassic Park and many more. PVR, being the industry leader leaves no stones unturned to offer its patrons a global- standard movie watching experience in the country.”
PVR has launched a series of candy merchandising with Disney as well with its ‘Take Home Disney collection’ for international characters like Spiderman and Princess. Some upcoming merchandise includes the likes of Cars and Avengers.
The movie Singham Returns is slated to release on 15 August 2014.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
