iWorld
Rajshri Entertainment MD & CEO Rajjat Barjatya no more
Mumbai: Rajjat Barjatya, the affable, soft-spoken managing director & CEO of Rajshri Entertainment, passed away Friday evening in Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital. Rajjat had been battling a blood cancer relapse since end-March this year. He was 41 years old.
He was first detected with lymphoblastic leukemia in 2010. But he fought and conquered the life-threatening disease and had started aggressively expanding Rajshri in the digital space over the past couple of years. The dreaded disease resurfaced earlier this year.
He is survived by his wife Neha and two daughters, aged 11 and six.
Rajjat was a big votary of digital and online video and Rajshri Entertainment had emerged as amongst YouTube’s most preferred partners in India under his guidance.
Confirming the news, Jaslok Hospital CEO Dr Taran Gianchandani said that the death occurred at around 6:30 pm and refused to comment further.
According to sources, Rajat was supposed to travel to London next week for a bone marrow transplant. “He had been in and out of hospital over the past three weeks. In the ICU and out. On Thursday, he became quite serious and was put on the ventilator,” says a source close to family. “His body gave up the fight on Friday evening.”
His last rites will be performed on Saturday at Mumbai’s Worli Crematorium at 1 pm.
A cousin of renowned film maker Sooraj Barijatya and the son of Ajit Kumar Barjatya, Rajjat was also the founder & managing trustee of Rajshri Foundation, the non profit social enterprise of the Rajshri Group. He was actively involved in the Barjatya family’s Rajshri Productions, which has been behind family based movies such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Apke Hain Kaun and the recent 2015 Salman Khan starrer Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
May his soul rest in peace.
(Updated on 1 August 2016, 12:54 pm)
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
