Hindi
Ram Gopal Varma mulls film on post-YSR’s death
MUMBAI: Inspired by the political developments in the aftermath of former Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy‘s death in September 2009, Ram Gopal Varma is readying to make a Telugu film Reddy Garu Poyaru (Reddy is Dead).
“The unprecedented political developments in Andhra Pradesh as well as the many scandals that came to light, and the intense war between television news channels, have inspired me immensely. I have decided to make a feature film exposing these happenings through a fictitious story,” Varma said in a statement.
It has been reported that the script of the proposed film was under preparation and shooting would start next year soon after Varma completes his current venture, Department.
“I was never interested in politics but I always had a tremendous urge to study the psychology of political leaders. A small stone when thrown into still water will cause ripples but the same stone when thrown into political waters will cause a tsunami,” Varma observed.
Elaborating on the story, the 49-year-old producer- director said a struggle for political existence begins with the death of a tall leader. “The leader‘s own men will seek to use his death as an investment for their political existence, while those on the other side will try to use the opportunity to regain their existence. As a whole, the film will expose the bizarre political game that is played in the aftermath of the tall leader‘s death,” he averred.
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.
