Hindi
RIP, Farooq Sheikh
MUMBAI: The year has been a sad one for the Bollywood fraternity and the fans as well who had to bear with the loss of some of talents of the industry. And with one more legend leaving us, the end will end with a sad note.
The 65-year-old actor contributed to the new-age cinema, theatre and television. He started his career with theatre where he actively participated in plays with Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA). His play with Shabana Azmi Tumhari Amrita was appreciated by audiences the world over for 12 years till 2004. The play completed its 20 year run on 26 February 2012. A sequel to this play was staged in India in 2004 titled Aapki Soniya with Farooq Sheikh and Sonali Bendre as main leads.
His Bollywood career started with Garam Hawa (1973) where he played a supporting role. Farooq Sheikh best known for his roles in Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Chashme Buddoor, Kissi Se Na Kehna and Noorie, passed away in Dubai after suffering a heart attack. He was last seen in Club 60.
In the late 90s, he acted in a number of television serials. Chamatkar on Sony and Ji Mantriji on Star plus are among the few. He also worked in a TV serial Shrikant which aired on Doordarshan from 1985 to 1986.
Before Koffee with Karan became a household name, it was Jeena issi ka naam hai which was one of the most talked about chat show. The show, hosted by Sheikh, aired on Zee where he interviewed many Bollywood celebrities. His sense of humour and direct humble approach was the USP of the show.
Hindi
Kridhan Infra enters film production with AI-led feature film
Infra firm debuts AI-powered film marking RSS centenary
MUMBAI: Kridhan Infra Limited is swapping hard hats for headsets. The infrastructure company has announced its entry into film production and media technology through its subsidiary, Kridhan Mediatech Private Limited, with the nationwide theatrical release of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, an AI-led feature film.
With Shatak, the company is not just stepping into cinema but staking a claim in what it describes as one of the world’s early full-length AI-driven feature films. Artificial Intelligence has been embedded across the creative and production process, from script visualisation and environment creation to modelling and production design.
The film commemorates 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, tracing defining moments, personalities and historical phases that shaped its journey. By combining archival storytelling with algorithm-powered creativity, the project attempts to blend heritage with high technology.
For Kridhan Mediatech, this is only the opening scene. The subsidiary’s broader ambition spans AI, CGI, virtual production systems and scalable content models for both theatres and digital platforms. The move signals a strategic diversification for Kridhan Infra, traditionally rooted in engineering and construction.
The timing aligns with India’s growing push to become a global AI powerhouse. At the 2026 AI Impact Summit, prime minister Narendra Modi urged innovators to design in India and deliver to the world. Kridhan Mediatech’s initiative positions itself squarely within that narrative, aiming to export technology-enabled storytelling beyond domestic audiences.
India’s media and entertainment industry, valued at over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, alongside a rapidly expanding AI economy projected to cross Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the coming years, offers fertile ground at the intersection of cinema and code.
“With Shatak, we proudly present one of the world’s first AI-led full-length feature films while marking our strategic entry into film production and media technology through our subsidiary,” the company said in a statement. “Our vision is to combine India’s rich narrative heritage with forward-looking innovation. This is just the beginning of building globally competitive, technology-enabled cinematic experiences.”
From infrastructure to imagination, Kridhan’s latest venture suggests that in today’s India, even storytelling can be engineered.
