Hindi
Sanjay Suri and Onir’s next film is Chauranga
MUMBAI: Acclaimed for their latest release I Am, Sanjay Suri and Onir have now decided to produce Chauranga which is based on a true story. But this time around, instead of directing the film, Onir will only produce it.
Chauranga will be directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra, his first effort. It tells the touching story of an uneducated young Dalit boy wanting to express his feelings to an educated girl. He seeks help from his brother to write a love letter. The film explores the consequences thereafter.
A similar incident that took place in the Kaimur district of Bihar seems to have inspired Mishra to make the film. This incident created quite a stir internationally.
Though the auditions for the lead role is yet to take place, the makers plan to cast local talent from Jharkhand. The shooting of the film will begin in January next year.
Suri and Onir have earlier worked together in My Brother Nikhil, Bas Ek Pal and Sorry Bhai!.
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.
