Hindi
Shabana Azmi approached to star in Zero Dark Thirty
MUMBAI: Kathryn Bigelow, who just wrapped up a week’s shooting for her film Zero Dark Thirty based on the killing of Osama bin Laden, has reportedly talked to Shabana Azmi to star in her film mired with controversies.
It is said that the Hurt Locker director had made up her mind to cast some prominent actors of Pakistani origin, but nothing transpired once she knew that she would not be able to shoot because she didn’t get the required permission.
Now she has decided to cast Indian actors. However, no name has yet been finalised as to who would essay the role of Osama bin Laden. Said a team member on condition of anonymity, “While we have finalised our American cast members, Kathryn is yet to take a final call on the actor who would be playing Osama.”
The film that follows the capture of the world‘s most wanted terrorist was originally going to be shot in Abbottabad in Pakistan, where bin Laden was captured. However, after being denied access by the government, Bigelow moved production to the Indian town of Chandigarh.
There, the crew designed the area to look like the Pakistan town of Lahore and had extras dressed in Pakistani garb. Here too, the film faced protests from people who were against parts of India turned into that of Pakistan with their flag flying high. However, the problem was sorted out.
This isn‘t the first time that Bigelow has run into trouble. In January, the CIA opened an official investigation into the project over whether the Oscar-winning director and screenwriter Mark Boal had leaked classified material regarding the recent capture and assassination of the late al Qaeda leader.
Zero Dark Thirty is set to hit theatres later in 2012
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.
