Hindi
Television heartthrob makes his debut at Cannes
NEW DELHI: Marking his excellence on the small screen, actor Gautam Gulati of Diya Aur Baati Hum fame gears up to make his debut at Cannes Film Festival with screening of his release Coward (Darpok) by Rakesh Mehta.
Gulati said “Yes, I am starring in (Darpok) and going to France to attend the screening of the movie. I feel honoured to be a part of this film, this is a perfect inception for me to invade in movies”
He started off his journey as an actor with the experience of mastering in theater from Mandi House for a year. Leaving no stone unturned he also trained himself in dance from celebrated choreographer Shiamak Davar.
Speckled by Balaji Production House, he was spotted by soup opera queen, Ekta Kapoor. Exploring his credentials, Gulati worked under the banner for three years where he became contempt and experienced every aspect of acting. Sighting the dedication and zeal he seizes he was chosen as for the role of Vikram in Diya aur Baati Hum as he aptly suited the character. Going by his vast fan following he absolutely justified the character. He went on to become a household name and gathered fame and recognition from the India soup opera.
Talking about his journey, he said “I belong to a simple family back ground where we don’t have any association with Bollywood, but it was my passion for this art which made me pursue acting. As I never had a mentor or a God father to guide me through.”
After working and attaining recognition for six years, perhaps he made up his mind to work within the industry and learn this way through. To be given an opportunity like Darpok, Gulati feels elated. Becoming the epitome of talent, the skilled actor perceives this international break as his golden chance to prove his masters in the field of acting.
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.
