Hindi
The 11th Jagran Film Festival 2023 presents a star-studded roster of celebrities
Mumbai: The 11th Jagran Film Festival in 2023, which is the world’s largest traveling film festival, is eagerly awaited and promises to be a glamorous affair. The event is set to feature a remarkable roster of esteemed celebrities who will add their star power to the occasion.
. The team of Thank you for Coming, Bhumi Pednekar, Rhea Kapoor and Karan Boolani will be present on the first day 12 October at 3:15 pm for an interactive in conversation with the audience.
. Director, screenwriter and producer, Anees Bazmi will grace the festival on 12 October at 12:30 pm. With a career spanning several decades, he has carved a niche for himself as a master of comedy, creating films that continue to bring laughter to audiences worldwide. He will also be joined by Amit Rai, DK. Raj and Mukesh Chhabra.
. Renowned filmmaker Aanand L. Rai will share his experiences and wisdom on 13 October at 5:30 pm. His films have been celebrated for their grandeur and impactful storytelling.
. Piyush Mishra, versatile actor, poet, and musician known for his remarkable contributions to both theatre and cinema will also share his insightful journey on 13 October at 6:40 pm. His powerful performances and evocative poetry have left an indelible mark on the entertainment world.
. On 13 October join Vishal Batra (brother of Kargil war hers Param Veer Chakra- Vikram Batra) for an in-conversation on the bond that he shared with his brother at 3:45 pm.
. Join the successful casting director, Anmol Ahuja for an interaction with the audience on casting on 13 October at 12:15 pm.
. The stage is also set for Amit Sadh for an interesting in conversation on 14 October at 1:15 pm. Amit Sadh is a versatile actor known for his compelling performances in both films and digital series, capturing audiences with his talent and dedication.
. Bobby Deol, a seasoned actor, recognised for his contributions to Bollywood, spanning from the 1990s to the present day will also be present on 14 October for an in-conversation session at 4:45 pm. His versatility and notable performances have earned him a lasting place in the Indian film industry.
. Bollywood’s rising star Pulkit Samrat will charm the audience on 14 October at 6:00 pm with his youthful energy and promising talent.
. Atul Mongia, acting mentor, writer and director will be present for a rendezvous at 11:45 am.
. Join Karishma Kapoor, an established leading actress known for her charismatic on-screen presence and versatile roles in Hindi cinema on 15 October at 1:30 pm. She will be sharing her career journey and challenges in an interactive dialogue with the audience.
The Indian premiere kicks off with “Guthlee Ladoo,” featuring a special screening of “Darran Chhoo,” while the international opening showcases “Eismayer,” and the regional opening presents “Jananam: 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu.” Closing the ceremony, we have “Siya” in the Indian section, “Property” in the international section, and “Tatkhana” in the regional section. Movie enthusiasts are invited to savor these films at the event.
Join us at the Jagran Film Festival 2023 to celebrate the magic of cinema and be part of these exciting celebrity interactions. Don’t miss this golden opportunity to be up close and personal with your favourite stars! Book your seats, log on to jff.co.in and BookMyShow
For registration log on to: www.jff.co.in.
Hindi
Remembering Gyan Sahay, the lens behind film, television and advertising
From a puppet rabbit selling poppadums to Hindi cinema, he framed it all.
MUMBAI: There are careers, and then there are canvases. Gyan Sahay, the veteran cinematographer, director, and producer who passed away on 10 March 2026 in Mumbai, had one of the latter. Over several decades in the Indian film and television industry, he turned lenses, lights, and the occasional puppet rabbit into something approaching art.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sahay built his reputation as a director of photography across a career that stretched from the early 1970s all the way to the digital age. He was the kind of craftsman who understood that a well-composed shot is not merely a technical achievement but a quiet act of storytelling.
For most Indians of a certain age, however, Sahay will forever be the man behind the rabbit. His direction of the iconic long-running television commercial for Lijjat Papad, featuring its now-legendary puppet bunny, gave the country one of its most cheerfully persistent advertising images. It was the sort of work that sneaks into the national subconscious and takes up permanent residence.
His big-screen credits as cinematographer include Anokhi Pehchan (1972), Pagli (1974), Pas de Deux (1981), and Hum Farishte Nahin (1988). In 1999, he stepped behind a different kind of camera altogether, making his directorial debut with Sar Ankhon Par, a drama that featured Vikas Bhalla and Shruti Ulfat, with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan for good measure.
On television, Sahay was particularly prized for his command of multi-camera production setups, a skill that made him a go-to technician for large-scale shows and reality programmes. In an industry that has never been especially patient with complexity, he was the calm hand on the rig.
In later life, Sahay turned teacher. He participated regularly in masterclasses and Digi-Talks, often hosted by organisations such as Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, sharing hard-won wisdom on cinematography, the comedy of timing in a shot, and the sweeping changes brought by the shift from celluloid to digital. He was also said to have been involved in a project concerning a biographical film on Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Tributes from the film industry poured in following the news of his passing, with colleagues remembering him as a senior cameraman who served as a rare bridge between two entirely different eras of Indian cinema. That is, perhaps, the finest thing one can say of any craftsman: he kept up, and he brought others along with him.
