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‘Two big film releases in one week is not a handicap:’ Deepika Padukone
NEW DELHI: Two big films are slated to release on 18 December and the actress starring in one of them – Deepika Padukone is not in the least bit fazed at the competition.
Padukone’s film Bajirao Mastani along with co-stars Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra, is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, which will clash with the Rohit Shetty directed Dilwale starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon at the box office.
“There’s nothing odd about the date of the film clashing with the release of Dilwale. In fact, it is nice that the audience will get to see two films of completely different genres together,” Padukone said.
The actress went on to say that very few roles that she has played have inspired or affected her personally and her character in Bajirao Mastani is one of them. “The credit for this goes to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is responsible for giving me the role of Mastani,” she said.
Padukone, who addressed a press meet along with Singh, said the songs in Bhansali’s films were films in themselves. “He puts so much of effort in a single song that one is amazed at his energy,” she added. “This has been the most exhausting film that I have ever done.”
However, the actress skirted any questions about the controversy over a song in the film, which has hurt the Maharashtrian community.
Bajirao Mastani is part historical – part fiction film about Peshwa Bajirao and his life.
Praising the director, Singh said Bhansali “knows how to extract the best performances out of his artists.”
“It took me 21 days to get into the character. I have actually worked so hard playing Bajirao. It has been a lifetime experience for me,” he added.
Movie Channels
Zee5 launches five free FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus India
New genre-led channels bring comedy, drama, horror, classics and South films to Smart TVs.
MUMBAI: Zee5 just turned Samsung Smart TVs into a free entertainment buffet because when premium content costs nothing, even the remote control starts smiling. Zee5 has launched five curated free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus India, making high-quality, genre-specific entertainment available subscription-free to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners across the country.
The five channels now live are:
Zee Comedy Nation – Popular comedy shows and movies
Zee Dil Se – Compelling drama series
ZEE Horror Nights – Horror and supernatural content
ZEE Cine Classic – Timeless Indian films
ZEE South Flix – High-energy South Indian films dubbed in Hindi
All content is drawn from Zee5’s extensive library and programmed in a lean-back, always-on format ideal for large-screen viewing. This launch strengthens Zee5’s Connected TV strategy at a time when 64 per cent of its premium content watch time already comes from connected devices.
Zee5 chief business officer Siju Prabhakaran said, “At Zee5, we believe accessibility and scale will define the next phase of digital entertainment growth in India. Our presence on Samsung TV Plus strengthens our Connected TV strategy, enabling viewers to discover curated, genre-led content in a seamless, free, and premium environment.”
Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta added, “Local partnerships are at the heart of how we grow Samsung TV Plus in India. Zee Entertainment is one of India’s most iconic media brands, and bringing their channels to our service means millions more Samsung Smart TV owners can enjoy premium local content, subscription-free.”
The channels are available directly through the pre-installed Samsung TV Plus app with no login or subscription required. This marks another milestone in Zee5’s CTV expansion and builds on its growing international presence, with Zee channels already available on Samsung TV Plus across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a streaming world where paywalls often block the fun, Zee5 and Samsung have quietly opened the gates, proving that sometimes the best things in life (and on your TV) really are free especially when they come with a side of comedy, drama, horror, classics and South Indian blockbuster energy.
