Hindi
Two Indian films added to Toronto International Filmfest programme
NEW DELHI: The Toronto International Film Festival, which had earlier announced its selections, has now added two more Indian films in different sections.
Margarita, with a Straw directed by Shonali Bose will get a world premiere in Contemporary World Cinema programme while Megha Ramaswamy’s short film Newborns will screen in the inaugural Short Cuts International programme.
Margarita, with a Straw revolves around Laila (Kalki Koechlin), a young romantic and a secret rebel in a wheelchair. Undeterred by cerebral palsy, she embarks on exhilarating adventures of self discovery, which causes a rift both within and with those she is closest to. Ultimately, it is in the intensity of these bonds where she must find the strength to truly be herself.
Newborns attempts to provide a lens to the survivors of acid violence, to look forward and gaze back. They take us through the ennui of their domestic and public spaces in a nameless dystopian city, its factories, houses and motels, and its promises, never honoured.
A total of 36 international shorts from 29 countries will be screened in the newly introduced short film section at the 39th Festival from 4 to 14 September.
The programme presents the latest works of some of the most provocative and important voices in cinema from around the globe.
Several other Asian films have also been added. They include the world premieres of Johnnie To’s Don’t Go Breaking My Heart and Revenge of the Green Dragons, co-directed by Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo.
Other new titles include Joel C. Lamangan’s Justice Hustisya, Liew Seng Tai’s Men who save the World and Chang Jung-chi’s Partners in Crime.
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.
