Hindi
Venkatesh Films releases Bengali film in 270 theatres across nation
MUMBAI: Venkatesh Films has set a record by releasing its Bengali mass film entertainer Challenge-2 in 270 screens across the country.
The film‘s producer Mahendra Soni says,” This is the first time a non-double-version Bengali film has been released in 270 theatres across the country and continues its successful run in the non-niche segment of core viewers outside Bengal.”
Starring Dev, Challenge-2 is being screened in both single screen and multiplexes in Mumbai, in single screens of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, MP and Assam. The occupancy rate is over 60 per cent since the October 19 release. “The response was tremendous in the first three days of the film‘s release,” confides Soni.
Talking of the response of his helmed film, director Raja Chanda observes, “The camera work normally associated with Bollywood entertainers, the glossy look, the sleek stunt shots and the fast paced editing helped in winning the audience, even outside Bengal.”
When will you release the film overseas, “We are planning to screen Challenge-2 abroad for the Indian diaspora by the end of this year,” Soni confirms.
Besides Dev, the cast includes Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajatabha Datta and debutante heroine Puja Bose.
It may be interesting to note that Challenge, the prequel of Challenge-2 was released in Bengal territory only and was a smash hit.
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.
