Hollywood
Viacom18 starts NY with ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’ premiere
MUMBAI: Starting the year on a promising note Viacom18 is proud to present xXx: Return of Xander Cage to the audience in India. After wowing viewers in Mexico and London as part of the global domination tour, megastar Vin Diesel visited India for the premiere along with his co-star, Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone and director DJ Caruso. With gravity defying action sequences, a star-studded cast and a gripping storyline, this third explosive chapter of the franchise promises to please fans across the nation.
Giving audiences a firsthand experience of the film acclaimed for its extreme sports action – a grand fan event was organized in Mumbai, with a spectacular lineup of entertainment ranging from BMX stunt-bikers to skateboarders and B- Boying troupes. Nucleya further took the stage and kept the fans in a trance up until Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone made their entrance to greet the fans. Following the incredible fan experience, Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone and DJ Caruso walked down the red carpet, signing autographs and interacting with their fans at the premiere.
Present at the premiere Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats mentioned, “Viacom18 Motion Pictures, has long been associated with producing content driven movies, often with female leads. Today, we are at an event that captures the spirit of universal stories – bringing global stories to India and taking Indian stories global. The India Hollywood connection has evolved through three stages. We started the journey by taking India’s pain and evolution through movies like Gandhi and A Passage to India. That stage followed with our stars who went on to essay character roles. In the last 3-4 years we have seen the emergence of stories from here like The Life of Pi and Jungle Book. Today’s a landmark moment when a leading lady from our country is playing a lead role in a mainstream Hollywood movie. It is our privilege to start this with bringing Deepika’s first Hollywood film to India.It is inspirational to see how far we have come in influencing Hollywood productions-through actors, storylines, locations, philosophies through the years. It gives us immense pride that our studio has brought this movie to India and will soon bring Baywatch with Priyanka Chopra as well.”
Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said: “Moving beyond conventional cinema, we are constantly persevering to bring only the best of Hollywood to India with our partnership with Paramount. India has emerged as one of the priority markets globally and VMP is proud to have been a pioneer in bringing about this change; the release of xXx in India before its worldwide release is one such step in this direction. We hope Indian audiences enjoy watching the film before the world does.”
A Paramount Pictures and Revolution Studios movie, xXx: Return of Xander Cage will be exclusively distributed in India by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Watch it before the world in 3D and IMAX 3D on 14 January.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
