Hindi
Vkaao & Shemaroo to re-release cult classic ‘Namak Halaal’ in theatres
MUMBAI: Vkaao, India’s first ever ‘theatre-on-demand’ service associates with Shemaroo ShowTime – a sub-brand of Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd that deals in screening of iconic block buster films on big screens.
The duo is re-releasing the cult classic film ‘Namak Halaal’ to mark the completion of ‘35 years’ of its release. The movie is restored by Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd to offer the audience enhanced watching experience. Viewers across the country can book a private screening of the movie through Vkaao , at a theatre of their choice and convenient time. Alternatively, one can also book a ticket at the ticket counter of the theatre and be part of special screening of the movie on 21 May.
PVR Pictures CEO Kamal Gianchandani said, “For our latest addition to Vkaao’s movie library, we decided to revive the much-loved classic Namak Halaal.The concept of screening iconic films in theatres is highly popular in the west and we hope to popularize the same in India through Vkaao.”
Namak Halaal was the perfect start to this endeavour as its witty dialogue, rib-tickling humour and stellar performances are timeless and hold a strong appeal even today. We want to give young audiences a chance to enjoy classic Indian movies such as this one. In addition, we want to offer older audiences the opportunity to watch the movies they have come to love and help them re-create their movie-going memories from yesteryears.”
Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada shares his thoughts on the occasion, “We are overwhelmed and excited to re-release the film Namak Halaal on the big screen under our sub brand – Shemaroo ShowTime. It has been conceived to re-release / screen iconic movies from our vast library, thereby emoting nostalgic feeling in the audience. He also added, “In our experience, we have found that the younger audience too would love to have an opportunity to watch classic landmark movies like Namak Halaal. They have shown us positive response on social media and during theatrical screenings of such movies along with other platforms. In fact, with the growing popularity of retro content, we hope that, we soon will have to expand the number of platforms of our retro offerings.”
Directed by Prakash Mehra, Namak Halaal stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Smita Patil, Parveen Babi & Waheeda Rehman. Undoubtedly one of the most entertaining movies ever made in Bollywood, it showcased Amitabh Bachchan’s comic side to the hilt.
The film traces the journey of a country bumpkin, Amitabh Bachchan, who finds a job in a hotel only to realise that he must thwart a murder plot against the owner Shashi Kapoor. With the addition of Namak Halaal to its movie library, Vkaao aims to continue to bring classics from India as well as abroad and acquaint younger audiences with them along with offering older viewers a chance to revisit their favourite films.
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.
