iWorld
ZEE5 drops ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ trailer
Mumbai: “Time is a flat circle,” Nietzsche once said. But what if that circle could be bent, twisted, and manipulated? ZEE5 is all set to shatter the boundaries of time and space with the mind-bending trailer of ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah.’ Set to premiere on 9 August, this Karan Johar and Guneet Monga Kapoor co-production questions the viewers on the possibility of altering present and future by changing the past.
Launched today, the trailer plunges viewers into a world where the impossible becomes possible, leaving them to wonder about the existence and power of time. Helmed by the visionary director Umesh Bist, ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ boasts a powerhouse cast including Kritika Kamra, Dhairya Karwa, and Raghav Juyal in the lead and Gautami Kapoor, Harsh Chhaya, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Mukti Mohan, Gaurav Sharma, among others.
Co-produced by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta of Dharmatic Entertainment, and Oscar-winning filmmaker duo Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment, Gyaarah Gyaarah tells the riveting tale of two police officers from different eras connected by a mysterious walkie-talkie and the butterfly effect it causes on the past and present.
The past year has seen ZEE5 accomplish multiple highlights and milestones. The platform has witnessed a whopping 85Bn minutes of watch-time in the past year, with strong viewership coming in from metros and non-metros alike. Tier II and III cities account for 40 per cent of ZEE5’s viewership, while Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi lead in metro consumption. Popular genres on the platform include thrillers, romance, dramas, action-adventure, and comedies, with pan-Indian audiences strongly gravitating to the multilingual storyteller’s diverse content library.
Talking about the overall success of ZEE5 and the launch of Gyaarah Gyaarah, ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, “At ZEE5, we remain dedicated to bringing exceptional content to our viewers. The trailer launch of ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ is a testament to this commitment. Our collaboration with Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment and Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, both renowned for their storytelling excellence, is an exciting step towards enriching ZEE5’s diverse content library. ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ offers a unique blend of mystery, and drama in a way that we believe will captivate audiences in India and beyond. We’re confident that this series will set a new benchmark for original content in the digital streaming space.”
A senior detective Shaurya Anthwal, played by Dhairya Karwa, from the 1990s and a young police officer Yug Arya, portrayed by Raghav Juyal, find themselves linked by a perplexing communication tool that springs to life at 11:11 pm for a fleeting 60 seconds. At the center of this temporal whirlwind is a determined woman Vamika Rawat, played by Kritika Kamra, once mentored by the senior detective Shaurya Anthwal before he mysteriously disappeared and now guiding the present-day young police officer Yug Arya.
As Shaurya and Yug join forces to crack the many cold cases, they unknowingly set off a chain reaction, altering the course of history with each breakthrough. Vamika, who is oblivious to the extraordinary connection between Shaurya and Yug is increasingly puzzled by her subordinate’s uncanny insights. With every solved mystery, this unlikely trio edges closer to uncovering a staggering truth about the officer’s vanishing act and the nature of their impossible alliance. Racing against the clock and battling the repercussions of their time-altering actions, will they unearth the secrets behind their mystifying bond, or will the weight of changing destiny prove too perilous to bear? Tune-in to ZEE5 to know more as Gyaarah Gyaarah is set to premiere on 9 August.
Kritika Kamra said, “Stepping into the world of ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ has been an exhilarating journey for me. This role is unlike anything I’ve ever done before – it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone. Playing a cop in this mind-bending mystery thriller has been both thrilling and demanding. Moreover, working alongside visionaries like Karan Johar and Guneet Monga Kapoor is a dream come true – their guidance and creative energy on set was truly inspiring. I can’t wait for ZEE5’s audience to experience this unique story that blends time, suspense, and human emotions in such an unlikely way, that makes the storytelling graph of the show truly unique and exciting”.
Raghav Juyal said, “Being part of ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ has been a transformative experience for me. I started my journey on a TV reality show, seamlessly transitioned into hosting and comedic roles. Now, as I make a mark in the Bollywood industry, I am deeply grateful to Guneet for recognizing my potential and encouraging me to embrace serious and challenging roles. Portraying a police officer for the first time feels like a significant responsibility, it’s a big leap from my usual performances, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. It allows me to showcase a different side of my acting abilities and I can’t wait for the ZEE5 audiences to see what we’ve created with ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ – it’s going to be a whole new experience for me and hopefully for the audience too!”.
Dhairya Karwa said, “Immersing myself in the world of ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ has been an incredible journey. The idea of manipulating time and its impact on our decisions is fascinating, and it’s been thrilling to portray that on screen. Collaborating with such a talented cast and being guided by Karan Johar, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Umesh Sir has been a special experience. This project is unlike anything I’ve worked on before – it’s intense, makes you think, and keeps you engaged. I can’t wait for ZEE5 audiences to delve into this distinctive mix of thriller and suspense that challenges our perception of reality. ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’ is a series that will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about time and fate”.
iWorld
Warner Chappell Music launches India ops, Jay Mehta to lead unit
WMG shifts to direct model, unifying publishing and recorded music
MUMBAI: Warner Chappell Music has officially launched direct operations in India, marking a strategic shift by parent Warner Music Group to deepen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets.
The move replaces the company’s earlier sub-publishing model with a full-fledged, on-ground operation, aimed at giving Indian songwriters stronger access to global networks, rights management tools, and creative infrastructure.
To lead the push, Jay Mehta has been handed an expanded mandate. Already serving as managing director of Warner Music India, Mehta will now oversee both recorded music and publishing across India and neighbouring South Asian markets, effectively bringing the two sides of the business under one roof.
The unified structure is designed to streamline how artists and songwriters work with the company, offering a more integrated ecosystem that spans compositions, recordings, and global distribution.
Warner Music Group managing director, recorded music and publishing, India and SAARC Jay Mehta said, “India’s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we’re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity.”
The timing is no coincidence. According to CISAC, creator collections in India jumped 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7 billion in 2024, while IFPI ranks India as the 15th largest recorded music market globally. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a structural shift, with independent and non-film music gaining ground over traditional Bollywood soundtracks.
Warner’s bet is that a direct presence will help it capture this changing dynamic. The company is also offering India-based creators access to its proprietary tools, including AI-powered royalty matching systems and real-time analytics platforms, aimed at improving transparency and earnings visibility.
Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said the move is about shaping a publishing ecosystem that “works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl underlined India’s importance to the company’s global strategy, noting that the new structure creates a “unified powerhouse” for both creators and audiences.
With local studios, global reach, and tighter integration across its business lines, Warner is clearly doubling down on India. And as streaming habits evolve and independent music rises, the company is positioning itself to be not just a participant, but a key architect of the country’s next music chapter.
