iWorld
ZEE5 to foray into the horror-comedy genre with the upcoming original film Kakuda
Mumbai: Prepare for a spine-chilling yet hilarious experience as ZEE5, India’s largest home-grown video streaming platform and a multilingual storyteller, announces its foray into the horror-comedy genre with the upcoming original film, ‘Kakuda’. Produced by RSVP and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker of successful titles like ‘Zombivili’ and ‘Munjya’, Aditya Sarpotdar, this film promises to be a laughter riot with a twist of fear. Starring the powerhouse trio of Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha, and Saqib Saleem, ‘Kakuda’ will soon premiere on ZEE5.
‘Kakuda’ is set in the village of Ratodi in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district. While Ratodi seems like any other village, it isn’t because of the curse inflicted upon it for years. Every house in the district has two similar-looking doors, one that is normal size and one which is smaller than the other. The film revolves around a peculiar ritual that demands the opening of the smaller door of each house every Tuesday at 7:15 PM sharp. Failure to comply with this rule invites the wrath of Kakuda, who punishes the man of the house. But who is Kakuda…Why does he punish the men in the village? How will the villagers get rid of the curse? Beware! Ab Mard Khatre Me Hai!
Based in the heartland, Kakuda is a horror comedy that will keep the audience intrigued, entertained and engrossed through its narrative. The movie will soon premiere on ZEE5 in Hindi.
ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra stated, “At ZEE5, we take pride in consistently pushing the envelope and exploring uncharted territories to entertain our viewers. With our original film ‘Kakuda’, we are venturing into the realm of horror-comedy, a genre that resonates positively with the audience and aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering diverse and engaging content. Moreover, we are elated to have phenomenal talents like Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh, and Saqib Saleem leading this film. Known for their impeccable comic timing, this stellar ensemble and the thrilling narrative of ‘Kakuda’ will bring the genre to life. We hope that this movie will be appreciated and enjoyed by audiences across the country, further establishing ZEE5 as the ultimate destination for cutting-edge entertainment.”
Ronnie Screwvala said, “We are thrilled to partner with ZEE5, India’s leading streaming platform, for our unique horror-comedy ‘Kakuda’ starring Ritesh Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha and Saqib Saleem. We are confident that ‘Kakuda’ will resonate with Indian audiences, given the exciting genre and our partnership with ZEE5 ensures that this story reaches millions of viewers, from the comfort of their homes.”
“As a filmmaker and a fan of the horror-comedy genre, I find it incredibly fascinating to explore the delicate balance between fear and laughter. It’s a challenging task to make viewers simultaneously scared and amused, but with ‘Kakuda,’ I am confident that we have hit the right chord yet again,” said director Aditya Sarpotdar.
He added, “I am thrilled to have worked with an exceptionally talented cast, including Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha, Saqib Saleem and Aasif Khan who have supported the narrative brilliantly by adding humour and emotions to the story. Their spotless comic timing and the way they portray genuine emotions have made my job as a director much easier. Together, we have crafted a unique and engaging story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating every twist and turn. ‘Kakuda’ is an experience that will take the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and I am immensely grateful to ZEE5 for believing in my vision and providing me with the platform to bring this story to life. Can’t wait to drop the trailer of this film and see the reactions of the fans.”
Fasten your seat belts and get comfy on your couches as ‘Kakuda’ premieres soon on ZEE5!
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
