iWorld
Zee5’s ‘Tehran’ races to 100 million minutes in record-breaking debut
MUMBAI: The John Abraham-starrer became the fastest Hindi film of 2025 to cross the 100 million streaming minutes mark on Zee5 and it did so in just 72 hours of its Independence Day weekend premiere. By the end of its launch week, the geo-political thriller had clocked up a staggering 200 million minutes, securing its place as the platform’s most-watched Hindi release of the year.
The film didn’t just win over Indian audiences. Streaming across 190 plus countries, Tehran broke into Zee5’s global Top 5 for 2025, trending in the US, UK, MENA and APAC proof that its tense narrative struck a chord with the diaspora.
A slick marketing blitz only added to the spectacle. From a visual projection on Mumbai’s Bandra-Worli Sea Link to hoardings across UP, MP and Mumbai, Tehran was unmissable. The promotions even included Zee5’s first-ever exclusive screening at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in Delhi, capped with a candid Q&A session with John Abraham himself.
Zee5 business head (Hindi), Kaveri Das, credited the success to the film’s “intelligent narrative” and said the response reflects the appetite for “stories that entertain while sparking conversations.”
Meanwhile, Abraham called the audience’s love “truly overwhelming” and said the film reinforced his belief in pushing boundaries and said, “Geo-political thrillers are a genre I truly believe in, and this proves viewers want stories that go beyond entertainment, bold films that stay with you long after the credits roll.”
Directed by Dinesh Vijan, the thriller stars John Abraham, Neeru Bajwa, Manushi Chhillar and Madhurima Tuli, and is set against the backdrop of the 2012 magnetic bomb blast near the Israeli Embassy in Delhi. With its blockbuster premiere, Tehran has firmly joined the ranks of Zee5’s most successful titles, reaffirming the streamer’s grip on premium homegrown content.
iWorld
JioStar-backed crackdown busts illegal IPTV network, three arrested
Police seize Rs 20 lakh, expose piracy ring streaming IPL and OTT content
MUMBAI: A coordinated anti-piracy operation backed by JioStar India Private Limited has led to the arrest of three individuals linked to an organised illegal IPTV network streaming premium television and sports content, including matches from the TATA IPL 2026.
The crackdown was carried out by the Cyber Crime Police Firozabad, which uncovered a piracy syndicate operating under the name “BOS IPTV”. The accused were apprehended across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, signalling the multi-state footprint of the operation.
Investigators found that the network had built a user base of over 900 subscribers, distributing unauthorised streams of copyrighted content through digital platforms, including messaging apps. Authorities also traced structured financial transactions linked to the operation, with payments routed via QR codes, bank accounts and other digital methods.
As part of the enforcement action, law enforcement agencies seized several electronic devices and financial records. Around Rs 20 lakh connected to the accused has been frozen, highlighting the commercial scale of the piracy network.
The case follows an earlier crackdown on a large illegal IPTV operation and marks an expansion of efforts to dismantle connected nodes within the piracy ecosystem. Officials indicated that investigations are ongoing, with more links in the network under scrutiny.
The complaint, supported by JioStar India Private Limited, has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Copyright Act.
The development underscores growing collaboration between content owners and law enforcement agencies as India intensifies its fight against digital piracy. With high-value properties like the IPL in focus, the message is clear: the stream may be illegal, but the crackdown is very real.
