Film Production
Essel Vision enters into a multi-film deal with White Feather Films
MUMBAI: Essel Vision Productions Ltd (EVPL), the creative and production studio of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), has announced a multi-film deal to make its foray into mainstream commercial Hindi films with writer, director and producer, Sanjay Gupta’s White Feather Films.
The first film to go on floors in January 2015 is directed by Sanjay Gupta. Titled Jazbaa, it is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s comeback film as the dynamic lead protagonist and also stars Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher. Jazbaa will be Aishwarya’s first film after a gap of 5 years.
Essel Vision has, in a short span of three years, emerged as a full-fledged state-of-the-art-studio that is a one-stop destination for all in film making, promotions, advertising, distribution and revenue generating streams. It has built a dynamic portfolio of regional cinema in Marathi and Bengali, top rated television shows and is now venturing into Hindi cinema. Wholly owned by ZEE, Essel Vision is backed by the conglomerate’s vast network of channels including its music company Zee Music.
After being a trendsetter in Marathi and Bangla cinema and associations with the biggest names in regional language cinema, this announcement is a first from amongst a slate of films being made by Essel Vision.
Acclaimed filmmaker Nittin Keni is Essel Vision’s CEO and has produced commercial and critical blockbusters like Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and half a dozen other successful films. On this multi-film deal, Nittin Keni says, “We are delighted to associate with Sanjay Gupta. The first offering Jazbaa is a brilliant script that is full of emotional texture and develops beautifully into a human story for global audiences. The partnership is a perfect fit for both companies and I am confident that together we will be in a better position to deliver compelling, profitable entertaining content to global audiences. Besides the films which we have already locked, we are in talks with several prolific content makers and will soon announce other projects in the pipeline.”
Sanjay Gupta is known for his fast-paced action thrillers which include Kaante, Musafir, Zinda, Shootout at Lokhandwala and the recent blockbuster Shootout At Wadala amongst others. Commenting on their association, Sanjay Gupta, Chairman & MD, White Feather Films says, “It’s a pleasure to associate with Essel Vision on their foray into mainstream Hindi film production after the successes they have had in regional cinema. Having the largest Indian television conglomerate ZEEL backing us is a dream come true for any production house. We, at White Feather Films, could not be happier. Also, for me from doing fast paced action, I’m looking forward to Jazbaa as it’s a gripping, touching and terrifying drama. We have a stellar team, and a great dramatic conundrum that audiences should enjoy.”
After creating an unprecedented record at the recently held 45th International Film Fesival of India (IFFI) in Goa, with four films produced by EVPL selected officially to be screened at the festival, the studio identifies and acquires powerful fresh and intellectual property based ideas and matches them with strong filmmakers to turn them into blockbusters. Essel Vision – Business Head, Akash Chawla says, “This is our first announcement and many more announcements can be expected from Essel Vision in the Hindi film space. Zee is here to make quality & commercially viable films and Essel Vision, as the creative and production arm of Zee, will lead the foray. We will be involved in all aspects right from film production, processing, distribution, exhibition and revenue streams of these films.”
Film Production
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs under new chief executive
The entertainment giant’s freshly installed boss inherits a restructuring already in motion, with marketing and corporate roles bearing the brunt
CALIFORNIA: Walt Disney is preparing to slash up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the entertainment giant’s freshly installed chief executive moves swiftly to trim fat and tighten the ship.
The cuts, less than 1 per cent of Disney’s global workforce of 231,000, will fall hardest on marketing and corporate roles. The planning, notably, began before D’Amaro formally took the top job in March, suggesting the new boss inherited a restructuring already in motion rather than one of his own making.
Driving the push is Asad Ayaz, Disney’s newly appointed chief marketing officer, who in January assumed command of a unified, company-wide marketing operation spanning film, television and streaming. His consolidation drive has been given a suitably cinematic internal name: Project Imagine.
The move is modest by Disney’s recent standards. Between 2023 and 2025, under former chief executive Bob Iger, the company eliminated roughly 8,000 positions across several brutal rounds of cuts, saving $7.5 billion, comfortably exceeding its own targets. As recently as June 2025, several hundred more jobs were axed across Disney Entertainment, hitting film and television marketing, publicity, casting, development and corporate finance.
Disney’s structural headaches are well-documented: shrinking streaming margins, a weakened box office, and fierce competition from Amazon and YouTube gnawing at its flanks. The company is merging its Disney+ and Hulu teams into a single app, has brought in consultants from Bain & Co to guide its broader cost strategy, and is betting heavily on digital growth.
The wider entertainment industry offers little comfort. Sony Pictures, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have all taken the knife to their workforces in recent years, and further cuts loom if Paramount’s acquisition of Warner goes through.
For D’Amaro, the message is clear: there will be no honeymoon period. The magic kingdom still has some cost-cutting spells left to cast.
