Movies
No. 1 Bhojpuri Channel, ZEEL’s Big Ganga collaborates with foremost Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kishan for a 7-movie deal
MUMBAI: Over the last two decades, Bhojpuri movies industry has seen a revolution in the form of content, talent, and production. The industry is on an all-time high, with major players in the market seeing a big opportunity in Bhojpuri movies and investing heavily in production, content, and marketing. Consolidating its position as the number one regional GEC across Bihar and Jharkhand, ZEEL’s Bhojpuri channel Big Ganga now brings its viewers wholesome Bhojpuri entertainment by joining hands with the industry’s foremost superstar, Ravi Kishan in an exclusive seven-movie deal over a period of 2.5 years.
Ravi Kishan announced the special collaboration as a treat to his fans on his 49th birthday. As a part of the deal between ZEEL’s BIG Ganga and Ravi Kishan Productions, ZEEL has acquired the exclusive rights for both linear and non-linear formats for all the seven movies. Ravi Kishan who will be the lead in all the movies made the announcement during the trailer launch of his latest Bhojpuri offering Sanki Daroga. The exclusive deal includes seven Bhojpuri movies – Sanki Daroga, Parem Pothi, Sher Zinda Hai, Sanki Daroga 2, Mangrua Ke Prem Katha, Ragadta Bihar and Babbar Sher.
Commenting on the deal, Ravi Kishan said, “I am extremely thrilled to be collaborating with ZEEL’s Big Ganga for this special venture. All seven movies that will be produced will offer differentiated content and will be subject based than only being masala entertainers. ZEEL’s Big Ganga as a channel understands the pulse of the audience and has a wider reach across the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, where the viewers consume Bhojpuri content. Through this partnership, it is our endeavor to take Bhojpuri Cinema to the next level and I sincerely hope that my fans will enjoy watching these movies.”
Speaking about the same, spokesperson of ZEEL’s Big Ganga shared, “Big Ganga offers differentiated and dynamic content for family viewing which resonates well with the masses. With its popular movie slot brands, Ganga Talkies and Family Talkies’, it makes us the only channel to go beyond movies and offer high-quality non-fiction, fiction, devotional content for the region. We have the exclusive rights to some of the biggest titles of Bhojpuri’s Cine Stars. Big Ganga’s movie library is quite vast and garners the highest rated World Television Premieres in the market. The 7-movie deal with Ravi Kishan Productions is a step towards bringing in Bhojpuri cinema to newer audiences and continue to grow the industry with compelling storylines. We are confident that each of these movies will resonate well with the audience and provide a push in the right direction to the growing demand for Bhojpuri cinema.”
Being the No. 1 Bhojpuri GEC in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, ZEEL’s Big Ganga has a deep understanding of the socio-cultural fabric, reflecting the ‘pride’ of people from the region. The Free-to-air channel boasts of an extensive reach, based on its distribution across all cable operators in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and across major DTH players across the country. With the seven movies deal, ZEEL’s Big Ganga is all set to cement its position as the market leader in the Bhojpuri content space.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
