Culver Max Entertainment, formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), has terminated merger agreements with Zee Entertainment, which could have otherwise created a USD 10 billion media enterprise in the country.
Heeramandi, a passion project that took off after years in development and planning, mirrors Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film-making's finest and frustrating features, observes Sukanya Verma.
A recipe for starters for your weekend menu.
Deepa Gahlot picks the top 10 Karan Johar films -- some that he directed and others that he produced or co-produced -- that you can watch on steaming platforms.
'...you start running after the star.' 'If the star says yes to the film, the ecosystem supports it.' 'The biggest cog in the wheel of the ecosystem is the audience and we forget that.'
The Bengaluru-based quick-commerce application (app) Zepto is making big strides. According to Sensor Tower data, it surpassed JioMart in November, securing the second position among grocery apps in terms of monthly usage. This shift, identified by BofA Global Research, closely monitoring key segments of the app business, has pushed JioMart to third place in the grocery space.
Zudio was the standout performer as it tapped into the pentup demand in small-town India, at a pace never seen before, notes Indrajit Gupta, co-founder and director, Founding Fuel.
Kohrra is a terrific ensemble piece but the two fine leads keep show glued together, applauds Aseem Chhabra.
The cast looks dynamic, and now, we can't wait to see what it's going to be all about.
Sidharth Malhotra feels working on Mission Majnu gave him an opportunity to 'ape' his idol, Amitabh Bachchan.
Are you struggling with dating? rediffGURU Ravi Mittal, CEO, Quack Quack, the online dating platform, will answer your queries.
'We audition for 99 projects, and get rejected 98 times!'
India is shining, although I will argue that it is a temporary acceptance until India once again makes a mega-successful film like RRR or another beautiful, moving, documentary like The Elephant Whisperers, notes Aseem Chhabra.
The young team of Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Dot, Yuvraj Menda and Vedang Raina have completed shooting for their debut film, The Archies, which will stream on Netflix next year.
Diwali always means special for the theatrical business in India.
'In our Indian content, you always see the mother is presented a bit differently.' 'But in this show, the mother is the one who's most glamorous and she is the bombshell of the show.'
There's a whole lot of entertainment coming your way on OTT this September.
Netflix has unveiled the teaser for The Archies and it looks like rompy fun.
Wedding.con is a watchable show, if only to caution people about the latest scams, notes Deepa Gahlot.
'The story ends at the end of this season; I don't know if they will extend it. It's a fairly solid conclusion (but) there is always scope for more.'
From jaadugars to Jane Austen, OTT offerings this week are as eclectic as it gets, says Sukanya Verma.
If Netflix and the film's producers thought they would bring younger audiences to the master's works, many who might have aversion to decades-old black and white films, they have failed with the experiment, says Aseem Chhabra.
It's time to awaken the patriot in you!
December is set to be special because four original films see a straight-to-digital release.
'He killed so many people, doing the kind of horrible things he did, and yet, he believed he was making the right choices.'
The New Year brings with it a new slate of movie announcements. The stars update us:
Like all of us, Bollywood's favourite pastime is to catch up on the latest shows and films on OTT.
Superheroes, supervillains, biopics, thrillers, teenage dramas, shaadis, Sukanya Verma offers an all-you-can-eat buffet on OTT this long weekend.
"Looking at the films come to life on set was a lot of fun. The lensing, the art direction and Prakash Sir's detailed eye. It felt like something special was brewing," says Naina Bhan.
'Just do your best show every day and move from strength to strength.'
Action, drama, thriller and rom-coms, this week has a lot of entertainment coming up on OTT as well as in theatres.
Disney+ Hotstar reported its biggest decline in paid subscribers to date - a fall of 3.8 million subscribers, or 6 per cent of its total - in the October-December period. The drop in numbers came after two warnings by the company that Hotstar's paid subscriber base would shrink as it didn't have streaming rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2023-27 media cycle. The IPL would start on April 1 this year and continue till May 28.
Jaane Jaan looks distinctive thanks to Sujoy Ghosh's wicked sensibilities, observes Mayur Sanap.
At this year's TIME ball in New York City on Thursday, April 25, you would have run into a Coimbatore-born American scientist, looking lovely in Sabyasachi Mukherjee designer finery, who would most likely have been hanging out with Dua Lipa.
Kangana Ranaut plays an Air Force pilot in Tejas, joining an increasing list of films and shows centered around women playing significant roles in their careers.
'This is the best time to do a pan-Indian film.'
She was in Singapore to accept the TIME 100 Award, which 'recognises global leaders who have gone above and beyond to move their industries -- and the world -- forward'.
Parental interference is a nuisance for young Indian daters, observes Ravi Mittal, CEO, Quack Quack, an online dating app. They either have a problem with the person their child is dating or with dating in general.
The reported buyback of Temasek's 20 per cent stake in Tata Play by Tata Sons will be the third instance of Tata Group providing an exit to a foreign partner in recent years. In 2018, Tata Sons paid $1.27 billion to DoCoMo to buy back 26 per cent of the group's telecommunication venture, Tata Teleservices. This was followed by Tata Sons acquiring AirAsia Berhad's 49 per cent stake in AirAsia India in two tranches to make it a wholly owned subsidiary.
