It’s time for Sanya Malhotra’s Mrs to come home. After doing the rounds of international film festivals, including Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival, director Arati Kadav’s feminist drama is said to be gearing up for a January 2025 release in India.

A source says, “Baweja Studios and Jio Studios have locked January for the release. The idea was always to establish a global buzz before bringing the film home. Though rooted in a traditional Indian setting, Mrs questions the universal theme of patriarchy, and that is one of the reasons it resonated with audiences the world over. Arati and Sanya are excited to finally bring the important story to the screen for the Indian audience.”

An official adaptation of the acclaimed Malayalam movie, The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), Mrs tells the story of a classical dancer, whose life gets confined to the kitchen after marriage. Sources tell us that Mrs, also starring Kanwaljit Singh and Nishant Dahiya, was initially planned as a direct-to-digital offering. However, the plans underwent a change for a couple of reasons.

Another insider explains, “The OTT giant was keen that the film have a theatrical release before it streams online. This also worked in the makers’ favour as Mrs had garnered acclaim at multiple film galas. Plus, the success of small, high-concept movies like Laapataa Ladies and Munjya this year gave them confidence about Mrs’ box-office prospects.”

Vettaiyan is one of those rare films that have brought Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth together on screen. Fans are not the only ones excited to see the two legends together 33 years after Hum (1991). Actor-producer Harman Baweja says their reunion was a big reason why he came on board to distribute the film’s Hindi version.

“It’s a once-in-three-decade phenomenon. It’s one for generations to watch,” exclaims Baweja. T J Gnanavel’s directorial prowess assured Baweja that the action drama, also starring Fahadh Faasil and Manju Warrier, would be a solid cinematic experience

 “I had watched T J Gnanavel’s Jai Bhim [2021] and knew this director was special. He is a solid storyteller,” he says.

After making his acting debut with Love Story 2050 (2008) and starring in a few forgettable films, Baweja made an acclaimed comeback to the screen with Scoop last year. But he is clear that acting isn’t his top priority now.

“The focus is Baweja Studios. That is where I am at, for the next few months,” says the producer, who is collaborating with Richie Mehta on his next film, Boy From Andaman. “Collaborating with Richie has been brilliant. He has one of the strongest visions as a filmmaker. I remember watching Delhi Crime [2019] and going, ‘Wow! Who’s this guy?’ The idea is to make a film that’s Indian at heart, but with a creator like Richie, it has the legs to travel internationally.”