On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor today, as India marks the triumphant strike against the Pakistan-based terror camps, production house Bihar Film Company has secured the official rights to use the title Operation Sindoor for a film. The company is backed by Ankit Singh and Sangram Singh.

The title had drawn massive interest, with over 150 applications submitted to the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA).

Confirming the development, IMPPA president Abhay Sinha says, “There were several applications for this name, but it was allocated to the first applicants who wished to register it.”

Among others who applied was filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, who had earlier announced that he had acquired the rights to make a film based on the book Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan by Lt Gen KJS ‘Tiny’ Dhillon. “Vivek Agnihotri has been given two titles, Kashmir Files 2 and The Night of Operation Sindoor,” says Sinha.

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The title has been given to Bihar Film Company by producers Ankit Singh and Sangram Singh. There were several applications for this name but it was allocated to the first applicants who wished to register the title.

- ABHAY SINHA, PRESIDENT, IMPPA

Last year, after the Army’s press conference on Operation Sindoor, producers rushed to register film titles on the operation, prompting industry bodies to urge applicants to stop registering variations. The producers, however, did not stop.

Almost a year on, more than 150 titles related to Operation Sindoor are still pending.

Abhay Sinha, president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), shares that no producer has yet been allotted the title. He explains, “We have over 150 applications for ‘Operation Sindoor’ and its variations, but none has been approved. As the volume of applications for a single title was so high, we decided to defer a decision. There are also five to seven film title applications for the Pahalgam attack.”

Studios that have announced projects on the operation have continued to follow up with the body, he said.

A decision is expected at a meeting next week, where titles will be allotted, which is on a first-come, first-served basis. Trade analysts and industry insiders say they are not aware of many films actually going into production.

Industry insiders say titles are snapped up after major incidents, but few projects move beyond the announcement stage. Despite the rush for registration of film titles, only two films on Operation Sindoor have been formally announced.

Industry insiders say that registering titles is like a gold rush after an important incident, but what actually gets made is only a small fraction of what is registered.

T P Aggarwal, former IMPPA president, explains, “Our producers sometimes want to take advantage of publicity. They register titles only for publicity. If a big producer registers a title, it usually means they will make a film, but most of the time, after an incident, small producers from regional industries rush to register titles without intending to make a film. Sometimes they sell these to bigger banners for credit.”

Veteran trade analyst Raj Bansal adds, “Most producers just take advantage of a situation and, in a rush, register titles, but a film never actually gets made. They announce the film, and once the discussion dies down, it goes into cold storage. What gets made is a fraction of the titles registered.”

Recently, Salman Khan’s film Battle Of Galwan underwent a title change. After the Galwan attack, producers had rushed to register that title as well.

T P Aggarwal shares, “Of course, if the Army says you have to change the title, then you have to. We should not have registered a title like ‘Galwan’ in the first place. Some time back, we were also discussing that for films based on operations or sensitive geopolitical issues, such titles should not be registered. I don’t know why it was registered.”

Abhay Sinha adds, “Yes, ‘Battle Of Galwan’ was given another title, Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace. But as we do not have any orders not to give titles on operations, we will proceed with our system and allot titles accordingly.”

A year later, as per official announcements, only two films are being made. Last month, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri announced that he would be making a film on Operation Sindoor with T-Series, based on Lt Gen KJS ‘Tiny’ Dhillon’s (retd.) book Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan.

He wrote on X, “Rooted in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and backed by extensive, ground-level research in collaboration with multiple wings of the Indian Armed Forces, this is a story drawn from reality – not to create noise, but to confront it: with facts, with clarity, and the magic of cinema.”

A source shares, “There are rumours that Varun Dhawan has been contacted to play a role in this film.”

A source associated with The Terror Report shares, “The Terror Report , which was announced as a film on major terror attacks in India spanning from 1998 to 2025, was originally only on the Pahalgam attack. However, to avoid a clash with the film based on Lt. Gen. ‘Tiny’ Dhillon’s book the script is being modified. At present, the film is at the scripting stage.”

Trade analyst Girish Johar says, "From industry buzz, I am not aware of any films being released in next couple of months. We have only heard about a couple of films which are at script stage."

After reports about Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri helming a film on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 2025 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, we have learnt that it is based on Lt Gen K J S ‘Tiny’ Dhillon’s book, Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan.

Speaking to us, Vivek, 52, calls the story both urgent and necessary. “I have always believed in telling stories that are uncomfortable but necessary. My effort is to bring this story of courage, professionalism, and strategic clarity to audiences with authenticity, while also presenting it as an edge-of-the-seat cinematic experience,” he tells us.

The project, co-produced by Vivek’s I Am Buddha Production and Bhushan Kumar’s T-series, will depict a detailed account of the operation that unfolded between May 6 and May 10, 2025.

The filmmaker adds, “We have conducted ground-level research in collaboration with multiple wings of the Armed Forces to understand not just what happened, but how and why it happened. What emerges is far more complex and precise than what’s available in the public domain.”

Meanwhile, Bhushan, 48, describes the film as more than just a retelling. “Some stories are not chosen; they choose you. Operation Sindoor is one such story,” he says, adding, “When a nation goes through events of such magnitude, it becomes important to document them truthfully.”

Further details, including casting and release timelines, are yet to be announced.

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and producer Bhushan Kumar have come together to make a film on India’s strategic military campaign Operation Sindoor, conducted in May last year. The film will explore India’s strike back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April of the same year.

A source close to the production confirms to us, “Yes, Bhushan Kumar and Vivek have come together to make this film on Operation Sindoor. It is in a very initial stage and they are currently in the process of finalising the cast, locations, etc.”

The source adds that the project is in its nascent phase, with work beginning this year itself: “The film will definitely go on floors this year, but since it is in the initial stages, it is tough to give the exact plan of release.”

We reached out to Vivek and Bhushan for a comment or clarification on the development, but did not get any response till the time of going to press

The buzz has been building since April when the announcement was first made — Neetu Kapoor and Kapil Sharma would star in Dadi Ki Shaadi, marking Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s Bollywood debut. Now, director Ashish R Mohan tells mid-day that the family entertainer is set to wrap up soon, and he hopes to release it on Mother’s Day (May 10, 2026) or sometime in April.

After a 40-day schedule in Shimla, Mohan shares that although most of the shoot is complete, some patchwork scenes, including an end-credit song, remain to be filmed in January.

“I wanted to complete the film after I locked my release date. We had shot a song choreographed by Ganesh [Acharya] master in Shimla earlier this year, but a one-day shoot remained as there was talk of a [conflict between] India and Pakistan,” he recollects.

On May 7, India launched strikes on Pakistan in an operation code-named Operation Sindoor. For safety, Mohan returned to Mumbai with the cast and crew.

He shares that the finale number features “700 children from the schools in Shimla and outside and has the entire cast in it. I will invite the entire cast to come down [to] shoot the song and scenes — in Golden Tobacco Factory or Film City. [We also have] one-day scene to shoot with Riddhima,” adds the filmmaker.

Currently in post-production, Dadi Ki Shaadi is a comedy revolving around a family who gets involved in a family matriarch’s marriage. Earlier, the film — also starring South superstar Sarath Kumar, Nikhat Hegde, Tejaswini Kolhapure, and Sadia Khateeb — was planned for a December release. The makers will now announce the release date on December 20.

A still from ‘Churails’. Pics/Instagram, Youtube

In May, after Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had issued an advisory directing Indian OTT platforms to remove all streaming content originating from Pakistan (This link is broken, May 9). As a result, Zee5 had pulled the plug on its Pakistani shows and Indo-Pak collaborative productions. Five months on, some of those acclaimed shows have found a new home in the Middle East. Executives based in Dubai tell mid-day that several Indo-Pak joint productions, which were formerly housed under Zee Entertainment’s cross-border entertainment vertical Zindagi, have now been acquired by Begin.Watch.

Launched in 2022, Begin.Watch is a Pakistan-based streaming platform. In recent months, it not only expanded its presence in the Middle East, but also secured rights to multiple shows caught in the crossfire of the May ban.

A prominent example is The Pink Shirt, starring Mom (2017) actor Sajal Ali and Wahaj Ali. The romantic drama was originally developed under Zindagi along with Indian content studio Applause Entertainment.

An industry insider reveals, “While The Pink Shirt did the festival rounds, its 2023 release kept getting pushed. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, it never hit Indian screens. In such Indo-Pak collaborations, there was ambiguity about who owned the show anymore. Begin. Watch negotiated directly with the Pakistani producers.”

After it became clear that Zee5’s Zindagi vertical had been shut down in India, Begin. Watch acquired several cross-border collaborations such as Churails and Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam. Yet conspicuously missing from its catalogue is Barzakh (2024), director Asim Abbasi’s fantasy drama starring Fawad Khan. The show had streamed on Zee5 in India.

The source explains, “Since the show was produced for Zindagi, which was part of an Indian platform, it’s tangled in a rights dispute. The now-defunct Zindagi slate has led to a situation where many creators can’t access their own work. These collaborations were made with Indian money and Pakistani talent, and are now in a grey zone.”

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who had visited Azerbaijan in 2023, has weighed in on the calls to cancel travel plans and shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The two countries supported Pakistan after India’s Operation Sindoor.

The filmmaker says, “In the current situation, Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support to the enemies calls for an understanding of the larger picture. Right now, people should refrain from going to these countries. We are giving them the revenue to supply weapons that are used against our jawans. I’m not speaking for the film industry or anybody. I am sharing my opinion as an independent filmmaker.”

Talking about the calls for cancellation of shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan, Madhur adds, “As an individual, I believe that art and politics shouldn’t be intertwined, but when so many people are killed, you need to draw the line. When Indian soldiers are at risk and lives are being lost, emotions run high. We must respect the sentiments of the people of India, who have faced considerable pain due to actions taken by these countries. Nothing is bigger than our country and our Armed Forces. We should put the nation’s sentiments above all else.”

When asked about his trip to Azerbaijan in 2023, he shares, “My trip to Azerbaijan was pleasant, but the recent political developments have left me with a sense of betrayal. Any country that harms my countrymen or soldiers, it pains me. It is hard not to feel a sense of betrayal. In these testing times, we should support our Armed Forces and our nation. Films and entertainment will always be there, but the safety of our soldiers and the unity of our country should come first.”

Mumbai: The military conflict between India and Pakistan seems to have had an unproportionate impact on the Hindi film industry, with many filmmakers delaying promotional and marketing activities, and postponing, or even shelving, film and trailer launches.

The industry is staring at an estimated or potential loss of Rs, 150-200 crore in the form of cost of capital and deferred revenues due to this, according to producers and trade analysts.

"In these times of geopolitical unrest, cinema pauses not from the lack of creativity but from caution," said Suniel Wadhwa, a veteran film distributor and co-founder and director at Karmic Films.

"There are losses in the form of delayed cash, sunk costs, interest on idle capital, broken contracts, and missed momentum. These will have a ripple impact on producers, promotional and advertising agencies, theatres, financiers, and even streamers," he said.

"I think more than Rs. 700-800-crore worth of Hindi films stand vulnerable at this stage," Wadhwa said.

To be sure, there has already been a sense of uncertainty around theatre attendance in the industry, fuelled by a series of box-office flops and an overall decline in collections in recent months, largely due to shifting audience preferences.

The launch of Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7, and the subsequent military conflict further dampened the mood among producers of several Hindi films slated for release in May and June.

Makers of Kesari Veer and Housefull 5 stalled promotional activities, while those behind Sitaare Zameen Par and Thug Life postponed the releases of their trailer and audio soundtrack, respectively. Producers of mid-budget film Bhul Chuk Maaf opted to forego theatre release entirely and instead debut the film on a streaming platform.

Some veteran trade analysts attributed a part of such actions to low confidence among producers. "Even though one cannot rule out the impact of Indo-Pak conflict on cinema, one also has to consider that a big reason behind delaying releases is low confidence of producers to release films in theatres due to increasing unpredictability in theatrical performance of films," said Shaaminder Malik, a film distributor and trade analyst.

"Consequently, there are makers of upcoming big-budget films who are planning to release their films directly on streamers after their teasers and trailers received unfavourable response," he added.

Meanwhile, production of the sequel of the film Sanam Teri Kasam, which performed well on its re-release recently, may get delayed because the main actor has declined to work with the main actress because she is from Pakistan.

Some industry insiders believe the impact would be minimal as the border tensions have eased and life has returned to normal in most of the country since India and Pakistan agreed to stop military action on Saturday.

"I think films scheduled to release in May will be impacted. But releases in June will not be impacted that much," producer Rajesh R Nair said. "But I think Hollywood releases in May will be a saving grace as these franchise films have a huge following in India and their makers are not postponing their release."

On the morning of May 7, as the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor, a different mission kicked off in Mumbai’s film production circles – the race to claim Sindoor as a film title. Inside producers’ offices and association desks, phones buzzed. But the only response many got? A simple, “ Aap kataar mein hai .”

The inboxes of the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), the Western India Film Producers Association (WIFPA), and the Producers Guild of India pinged with urgency. It hasn’t stopped really. “Suddenly, everyone wanted the same title – Sindoor ,” says a weary representative from one of the associations. “There’s been an overwhelming number of applications in the past couple of days for titles related to Operation Sindoor,” shared another official.

​Sources say, “J P Dutta’s banner JP Films has thrown its hat in the ring for Operation Sindoor. A renowned producer from the South, Dil Raju, has requested Sindoor: Ek Jung. “For a title to be accepted quickly, the trick is not to aim for what everyone else is chasing. The smartest titles are simple ones. The trick is to find something that uses the key words and still resonates,” adviced a producer.

​In this race, time is what matters. “The title will go to the one who applied first. But everyone else can either stay on the waiting list or get their money back. We receive title applications both by mail and as hard copies,” another representative explained, adding, “Now, when someone is walking in with a hard copy saying they want Mission Sindoor or Operation Sindoor, we tell them – don’t bother. There are already more than 15 applicants. You won’t get it.”

​After backlash for announcing a film based on Operation Sindoor, producer Nickky Bhagnani, brother of Pooja Entertainment’s Jackky Bhagnani, apologized in a post. He wrote, “My sincere apologies for recently announcing a film based on Operation Sindoor. Inspired by the recent heroic efforts of our Indian Armed Forces. The intent was never to hurt or provoke anyone’s sentiments. As a filmmaker, I was moved by the courage, sacrifice, and the strength of our soldiers and leadership. And simply wished to bring this powerful story to light. This project was born out of deep respect and love for our nation and not for fame and monetization. However, I understand the timing and sensitivity may have caused discomfort or pain to some. For that. I deeply regret. This is not just a film, it’s an emotion of the entire nation and a social image of the country globally. Thanks to our Armed Forces and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji who make us proud by working day and night for the country with the motto of always nation first. Our love and prayers will always be with the families of the martyrs as well as the bravo warriors who are fighting on the border day and night to give us a new morning. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”

Scroll through some of the leading Bollywood actors’ Instagram accounts, and eagle-eyed fans will notice a change. In a strange turn of events, by Thursday morning, many of the actors experienced a drop in their follower count. Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor reportedly lost thousands of followers between May 7 and 8. Digital experts suggest that a section of the South Asian diaspora has unfollowed certain celebrities after Operation Sindoor.

According to social media analytics, Bhatt and Aaryan saw a dip of nearly one lakh followers from their respective 8.62 crore and 4.50 crore followers. Khan’s followers dropped by approximately 60,000, and Kapoor’s, by 30,000. Meanwhile, Devgn’s 1.2 crore count saw a reduction of roughly 20,000.

A digital media strategist, on condition of anonymity, linked the recent activity to two episodes. “Last week, top Pakistani artistes’ social media accounts were blocked in India. That was seen as a gesture of rising intolerance. After Operation Sindoor, many Bollywood celebrities took a stand, which did not go down well with certain sections of the South Asian diaspora in the US and UK. Unfollowing these stars is their way of expressing protest against  aggressive tactics, and larger political narratives,” said the strategist.

Digital media expert Murtuza Rampurawala said the numbers directly reflect public sentiment. “When a lot of people unfollow at once, it’s a clear sign that public opinion is shifting. Brands pay close attention to this because they want to work with celebrities who reflect what their audience believes in,” he shared.

mid-day reached out to Meta India, which did not respond to our queries regarding the recent drop in follower count. 

India’s precision strike at nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pak-occupied Kashmir was followed by a frenzy in the film industry as producers scrambled to register the title Operation Sindoor and Mission Pahalgam.

As the process goes, producers must register titles through any one of the four film bodies — Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), Western India Film Producers Association (WIFPA), Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC), or Producers Guild of India. Sources tell us that IMPPA received 12 applications, WIFPA got two, and Producers’ Guild received 10 applications so far.

“The time of registering a title gets stamped. The four film bodies then exchange letters to confirm which filmmaker filed the first application. The result is declared in the next meeting.”

- Ashoke Pandit, Producer and IMPPA member, early applicant

“I’ve applied in the film and web series section under languages across the country. I’m thinking of my Operation story with women leading it, the way Colonel Sofiya Quraishi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh briefed the country about the operation.”

- Vishal Saroye, Filmmaker

Without confirming the number, J D Majethia, chairman, Television & Web Wing of IFTPC, says that several applications have been filed with the organization. However, he feels such films shouldn’t be made within one-two years of such military operations: “Manoranjan ke liye climax theek hai but in that process we end up showing our intelligence agencies’ investigations, sharing the big secret of planning process and intelligence agency of our country with enemies.”

A source tells us that several filmmakers have also applied for the trademark of Operation Sindoor. While a title can only go to one filmmaker, a trademark means that several filmmakers can make the film on the same subject. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries was one of the proprietors, but later withdrew the application. A part of their statement read that it was filed by a junior person without authorization.

Mumbai: Reliance Industries (RIL) has decided to withdraw its application for trademarking the phrase ‘Operation Sindoor’, the company said on Thursday, a day after it made the filing.

RIL was among four applicants that made separate filings with the trademark registry on Wednesday to own trademark rights over the phrase, after the government announced hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under ‘Operation Sindoor’.

RIL and the others — Mukesh Chetram Agrawal, retired Group Captain Kamal Singh Oberh and Alok Kothari — filed the application for trademark under Class 41.

Class 41 covers services related to education, entertainment, sports and cultural activities, said Ashish Pyasi, partner at law firm Aendri Legal. Registration under this section helps organizations working in these areas to protect their brand and sometimes their work.

“Reliance Industries has no intention of trademarking Operation Sindoor, a phrase which is now a part of the national consciousness as an evocative symbol of Indian bravery,” the company said in a news release. “Jio Studios, a unit of Reliance Industries, has withdrawn its trademark application, which was filed inadvertently by a junior person without authorization,” it added.

 Reliance Industries and all its stakeholders are incredibly proud of Operation Sindoor, which came about in response to a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam, it said. “Operation Sindoor is the proud achievement of our brave armed forces in India’s uncompromising fight against the evil of terrorism,” the company said.

Application sparked public Media houses often register such titles to restrain others from making movies or other programmes with an identical or similar title, said Rahul Dhote, partner at law firm ANM Global.

“Titles based on similar events like ‘Balakot: Surgical Strikes 2’, ‘Pulwama: Surgical Strikes 2’, Pahalgam Files’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ and ‘Operation Khukri’, have been either applied for or registered,” Dhote said. “Having said that, such applications pass through a rigorous examination process and are also rejected if they do not fit within the parameters of conditions for grant, including their distinctiveness,” he added.

Responding to Operation Sindoor, actor Nimrat Kaur, daughter of Shaurya Chakra recipient late Major Bhupender Singh, tells us, “As a martyr’s daughter and a citizen, what happened in Pahalgam was beyond tragic.”

Maj Singh was responsible for constructing bridges along the Khannabal-Pahalgam road in J&K when he was ambushed and kidnapped by terrorists. Singh was assassinated after a week in captivity. “The government, led by PM Narendra Modi ji, couldn’t have given a more befitting reply,” Nimrat adds.

“From the name that was chosen for the operation, I understand and resonate with what the (victims’) families must have felt,” she ends.

In a decisive move, Netflix India, on May 7, called off the music launch of its upcoming series, The Royals. The cancellation came after India’s military launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror camps in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement, the government said that its military had  targeted “terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from where attacks against India have been planned and directed”. This comes as a response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.      

The music launch of the Zeenat Aman, Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter-starrer was scheduled to take place at a Juhu venue yesterday. The event was to be hosted by singer and composer duo Ruuh and Joh, with performances by Neeti Mohan, Sukriti Kakar, Jubin Nautiyal, and Jonita Gandhi, among others. Invitations had been sent out, and preparations were on in full swing before the decision to cancel was made Wednesday noon.

Sources within the production team confirm that the top bosses at Netflix India deemed it “insensitive” to host a celebratory event at a time when the nation is witnessing escalating conflict at the border, and emotions are running high in the country.

“This isn’t the right moment for glamour and red carpets. The optics of hosting a launch while the country is bracing for developments on the frontlines didn’t sit right with the team,” said a source. 

While the series will drop online as scheduled on May 9, all promotional activities have been paused until further notice.