Amazon Prime Video launched the trailer of the much-awaited Amazon Original movie Shershaah in Kargil at the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations as a tribute to Param Vir Chakra-awardee Captain Vikram Batra and the Indian Armed Forces. The annual celebrations held to honour the heroes of the Kargil War (1999) served as the ideal stage to unveil the trailer of the film. The event was attended by Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, director Vishnu Varadhan, producers Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta, and Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video. The film is jointly produced by Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment and will premiere globally on Amazon Prime Video on August 12 across 240 countries and territories.

Shershaah, which is inspired by a true story, features Sidharth in the title role. The trailer of the film celebrates the bravery and gallant spirit of Captain Vikram Batra (PVC) and honours his sacrifice during the Kargil War. It is the story of a soldier who not only became an inspiration, but also a legend for generations to come. Staying true to his codename, ‘Shershaah’, Captain Batra fought till his last breath in one of the toughest mountain warfare missions.

Vijay Subramaniam says, “Shershaah is our effort to bring to life the remarkable story of a braveheart who led one of the most difficult mountain warfare in history and fought valiantly to bring victory to India during the Kargil War. There would’ve been no better place for us to unveil the trailer for Shershaah than in the honourable company of the Indian Army and no better occasion than the celebrations marking India’s victory in the Kargil War. We are thrilled to partner with Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment for bringing this captivating story to our viewers in India and abroad.”

Karan Johar adds, “I feel privileged to be able to bring this momentous film, which celebrates the valour of Kargil War Hero, Captain Vikram Batra. My heart is filled with respect, it is an honour to unveil the trailer of our film amidst the Indian Armed Forces at the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kargil. We are thrilled to have Shershaah premiere on Amazon Prime Video to a global audience.”

Vishal Batra, Shabbir Boxwalla, Vishnu Varadhan, Sidharth Malhotra, Chief of Defence Staff — General Bipin Rawat, Vijay Subramaniam, Kiara Advani, Apoorva Mehta, General Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Northern Command — General YK Joshi, and Karan Johar

It has been a difficult year for the entertainment industry. But adapting to the new normal, Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan-starrer Coolie No 1 has set yet another benchmark. The lead pair of the film, along with Paresh Rawal, launched the much-awaited trailer over the weekend in a unique hybrid live event from Chandigarh, organised keeping social distancing and safety measures in place. The cast also informed that they had been tested prior to the event, setting the bar for hosting events during a pandemic.

While not physically present at the event, director David Dhawan and producers Vashu and Jackky Bhagnani, along with Vijay Subramaniam of Amazon Prime Video, joined the cast to share their excitement about the trailer launch.

After a dhamakedar entry by Varun Dhawan and an impromptu dance performance by the lead pair on the film’s yet-unreleased song, “Bhabhi”, the cast shared anecdotes from the film shoot during the interaction session.

Recalling the one time that she was scolded by her director on the sets of the film, Sara said, “We were filming ‘Main Toh Raste Se’ when David sir got upset with me and shouted at me because, although I was ready for my shot, I was supposed to tag something on my costume and that was taking time”. However, there’s more to the story. The actress went on to reveal how it was her co-star Varun to be blamed. “He was doing some costume business in the van and David sir got pretty upset at him as it was delaying the shoot. So basically, he was angry at Varun but vented on me. That was a bit of an issue, but it is all good,” she chuckled.

With Varun and Sara in lead roles, the film is supported by a cast comprising of actors loved for their comic punches. Paresh, Rajpal Yadav, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Johnny Lever will be bringing on the laughs. Coolie No 1 will premiere globally on Amazon Prime Video on December 25, 2020. 

Director of Vidya Balan-starrer Shakuntala Devi confirms biopic on math wiz will follow Big B's Gulabo Sitabo in releasing directly on Amazon Prime
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; May 15, 2020)

Yesterday, Amitabh Bachchan tugged at heartstrings with a post that said he had "seen many changes and challenges" throughout his 51-year career, and was gearing up for yet another — the direct-to-web release of his film, Gulabo Sitabo. As Shoojit Sircar's offering became the front-runner among big-budget offerings to skip a cinematic release amid the lockdown, mid-day learns that Vidya Balan's film on math wiz Shakuntala Devi, also known as the Human-Computer, will join the list of movies heading directly to Amazon Prime Video.

Director Anu Menon tells mid-day, "I'm excited that the film will have its world première on Amazon Prime Video, and everyone will experience Shakuntala's incredible journey and Vidya's magical portrayal of her. Shakuntala's passion for math, and her determination to spread its joy to the world, was unparalleled. She lived ahead of her times and on her own terms. As we strive to change the narrative of the female protagonist on-screen, her story is one that [ought] to be told. No one could capture her wit and wisdom as well as Vidya did."

The development follows the announcement that Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana's Gulabo Sitabo will release on the platform on June 12. Addressing the OTT release, Sircar said in an interview, "[I was told the film will] simultaneously release in 200 countries. I have never had a release of this scale."

Vijay Subramaniam, director and head of content at the web platform says, "With India's most-anticipated films premiering exclusively on Prime Video, [we plan to] bring the cinematic experience to [people's] doorstep."