A successful film encourages a director and an actor to reunite professionally. Add a 33-year friendship to that, and the combination’s gold! Who knows that better than Ahmed Khan? The director revealed to mid-day that boosted by the success of Welcome To The Jungle, he is set to reunite with Akshay Kumar for his next. 

So, is another action comedy in the works? Maybe, maybe not. Khan shared, “With Welcome To The Jungle becoming a success, we had to work together again. I am so happy that the film has done well, and the cast is happy too. Akshay and I are planning something soon. We are in talks regarding two-three different genres — action comedy, romantic action drama, and an out-and-out action movie. Even Akshay has a script that he has told me about. We have to finalize one of our ideas. Once that and the dates are finalised, we’ll announce it.”

Rumours were rife that for his next, Khan would start a zombie comedy with Tiger Shroff and Shanaya Kapoor in the lead. Talks of Welcome 4 also did the rounds.

Denying those reports, the director said, “Rumours abound when movies are a hit, but it’s not true as of now. My next is with Akshay. It’s a joy working with someone as professional as him. I like action and can do it on a bigger scale with Akshay. Dance, action, drama — it all comes out organically with him.”

With Kumar and Khan attached to the project, it won’t be surprising if either Firoz A Nadiadwallah or Sajid Nadiadwala produce it. The director remained tight-lipped, only saying, “Dono se dosti hai. They love Akshay and me.”

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Ahmed Khan’s home production ‘Baap’, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, and Jackie Shroff, is gearing up for a release this year. “Zee Studios is finalizing the release date and marketing of the movie. I have completed the movie and handed it to them. It’s their baby now,” said the filmmaker.

Picture this: Karisma Kapoor was shooting for a brand commercial four years ago, when the makers of Brown approached her to front the series. The actor’s first reaction? A hard no. Kapoor recalled, “I vehemently said no to Brown. I’m not in the rat race; I’m in my own lane, working at my own pace. So, when the team at Zee came to me, I said, ‘Going to Kolkata for 50 days is out of the question!’”

So, what changed her mind about the Abhinay Deo-directed crime thriller? Persuasion. “The lady [from Zee] asked for 20 minutes. I refused as the [brand] shoot was going on. She asked to meet me after two days. Today, I’m so happy I took that meeting, because when I heard the script of Brown, I couldn’t say no to playing Rita Brown,” said the actor, who plays a depressed, alcoholic cop investigating a series of murders in Kolkata. Certainly a dramatically different role from the ones Kapoor began with, over 30 years ago.

When she forayed into films, masala fares that relied on stardom, song-and-dance, and escapism were the norm — something that is viewed as easy today, when author-backed roles and realistic stories dominate the landscape. But she doesn’t share the opinion.

“The most difficult thing is to do comedy. You can pull off an intense scene, but doing comedy is tougher,” asserted the actor.

She further batted for mainstream movies, saying, “My first big award was for Raja Hindustani [1996], an out-and-out [mainstream] film. So, as an actor, just do your best and it will be appreciated.”

Bollywood’s rumour mill is buzzing about Sajid Khan possibly returning to the director’s chair. Seven years after he was called out in multiple Me Too allegations by actors and journalists, and subsequently faced the Federation of Western India Cine Employees’ year-long ban that ended in 2019, it is heard that the director is in discussions with Zee Studios to helm a rom-com.

Word in the trade circle is that the yet-untitled film will serve as a launchpad for Govinda’s son Yashvardhan Ahuja. Nitanshi Goel of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ (2024) fame and Krithi Shetty have been chosen as the female leads.

An insider told mid-day, “Sajid has been approached by the studio, but he hasn’t said yes yet. The studio heads are keen to have him helm the film as the comedy elements are right up his alley. Yashvardhan has another project with Phantom Studios, but he is likely to start shooting for this first. Sajid was earlier to direct a film with John Abraham, but that didn’t work out.”

Talk also suggests that the rom-com might be a remake of a hit South Indian movie.

mid-day contacted Khan and Zee Studios. Both did not respond till press time.

If things had gone as planned, the audience would have seen the yet-untitled Richa Chadha and Sumeet Vyas-starrer by now. But the film, shot in 2023, has been waiting in the wings for almost two years with no release date in sight.

A source shares, “With the shoot and post-production done, the film was ready for a theatrical release. But with each passing month, the possibility of it arriving in cinemas is reducing.”

The movie’s theme is said to be the reason for the limbo. Abhishek Acharya’s directorial venture looks at the COVID-19 pandemic from a health worker’s perspective. The heads at Zee Studios, which has backed the offering, apparently feel the story may have lost its relevance now.

The source adds, “It’s a moving story of the time which wreaked havoc on people, with broken systems pushing everyone to the corner. But the makers feel that the story can feel dated today. Plus, considering the trauma attached to the time, they fear that the audience won’t turn up at theatres. Now, the makers are looking at pursuing an OTT release and will initiate talks with some streamers.”

Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Friday paved the way for release of the film, ‘Emergency' by disposing of a petition by Zee Entertainment after the producers and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) said the matter had been resolved. The film stars BJP MP Kangana Ranaut as former prime minister Indira Gandhi. The CBFC had suggested 13 changes, including four excisions, three modifications, and six insertions before the film could be assigned a UA certificate.

The movie had attracted protests from Sikh groups concerning the portrayal of their community. The CBFC has said that its decision was taken "after considering the representations received from various Sikh groups and directives issued by courts."

The cuts agreed to by the two sides includes deletion of the words, "Sant Bhindranwale Zindabad", from a scene where Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is shown exiting a jail and a modification where Bhindranwale is saying he is not a "katputli (puppet)" of the Congress Party.

The CBFC had also sought removal of a reference to "Bhindranwale" when prime minister Indira Gandhi is shown in conversation with the army chief. The Censor Board also asked for cuts in scenes where Sikhs are shown to be engaging in violent acts against Hindus and modification of a line that refers to ‘Khalistan'.

Senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani for Zee informed a division bench headed by Justice B P Colabawalla, "We have worked it out." He produced documents showing the arrangement between the parties and requested that the HC may pass an order on the basis of these consent terms.

He said the cuts were carried out based on an email from Manikarnika Films owned by Ranaut, indicating proposed changes. Manikarnika Films has 30 days to submit a master copy of the film after changes are carried out. After submission, the CBFC has 14 days to verify and issue the certificate, the HC said.

The HC said it has neither considered nor commented on the merits of the contentions of either party. On Thursday, the Zee counsel informed the court that the issue of cuts for the film was being resolved by co-producer Manikarnika Films and CBFC.

The division bench comprising Justices B P Colabawalla and F P Pooniwalla had scheduled the matter for Friday after being informed that the issue was being worked out.

On September 12, Imran Zahid, a Delhi-based theatre actor, filed a Right to Information (RTI) petition seeking clarity on whether the Indian government prevents Pakistani film and theatre artistes from working in India. For Zahid, the RTI was driven by two factors—at the time, the Punjab release of The Legend Of Maula Jatt had just been announced, a decision he welcomed. More importantly, he wanted clarity on the government’s stance as he is making the Indian adaptation of Pakistani show, Humsafar, which starred Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan.

Things have changed in the fortnight since he filed the petition—The Legend Of Maula Jatt’s Punjab release stands cancelled. Even more reason, Zahid says, for Indian artistes to have complete knowledge of the situation.

“When [the film’s release] was announced [to severe opposition], I filed an RTI with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to inquire about any official ban from the Indian government. Since we are working on a stage adaptation of Pakistani dramas, we’re also concerned whether our projects will see the light of day or face a potential ban,” he says. 

At a time when OTT platforms are streaming content from around the globe, Zahid states that cancelling a Pakistani movie’s release feels “contradictory”.

“It is disheartening to see Maula Jatt’s release stalled. We’ve seen Pakistani actors being reintroduced to Indian audiences [through digital platforms] despite earlier bans. If digital platforms can allow this, why can’t cinema halls extend the same openness? What’s even more concerning is the lack of clear information from the government regarding any collaboration with Pakistani artistes.”

Zahid further explains, “For example, when Zee Studios announced the release of The Legend Of Maula Jatt a month prior, why is it now—so close to the release date—that we hear it has been stalled? In January 2023, during a press conference at the inauguration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival, the then-Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, mentioned that Pakistan was among the invited nations. So, why this decision now? If there is any restriction, we should be made clearly aware of it, and we’ll naturally abide by it.”

In his RTI petition, a copy of which is in mid-day’s possession, Zahid wrote, “Are there any restrictions imposed by the Government of India on collaborating with Pakistani film and theatre artistes at present? Specifically, is there any ban on Pakistani artistes working in India? I raise this query because in November 2023, the Honourable Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea that sought a ban on Pakistani artistes working in India, advising against such narrow-mindedness. In October 2023, the Bombay High Court had also rejected a petition for a total ban on Pakistani artistes, noting that patriotism does not imply hostility toward foreigners.”

Zahid says he is expecting a response to his application by  by mid-October.

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency hasn’t had an easy ride with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The good news though is that the film—a biopic of the late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi—may be finally nearing release. On Monday, the CBFC informed the Bombay High Court that Ranaut, who serves as the actor-producer-director, has agreed to the cuts suggested by the Revising Committee. While this may bring cheer to fans who want to watch the biopic on the big screen, it has apparently only brought dismay to the makers. Sources say that the team isn’t exactly happy with the cuts.

Apparently, Ranaut and co-producer Zee Entertainment have agreed to the suggested cuts as they, disappointed after the weeks of delay, are now just wanting to take their passion project to the audience. A source close to the film told mid-day, “Even though the team is not happy with the cuts, they have given in to the CBFC’s demands in order to release Emergency on time. The team believes that even after the cuts, the film tells an important story about a significant chapter of our political history.”

Ranaut is said to have come to the compromise in the larger interest of the movie. The source adds, “The makers are focused on keeping the key parts intact. Despite the challenges, they are waiting to show Emergency to the audience so that they can understand the significance of democracy.”

Last month, Zee Entertainment moved the HC alleging that the Censor Board was dragging its feet on the film’s certification. In the September 26 hearing, the CBFC told the HC that Emergency could be released if the makers made “some cuts.” Soon after, Ranaut had expressed her displeasure about the recommended cuts as she told mid-day, “While we welcome feedback, some of the suggestions are quite unreasonable.” 

On September 30, however, the counsel of the film’s co-producer confirmed to the court that Ranaut has accepted the proposed cuts. The CBFC counsel, in its argument, stated that the cuts don’t even shave off “a minute of the film” and are merely “some words here and there.”

The next hearing is scheduled for October 3.

In December 2022, shortly after it took Pakistan’s movie industry by storm, The Legend Of Maula Jatt was scheduled to hit Indian theatres. However, its release was opposed by certain political groups and subsequently cancelled. Two years on, the Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan-led blockbuster is finally arriving in Indian screens on October 2, becoming the first Pakistani film in over 10 years to have a theatrical release in India. Distributor Nadeem Mandviwalla is confident of a strong run, even though the action drama is opening only in the Punjab circuit for now.

Is he disappointed that it’s not releasing in Mumbai, the hub of Indian cinema? Not really, says Mandviwalla, hoping that Zee Studios -- which is facilitating the India release -- might have bigger plans ahead.

“It was Bollywood which started [the practice of] Pakistani actors not being allowed to work in India. The other film industries, like those in Punjab and south, have no problem. If the picture becomes a success, it should be released in the south. This is our Baahubali, and I feel the south audience will appreciate its scale and vision.”

The Legend Of Maula Jatt – a reboot of Pakistan’s 1979 hit, Maula Jatt – tells the story of village hero, played by a gandasa-wielding Fawad, who becomes a symbol of resistance against tyranny and injustice in rural Punjab. The distributor points out that anticipation around Bilal Lashari’s directorial venture is high in Punjab, as the film’s Punjabi roots are expected to resonate strongly with viewers.

“There was tremendous excitement when it was to be released in December 2022, but it was [halted]. Now, even as the film is releasing after two years, I feel it will fare very well. There is a wide audience who wanted to see it, and since it’s not available on OTT, they haven’t been able to,” he says.

The action drama, having earned Rs. 400 crore globally by 2023, is Pakistan’s highest-grossing film to date. But its release in India is so much more than just another avenue to increase its lifetime earnings. Mandviwalla is hopeful that the movie will reignite a cross-cultural exchange between the two neighbouring countries.

“Whenever we used to tell the local authorities (he means Pak, no?) that we need our movies to go across the border, they used to highlight that Maula Jatt’s release was stopped. At that time, it wasn’t the government who had stopped it; it was local pressure. Whatever is happening politically should not affect art. I’m hopeful that this release will start a better [exchange]. In Pakistan, some Punjabi films do release. We recently released Jatt & Juliet 3, which did tremendous business at my theatre.”

Maula is a village folk hero and his tale is one of vengeance—he seeks to avenge the death of his family, which brings him into a deadly rivalry with Noori Natt, a notorious and equally formidable villain. The character's appeal lies in his complexity; he is a man of few words, driven by a desire for justice but not without his own flaws. 

The 2022 remake, The Legend Of Maula Jatt, reimagines this iconic tale for modern audiences. Directed by Bilal Lashari, the film retains the essence of the original but brings a more polished and grandiose cinematic vision, with Fawad Khan taking on the role of Maula Jatt and Hamza Ali Abbasi as Noori Natt. What makes the film click globally?

He says, "I personally feel that it's not the story itself. It was always a big name in Pakistan. But this time what has worked is not the big name or what the film had done 30 years before. This time it's all about how Bilal has made this film. And that became the most surprising part. It is a remake of the film. But he has done it in a way which is exceptional. Nobody could have thought that he would come up with a background and the way he made the film. That has worked tremendously. The star cast - Mahira and Fawad - had a very big contribution towards the success of the film. But ultimately, the biggest thing that happened was that the advance booking of the film when we released it in Pakistan was not up to the mark the way I wanted it to be. But the minute the picture opened up, within the first three days, the kind of report which was coming out, we knew that the second week is going to be much higher than the first week. And that is exactly what happened because the word of mouth was so gigantic. Everybody was shocked to see the film. Nobody could imagine that you can make a film of this sort. It has done about 121 crores in Pakistan. I think it has done 6.5 million dollars."

Earlier this week, the much talked-about merger between Sony and Zee Entertainment, which would have created a media powerhouse of sorts, fell through with the former pulling out of it. The company reportedly called off the deal stating terms of its merger agreement were not met, and has demanded $90 million in termination fees via arbitration. While Zee has initiated its counter-challenge, CEO Punit Goenka is simultaneously exploring legal avenues to challenge the SEBI investigation for suspected siphoning of company funds.

To make matters worse, on January 23, the company witnessed a 30 per cent drop in its share price during the early trading hours. Clearly, troubles are mounting for Zee Entertainment, and its future remains ambiguous.

Despite the recent events, it’s business as usual in the corridors of Zee Studios and Zee5. An industry insider points out that on paper, Zee Studios had a successful 2023. “It enjoyed box-office successes in Gadar 2: The Katha Continues and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Joram, starring Manoj Bajpayee, was critically acclaimed while Karisma Kapoor’s Brown was the only Indian series to be premièred in Berlin. Currently, they might hit pause on fresh films until the company’s future plan is chalked out. But they have two big titles in 2024, Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency and Ajay Devgn’s Maidaan, and work on them is moving in full force,” says the source.

We are told that there have been no interruptions in the functioning of the media house’s OTT platform Zee5. It plans to acquire more series in regional languages this year.

Another source says, “The market panic hasn’t penetrated into the company’s day-to-day affairs. The modus operandi at Zee5 has been to focus on subsequent seasons over new series. So, this year, they have the second season of The Broken News, and Taj’s third chapter in development.”

At a time when Reliance Industries Limited and Walt Disney are working out a merger deal between their respective media assets Jio Cinema and Disney+ Hotstar, Zee will need a strong plan of action to survive the robust competition.

The source indicates that Gautam Adani’s AMG Media Networks is likely to invest in Zee. “After its advent into the news network last year, Adani might back Zee. The media house will start commissioning a fresh slate only after March; by then, they hope to have more clarity.”

Bhopal/Jabalpur/Mumbai: Police in Jabalpur registered an FIR against actor Nayanthara and makers of the Netflix movie “Annapoorani” after Hindu Seva Parishad filed a complaint accusing them of hurting religious sentiments. The film was no longer available on Netflix at the time of going to print on Thursday.

In Mumbai, two separate police complaints were filed by Bajrang Dal and Hindu IT Cell activists against the actor and others associated with the film for remarks about Ram and for allegedly promoting “love jihad”.

PTI quoted an official as saying a complaint was submitted by Bajrang Dal activists to Oshiwara police station two days ago, and an inquiry was underway. Another complaint was filed at Lokmanya Tilak Marg police station by Hindu IT Cell founder Ramesh Solanki who alleged the film demeans Ram and was released to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

In Jabalpur, Omti police station registered a case under IPC Sections 153 (wanton provocation with intent to cause riot) and 34 (common intention) following a complaint from the Jabalpur-based outfit on Wednesday. Apart from Nayanthara, the FIR names six others—Zee Entertainment CEO Punit Goenka, film director Neelesh Krishna, producers Jatin Sethi and R Ravindran, Shariq Patel and Monika Shergill of Netflix India.

Hindu Seva Parishad president Atul Jaiswani alleged that the movie has “inappropriate references” for Ram and promotes “love jihad”. In a scene, the daughter of a priest is shown wearing a hijab to cook biryani and is shown offering namaz. Ram is depicted as eating meat after hunting animals during his exile, the complaint says.

In another scene, PTI quoted the complaint as saying, Farhaan, friend of the character played by Nayanthara, brainwashes her into cutting meat and says Ram and Sita had also consumed meat.

“The complainant has so far not visited the police station. We are waiting for him to appear before the police so that we can take further course of action (sic),” the official in Mumbai was quoted by PTI as saying.

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After landing in legal trouble over allegations of hurting religious sentiments, Nayanthara-starrer Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food has been taken off Netflix. The film released in theatres on December 1 and started streaming on December 29. Sometime ago, protests erupted claiming it “offends Hindu religious sentiments”, and an FIR was lodged against the makers and cast in Mumbai on Monday.

The film follows a Brahmin woman (Nayanthara) who aims to become India’s top chef. Reportedly, the offensive portions depict the character cooking meat wearing a hijab.

The film’s co-producer Zee Studios has also issued an official apology and assured that the controversial scenes in the film will be removed for a re-release. Zee Studios are planning to release a statement soon, we have learnt from sources. Meanwhile, there was no response from Netflix till the time of going to press.

Anil Sharma is thrilled with the roaring success of his directorial Gadar 2 which hit the theatres over two weeks ago. Talking about the Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma-starrer, the filmmaker says, “When Shaktimaan ji (writer Shaktimaan Talwar) narrated the story, I knew that it had the potential to become a blockbuster. I just had to stay focused and be true to the story. After all, a director’s job is to build a bridge from his heart to the audience’s hearts.”

Anil is glad that the makers showed trust in him and accepted his request to nearly double the film’s budget. He elaborates, “When I had a meeting with Zee Studios, they anticipated that the film would make Rs. 100-150 crore at BO, but I told them that this film would earn way beyond that. From the initial Rs. 45 crore budget, they agreed to sanction Rs 60 crore for the shoot. I knew Gadar 2 would bring the audience back to cinema halls.”

Anil said that the industry did not take Gadar: Ek Prem Katha seriously in 2001, and to everyone’s surprise, the film created history. He shares, “This time, there were a few people who reacted positively, lekin kuch logon ko laga tha ki Gadar 2 kuch nahi kar payegi. There were some who said, ‘Yeh toh sab khatam ho chuke hue log hain.’ People thought this film would just come and disappear from the box office. If Gadar 2 hadn’t clashed with any other film at the box office, then I am sure it would have clocked even higher numbers than it already has.”

Sharma is also happy with the way the fraternity has reacted to the film. “Industry folks like Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan sir, Salman Khan bhai and many others congratulated and appreciated our work. I am also touched by the audience’s reactions. They have said things like, ‘This is a very saaf-suthri film which can be watched with your entire family’ and ‘this film awakens the patriotism in you’. The reactions from the single screen owners made me emotional, some of them said, ‘Aapne hamari zindagi bachayi hai.’”

Remember the Hindi action dramas of the late ’80s and early ’90s? Baap revisits the genre as it brings together Bollywood’s biggest action heroes of that time—Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff—and gives us a desi Expendables of sorts. Director Vivek Chauhan, who took the film on floors in June 2022, has wrapped up the shoot, save for a song. We hear the makers have conceptualised a dance number that will see the four leading men shake a leg together, and will be shot in November.

Sources say that it will be a fun track highlighting the deep friendship between the protagonists. At the moment, the director and production design team are zeroing in on the best possible setting for the song.

A source from the creative team reveals, “Mithun, Sanjay, Sunny and Jackie play labourers in a construction company. Keeping that in mind, the makers are envisioning the song against the backdrop of an under-construction building or an old mill, with many background dancers. The idea of shooting it on a ship is also being considered. Once the backdrop is locked, an elaborate set will be built at Film City. It will be a testosterone-driven song on dosti, with the four senior actors celebrating their brotherhood.”

After the song is canned and the patchwork shoot done, the team will begin post-production.

Producers Ahmed Khan and Zee Studios have shortlisted three music directors, of which they will choose one to compose the song. They are seeking a foot-tapping number that has a rustic, macho vibe to it. And who will get the actors, each known for their unique approach to dancing, to strap on their dancing shoes?

Choreographer-producer Khan, sources say. “He has also choreographed another song, which is a slower, emotional track that sees the four stars encouraging each other during hard times.” 

When mid-day reached out to Khan, he confirmed the impending song shoot, adding, “Sanju, Jackie, Sunny and Mithun sir shaped the action genre in the ’80s and ’90s. Baap is along the lines of a desi Expendables with emotions, and the friendship song will give you Tridev [1989] and Vishwatma [1992] vibes.”

The positive response to Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai compelled the makers to reimagine the theatrical release of the ZEE5 film after it streamed on the platform last week. As reported by mid-day (Start small, go big, June 1, 2023), the film, based on the 2013 rape case of a minor by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, opened in 20 theatres yesterday.

“It’s a symbolic release, but we are hoping that the love of the audience will increase the number of theatres,” says filmmaker Suparn Varma, who is the creative producer of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer.

Varma insists that not only the audience but also distributors have reached out to the producers to request a big-screen release of the film. “We got calls from distributors saying they wanted to screen it, but there is a certain process in place. We sold it to Zee Studios, which sold it to ZEE5. Due to the high demand, we decided the film should be put out in theatres. It was the audience’s love that got the movie out. I have been lucky and privileged to get love with The Family Man and Rana Naidu, but with Bandaa, it feels like a tsunami,” shares the producer of the Apoorv Singh Karki-helmed movie. 

Crediting Bajpayee for an effortless collaboration, Varma says, “Manoj is one of the greatest collaborators in the world because he comes without ego. He is there to give it his all. That is how magic happens because you are coming from the space of honesty.”

Sirf Ek Bandaa Bi Kaafi Hai marks the second collaboration between Bajpayee and Varma.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Zee Studios and producer Ahmed Khan were joining forces for a project featuring Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Mithun Chakraborty and Jackie Shroff. The film is being designed as a heavy-duty actioner that will highlight the prowess of the action stars of the late ’80s and early ’90s. It is now heard that director Vivek Chauhan took the movie on floors on Wednesday at the Golden Tobacco factory in Vile Parle.

A source reveals that a set of a prison has been built at the site. “The makers wanted to commence work on the project with an elaborate action sequence featuring the four leads. After scouting for some standing sets in the city, the makers decided to recreate a jail at the Vile Parle venue,” says the source.

The director has lined up a week-long stint at the location with the leading men, after which the cast and crew will move to another location in Mumbai. The film has reportedly been titled Baap because the makers have envisioned it as “the father of all action films.”

Rocket Gang promises to tick all the boxes that make a movie the perfect family film. Dance, comedy, drama, and fantasy Bosco Leslie Martis’ directorial debut has already piqued people’s curiosity and now, the makers have upped the ante by announcing the release date of the project. The film is slated to release on November 11 as a Children’s Day weekend treat.

Speaking about the film, Bosco says, “We all have worked really hard to make Rocket Gang. It is a labour of love and passion. As makers, our aim is to have everyone across the nation enjoy the drama to the fullest. Keeping the same vision in mind, we think 11.11.22 will be the best date to present Rocket Gang. See you at the movies!”

Shariq Patel, CBO of Zee Studios, said, “This is a film created for families and kids to come together and enjoy a perfect family time. We at Zee Studios have nurtured it from script to screen. It is full of dance, music, and masti and is meant for a theatrical experience. Considering the same, we are thrilled to release the film on 11. 11. 22 around Children’s Day.”

Rocket Gang, directed by Bosco Leslie Martis and produced by Zee Studios, stars Aditya Seal, Nikita Dutta, Mokshda, Sahaj Singh Chahal, Jason Tham and five young kids, Dipali Borkar, Tejas Varma, Jayshree Gogoi, Aadvik Mongia, Siddhant Sharma, in pivotal roles.

Actor Ameesha Patel is happy and excited to enter the world of Sakina once again for Gadar 2, the much-awaited sequel of the 2001 film. She admits that she has lived with the onscreen persona for 20 years in her heart, which makes revisiting it all the more special. “It feels wonderful to be back on such a historic film. Actually, it is surreal to get back to playing the character of Sakina along with Tara Singh (Sunny Deol),” says Patel during a break from her ongoing shooting schedule in Dharamshala.

She adds, “It doesn’t seem like 20 years to me. Sakina is part of my blood. So, getting into the skin of the character didn’t require any effort. Even while doing Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, I felt that she was an extension of me. She is lovable, pure, respectful, educated, comes from a good family, believes in the right path and fights for love and what is right. These are a part of me as well. The minute I wear Sakina’s costume, I feel like Wonder Woman.”

Nostalgia is riding high on the film’s set as the cast reunites to create the second chapter of the story, which is being directed by Anil Sharma and written by Shaktimaan.

Deol and Utkarsh Sharma have joined the cast, Mithoon is on board as a music composer and the project is produced by Zee Studios and Anil Sharma Productions.

According to Patel, Gadar belongs to the list of iconic films, such as Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Sholay (1975) and Titanic (1997). She explains, “These movies didn’t get the second part, and we are fortunate that we are getting this chance. The whole team is passionate about the project. Zee Studios has backed this project and has so much faith in us. It is wonderful.”

About what to expect from Gadar 2, Patel says, “It will be a visual delight for the audience because people are not going to realise that there has been a gap of 20 years. The film will come with great music, drama, comedy, and dialogues where one can expect cheers, claps, and seetis. The cinema, which was missing for so long, will be recreated with Gadar coming back onto the big screen.”