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Scroll.in
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Special Ops 2.0' review: Kay Kay Menon-led suspense thriller often resists momentum
The second season of Special Ops returns to JioHotstar five years after creator Neeraj Pandey first introduced Research and Analysis Wing agent Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon). In 2021, Pandey presented Himmat's origin story in Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story. Special Ops 2.0 – a true sequel – picks up the story of the senior operative and his hand-picked team of spies as they find themselves caught up in a complex issue that threatens national security. Directed by Pandey and Shivam Nair, Special Ops 2.0 moves away from traditional field operations towards the unseen battleground of cyberwarfare. The new season turns its focus to digital threats, artificial intelligence conspiracies, financial fraud and the murky web of political-corporate collusion. Episode one is a sprawling one-hour introduction that sets up the kidnapping of Bhargava (Arif Zakaria), a tech entrepreneur tied to a classified government project. At the same time, a RAW officer (Tota Roy Chowdhury) who was monitoring Bhargava's movements at a summit in Budapest is attacked in Delhi. While this premise has potential, Bhargava never leverages his supposed genius to contribute meaningfully to the narrative, remaining strangely passive for someone with the nation's future in his hands. Himmat and his team are tasked with tracking down Bhargava and ensuring his safe return. But the enemy is always one step ahead of Himmat's field agents. The narrative unfolds over seven days (and seven episodes), a structural choice that promises urgency but doesn't always deliver. There are also echoes of Pandey's film A Wednesday! (2008), with a common man, traumatically affected by institutional corruption, threatening the system. The show's attempt to offer a cautionary take on the implications of AI and next-generation technologies is both timely and effective. A subplot involving a banking scam and fraudulent loans occupies a large part of Himmat's bandwidth. There's commentary on the uneasy nexus between politics, big business and tech – where personal and corporate interests distort national priorities. However, the screenplay by Pandey, Deepak Kingrani and Benazir Ali Fida lacks tautness. Entire sequences are bogged down by unnecessary visual fillers – cars making full U-turns after being instructed to, endless walking shots, numerous drone views that serve little narrative purpose. It's a suspense thriller that often resists momentum. Kay Kay Menon remains the show's anchor. His portrayal of Himmat Singh exudes intelligence, resolve and quick thinking in a time of crisis. Menon rarely misses a beat as he portrays a professional nearing retirement while dealing with emotional upheaval in his personal life. The show also features returning characters such as Farooq (Karan Tacker), Avinash (Muzzamil Ibrahim), Juhi (Saiyami Kher), Ruhani (Shikha Talsania), Abbas (Vinay Pathak), Chadha (Parmeet Sethi) and Banerjee (Kali Prasad Mukherjee). Gautami Kapoor plays Himmat's wife Saroj, while Revathi Pillai plays their daughter Pari. Among the new cast, Tahir Raj Bhasin is a mixed bag. As the sinister Sudheer Awasthi, his backstory lacks narrative punch, and Bhasin underplays the menace and unpredictability the role requires. Prakash Raj, however, delivers one of the stronger performances as a bureaucrat grappling with his wife's illness and a broken system. Some supporting performances fall short, particularly the foreign actresses, including an Austrian girlfriend and a Russian honey trap. The fight scenes are long and often excessive. At times, Special Ops 2.0 seems more invested in presenting itself as an international espionage epic than in telling a focused, compelling story. Still, Himmat's emotional vulnerability this season adds depth to a character who has otherwise been defined by duty and stoicism. Special Ops 2.0 is an ambitious follow-up that leans more on visual style and fight choreography than on pace and spycraft. Kay Kay Menon's steady presence, along with strong support from the senior cast, give 2.0 a solid foundation, but the new season stumbles under the weight of padding. Play
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Business Standard
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Special Ops Season 2 gets a new release date; now streaming from July 18
Special Ops Season 2 Release Date: The much-anticipated second season of Special Ops, originally set to premiere on July 11, will now drop on JioHotstar on July 18. Created by acclaimed filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, this instalment sees the return of Kay Kay Menon as the relentless R&AW officer Himmat Singh, now navigating the murky world of cyber warfare. In a recent conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Menon applauded Pandey's exceptional writing, crediting their long-standing collaboration which began with the hit thriller Baby. Neeraj Pandey, known for the National Award-winning A Wednesday!, has helmed successful OTT ventures like Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, The Freelancer, and Khakee: The Bengal Chapter. In 2024, he released two films, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (Netflix) and Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha (theatrical), featuring Ajay Devgn and Tabu. Pandey reunites with co-director Shivam Nair, who previously worked on Special Ops and its spin-off 1.5: The Himmat Story. Nair's recent credits include The Diplomat and Naam Shabana. Special Ops Season 2: New release date As the original movie has been postponed, the Special Ops Season 2 will not release on July 18. Special Ops Season 2: Cast Joining Menon in this season are Prakash Raj, Vinay Pathak, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Karan Tacker, Saiyami Kher, Muzammil Ibrahim, Gautami Kapoor, Parmeet Sethi, and Kali Prasad Mukherjee, promising a power-packed ensemble. What did Kay Kay Menon say about the delay? In a heartfelt Instagram announcement, Kay Kay Menon said, 'To all Special Ops fans, the second season will now stream on July 18 instead of July 11. It's just one more week. I know it's a bit more waiting, but some things are beyond our control. Don't worry, all episodes will be available on July 18'. The storyline reflects today's shifting geopolitical landscape, where modern conflicts have moved beyond borders into cyberspace. In this digital battlefield, enemies are unseen but constantly present, making cyber warfare a growing threat to national security.
News18
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Is Parag Tyagi? All About Shefali Jariwala's Second Husband
As Shefali Jariwala passed away unexpectedly, her husband Parag Tyagi was found in a heartbroken condition outside the hospital. Shefali Jariwala, who rose to fame with her stint in the music video Kaanta Laga, unexpectedly left for the heavenly abode on June 27. The 42-year-old actress suffered a cardiac arrest and died in Mumbai. Although she was rushed to the Bellevue Multispeciality hospital in Andheri by her husband Parag Tyagi, she was declared dead on arrival. Let's look back at her heartbroken spouse's personal and professional life. Several videos of Parag Tyagi have surfaced on the internet, where he could be found completely heartbroken over the passing of his ladylove, Shefali Jariwala. The lovebirds were counted among one of the most adorable couples in the industry, who kept painting the town red with their mushy moments on social media platforms and during public appearances. In a recent video on Instagram, the doting husband can be seen visibly upset as he drove out of the hospital. Who Is Parag Tyagi? Parag Tyagi, hailing from Modinagar, made his acting debut in 2008 with the crime thriller, A Wednesday! starring Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher in the lead. Next year, the actor made his television debut as Vinod Karanjkar in Zee TV's Pavitra Rishta. Following this, he went on to appear in several films and TV shows, including Brahmarakshas, Jodha Akbar and Shakti Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, among many others. The actor has also worked in Telugu films, including Agnyaathavaasi, Venky Mama, Ruler and Sarkaru Vaari Paata. Lastly, he was seen in the Salman Khan-starrer movie Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, which was released in 2023. He appeared in the role of Yogeshwar Kodati in the action comedy film. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parag Tyagi (@paragtyagi) Parag Tyagi's Personal Life The 49-year-old was married to late actress Shefali Jariwala, but this was her second marriage. Previously, the diva tied the knot to musician Harmeet Singh from Meet Brothers in 2004. After 5 years of marriage, the actress pressed charges against Harmeet, claiming domestic violence and a lack of emotional respect in the relationship. She also mentioned experiencing mental distress in her marriage. Following this, the couple got divorced in 2009. Later, she started dating actor Parag Tyagi. After being in a relationship for four years, the couple got hitched in 2015. Since then, they continued serving couple goals with their camaraderie. They also participated in Nach Baliye 5 and Nach Baliye 7, but ultimately finished in 7th place. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parag Tyagi (@paragtyagi) Shefali and Parag often surprised each other with small gestures, leaving their fans gushing over their bond. For instance, on Shefali's 40th birthday, the actor inked an elaborate tattoo only to make her feel happy. It featured the diva's name, as well as signs of common things they loved – the beach and her sun sign. Talking about Shefali, the actress gained immense recognition for her stint at the age of 20 by featuring in Kaanta Laga. Following this, she has been part of several movies, TV shows and songs. In 2018, she also appeared as the female lead opposite Shreyas Talpade in the web series Baby Come Naa. She last appeared in the 2024 serial Shaitani Rasmein as Kapalika. First Published:
Pink Villa
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
'There's no worse torture...': Naseeruddin Shah recalls his realization that 'no amount of money' was worth agony of tirelessly working
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is known for his honesty, and he recently opened up about the toll his hectic work schedule once took on him. Speaking candidly, Shah said, 'There's no worse torture in the world' than juggling three film shoots a day. In a brutally honest reflection, he revealed that there was a time in his career when he took on back-to-back films only for the money, a decision he now views with regret. Shah explained how the constant hopping from one film set to another left him exhausted. 'I was acting in several lovely movies just for money. And I realized no amount of money is worth this agony,' he admitted. According to the actor, the pressure wasn't just about delivering performances, it also involved wasting time in routines that felt pointless. He recalled how much of the day on set was often spent socializing, having breakfast, enjoying the surroundings, and indulging in gossip before actually getting to work. His wife, actor Ratna Pathak Shah, had a different experience. She shared on the Aadyam Theater YouTube podcast that she never had to endure the chaos of managing three shifts a day like her husband. She believed that doing fewer projects allowed her to stay true to her craft. Though she admitted most of her work wasn't of the highest quality, she emphasized that unless she gave her full effort, the result would never feel or sound right. Ratna also expressed that because she took on so few roles, she found it impossible to cut corners. She mentioned that while actors doing four shifts a day might be tempted to rush through roles, she felt a strong responsibility to give her best when a good project came her way after years. At the FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit, Ratna also reflected on her marriage, admitting that Naseeruddin's unwavering focus on his work had once left her feeling overshadowed. However, she had come to terms with it over time. She acknowledged his dedication and generosity, both as an actor and as a director, and appreciated the support he offered to others in bringing out their best performances. Married since 1982, Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah continue to collaborate on stage, demonstrating their shared love for theatre, even if their professional approaches differ. Naseeruddin Shah has delivered powerful performances in several iconic films across genres. In Masoom (1983), he portrayed a father grappling with guilt and responsibility, while Sparsh (1980) showcased his sensitive portrayal of a visually impaired principal. He brought depth to A Wednesday! (2008) as a mysterious vigilante and delivered a chilling performance in Nishant (1975), a landmark parallel cinema film. His roles in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Iqbal (2005), Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai (1980), and Pestonjee (1988) further reflect his range, making him one of Indian cinema's most respected and versatile actors.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Naseeruddin Shah recalls doing movies just for money, working three shifts a day: ‘There's no worse torture in world'
Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, known for his films like Bazaar, Aakrosh, Sparsh, A Wednesday! and more, recalled in an interview with Aadyam Theatre how he once took on certain films purely for financial reasons. He described working three shifts a day as "torture". (Also Read: Naseeruddin Shah 'could hardly hold back tears' as he attended Manthan screening at Cannes almost 50 years after release) The actor revealed that his technique does not differ when acting in front of the camera versus on stage. When asked if he had ever done four shifts a day, Naseeruddin said, "I've done three shifts a day, and there's no worse torture in the world. There was a time when I was acting in several films just for the money. And I realised no amount of money is worth this agony — jumping from one set to another. Half the time, you're just socialising on set. You arrive for a 9 am shift, then spend another hour or so having breakfast, enjoying the scenery, and gossiping. I know someone who'd love that," he added, pointing towards Ratna. Ratna spoke about putting equal effort into all her work, even if the quality varied, and said, "I've done very little work that is of high quality. Most of my work has been on television, so that's not the kind of quality we refer to when we talk about great art. But I've realised that if I don't give it my all — if I don't apply the same skills I use while doing theatre — then it neither sounds nor looks right." Naseeruddin Shah was last seen in the film Fateh. Sonu Sood's directorial debut also starred Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya in key roles. Released in February, the film follows the story of Fateh, an ex-agent who comes out of his peaceful life to dismantle a cyber mafia syndicate after a local girl becomes a victim and goes missing. Fateh received mixed reviews from both audiences and critics, and failed to make a significant impact at the box office, earning only ₹19.06 crore worldwide.
