Latest news with #Kankhajura
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sarah Jane Dias Joins Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business in a new avatar
Actor and former Miss India, , is the newest addition to Lakadbaggha 2 : The Monkey Business , the much-anticipated sequel in India's first Animal Lover Vigilante Universe. The news was confirmed by , who also returns to helm the project, alongside co-star Ridhi Dogra. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jha took to social media to announce her casting, calling her entry a 'quiet storm' and noting that the Lakadbaggha pack is getting 'fiercer and stronger.' Known for her compelling screen presence in Inside Edge , Kankhajura , and Angry Indian Goddesses , Sarah's inclusion adds emotional depth and physical grit to the franchise's expanding universe. Sarah shared her excitement about joining the action-packed sequel, saying, 'It's rare to find a project that blends action with purpose — protecting the voiceless. Lakadbaggha 2 is bold, relevant, and emotionally charged. It also gave me the opportunity to finally explore action on screen.' The sequel dives deeper into the dark underbelly of the illegal primate trade , heightening both the action and the stakes. Alongside the returning cast, the film introduces Chinese martial arts icon Sunny Pang, adding an international flair to its stylized combat sequences. Currently in production Lakadbaggha 2 – The Monkey Business promises to elevate Indian action cinema while continuing its unique narrative — one that intertwines justice, compassion, and raw intensity. While Sarah's exact role remains under wraps, insiders hint at a powerful character with both moral conviction and combat prowess. Is this conversation helpful so far? Ask ChatGPT
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Roshan Mathew reveals Kesav in Paradise was more challenging than Dinanath in Ronth; opens up about his bittersweet relationship with stardom
Roshan Mathew is no longer just another name in Malayalam cinema's long list of exceptional acting talents. Thanks to his relentless and successful efforts to keep pushing himself as a performer, consistently taking on roles that are starkly different from each other across a diverse range of films and series, Roshan now ranks among those rare actors who assure at least a minimum level of quality not only in their performances but also in the projects they choose. Although it has been a decade since he debuted in cinema, he continues to power through with the same momentum and passion. While basking in the success of his recent outings, Ronth and Kankhajura, he is also busy filming his next project, Chatha Pacha. Amidst all this, he has not forgotten that it has been a year since Paradise, one of his most acclaimed films, hit the screens, and he remains deeply grateful to Sri Lankan filmmaking legend Prasanna Vithanage for giving him the role of Kesav. Malayalam cinema 6-month report card | Disappointment of most hyped movie, tables turning between superstars and more In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Roshan Mathew admitted that playing Kesav in Paradise was a more challenging experience than portraying Dinanath in Ronth. 'They were both very different experiences and extremely different characters. But Kesav was tougher for me as an actor, mainly because he is more distant from me than Dinanath is. He's more unlike me. Both the character and Prasanna sir's process require the actors to access a very honest part of themselves, even when portraying a character with grey shades. Also, since his making is very minimal, even the tiniest things that appear on screen have big meanings, and the same holds true for performances as well. Grasping all of that was definitely a challenging experience for me, albeit an enjoyable one,' he shares. Regardless, Roshan maintains that the experience he had, even during the preparatory stages of Paradise, felt very special. 'I knew the process was going to be memorable, particularly since I would be collaborating with incredible talents like Prasanna sir and cinematographer Rajeev Ravi. But I hadn't really spent too much time thinking about what would happen to the film afterwards. So, it felt truly overwhelming when it did,' he says. A post shared by MUBI India (@mubiindia) Mentioning that the film resonating with viewers wherever it was screened brought them great joy, Roshan adds, 'We could see the concept of 'be as specific and local — zoom in as much as you can — to make it more universal' really working. At many international film festivals, the movie also struck a chord with Sri Lankan audiences, and that was heartwarming. They knew the political climate and the history of the country. They were people who had lived through it all. And while watching the movie, they felt seen. They felt it offered an accurate representation of what was unfolding there.' When asked which three films or shows, that best reflect him as an actor and showcase his skills, he would recommend to someone unfamiliar with his works, Roshan Mathew picked director Geetu Mohandas' Moothon (2019), in which he starred alongside Nivin Pauly; Paradise, which also featured his frequent collaborator Darshana Rajendran in a key role; and Chandan Arora's crime thriller streaming series Kankhajura, where he shared the screen with Mohit Raina, Sarah Jane Dias and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju. Interestingly, 2025 also marks a decade of Roshan Mathew in cinema. It has been almost 10 years since his first film, Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015), was released. By this point in their careers, most young actors would have begun actively pursuing films and roles that propel them to stardom. However, Roshan is more focused on projects that challenge him and allow him to explore uncharted creative territories. Naturally, we asked whether he had no interest in the kind of stardom so many aspire to. 'It would be a lie to say that I have no interest in that kind of stardom. It is very attractive, honestly. Also, in cinema, stardom is what empowers filmmakers to design projects with you in mind. You need the support of stardom to make the kind of projects you wish to do happen. So, for a very practical purpose, I need it and want to make that happen. However, I feel that the way to get there is not to do characters designed to project me as a star. Neither is that my strength, nor an area that excites me the most. It's something that I like to experiment with,' he shares. 'It's not that I haven't done extremely commercial projects. I've done films like Night Drive (2022) and Maharani (2023). I'm currently shooting for Chatha Pacha, which is an extremely commercial entertainer. But I don't want to go after a requirement at the cost of my satisfaction of doing the kind of work that I want to do,' Roshan adds, noting that if he were, however, offered something like Jithu Madhavan's Fahadh Faasil-starrer Aavesham, he would jump in with full excitement. Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
News18
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Anshuman Jha Brings In Sarah Jane Dias For Lakadbaggha 2; Deets Inside
Last Updated: The makers have announced the casting of Sarah Jane Dias for Lakadbaggha's sequel, suggesting that she would play a significant role. With actor-filmmaker Anshuman Jha officially taking over the director's chair for Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business, actress Sarah Jane Dias has now been roped in for a key role. Taking to Instagram, First Ray Films, in a joint post, confirmed the news, stating, 'Together, they've got tex(t) appeal and bite. The pack gets fiercer as Sarah Jane Dias joins Anshuman Jha in the animal lover vigilante universe #Lakadbaggha." The post also included a picture of Sarah and Anshuman, showing the duo joining forces for the upcoming sequel. Known for her work in Kankhajura, The Buckingham Murders, Inside Edge and Made In Heaven, Sarah Jane Dias is expected to bring another layer of her acting skills to the film. While details about her role have been kept under wraps, sources suggest that she can serve as a moral compass in the narrative that revolves around an animal-loving vigilante, as per MidDay. Opening up about her character, the former Miss India-turned-actor revealed that she enjoyed watching the first film for its compassion towards animals. 'It's rare to find a project that blends action with a purpose, protecting the voiceless. Lakadbaggha 2 is bold, relevant, and emotionally charged. Also, it gave me a chance to make my dream of performing action come true," she added. Anshuman Jha, who appears to be creating India's first-ever Animal Lover Vigilante Universe, said that Sarah's casting brings a silent storm to the screen. 'Her strength, elegance, and depth make her a perfect fit for the world of Lakadbaggha. Sarah is elegant with an edge. She brings grace and fire to the role, and we can't wait for audiences to meet her character. This time, the pack isn't just back, it's stronger, fiercer, and far more layered. With Ridhi and now Sarah, we're expanding both the emotional resonance and the reach of this universe," he added. Following the success of the first Lakadbaggha film, it introduces audiences to a world where justice is served for animals. The sequel is expected to get even more intense, with the film delving into the dark world of illegal primate trading and global conspiracy. Besides Sarah, Ridhi Dogra and Anshuman Jha also returned to the rules. International casting of martial arts legend Sunny Pang and Dan Chupong will refine the film's VFX and tone. First Published:
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Was looking for something with different shades: Mohit Raina on playing negative role
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actor Mohit Raina , best known for TV show "Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev" and films such as "Shiddat" and "Uri: The Surgical Strike", says he was eager to break out of good guy roles and that's when "Kankhajura" came his way. Raina essays the antagonist Max in the SonyLIV series, directed by Chandan Arora. It also stars Roshan Mathew. "I was deliberately not taking up anything else because I wanted to experiment. And that's the time when this opportunity came to me and I just grabbed it. I really didn't have to think even for once whether I should do it or not. So everything fell in place for me because I was looking for something that has different shades," the actor told PTI in an interview. Asked if playing a negative role came with any challenges, Raina said it was just like any other project. "But yes, it requires some kind of homework and preparation. A little more than what you would usually do because that's something that you are playing for the first time. I don't have a habit of watching the monitor while working. "In this case, I would really look at my director twice or I would go and watch it to understand whether I have done the right thing, or we are going towards the same alignment that we thought about this character on paper... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Because what is there on paper and actually doing it while working, is very different," he said. Raina rose to fame with "Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev", where he essayed the role of Lord Shiva. The series ran between 2011 and 2013. He also portrayed Shiva in the 2013 series "Mahabharat". But the actor is done with mythological characters, at least for now. "I don't think I would want to go that route right now." However, he wishes to step into the shoes of a historical figure in the future. "If given an opportunity, I would want to play a historical figure because it's been really long. I have not done anything historical. someday, some historical part comes my way." The "Uri" actor also expressed his eagerness to explore the comedy genre. "Comedy is something that I really want to do right now. So, I think comedy is something that I want to do," he said. Raina is happy with the way audiences have received "Kankhajura", which is the Hindi adaptation of critically-acclaimed Israeli drama series "Magpie" (2019). Calling Mathew a "fantastic actor", Raina said he had a great experience working with him and has followed his work before. "I think Roshan is one of the most secure actors that I have met in my life. Usually, a two-character thing can become a little tricky to play with. I have followed his work earlier, 'Parasite' and other series and other movies, a couple of them in Malayalam also. I think he was a fantastic actor," he said. Following years of television and films, Raina made his OTT debut in 2019 with the drama series "Bhaukaal". The actor said the transition to streaming space was smooth. "I think I was fortunate enough that the makers were ready to work with me and they wanted to work with me. They had trust and faith. It was a very smooth transition and a very smooth platform for me."
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Was looking for something with different shades: Mohit Raina on playing negative role
New Delhi, Actor Mohit Raina, best known for TV show "Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev" and films such as "Shiddat" and "Uri: The Surgical Strike", says he was eager to break out of good guy roles and that's when "Kankhajura" came his way. Raina essays the antagonist Max in the SonyLIV series, directed by Chandan Arora. It also stars Roshan Mathew. "I was deliberately not taking up anything else because I wanted to experiment. And that's the time when this opportunity came to me and I just grabbed it. I really didn't have to think even for once whether I should do it or not. So everything fell in place for me because I was looking for something that has different shades," the actor told PTI in an interview. Asked if playing a negative role came with any challenges, Raina said it was just like any other project. "But yes, it requires some kind of homework and preparation. A little more than what you would usually do because that's something that you are playing for the first time. I don't have a habit of watching the monitor while working. "In this case, I would really look at my director twice or I would go and watch it to understand whether I have done the right thing, or we are going towards the same alignment that we thought about this character on paper... Because what is there on paper and actually doing it while working, is very different," he said. Raina rose to fame with "Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev", where he essayed the role of Lord Shiva. The series ran between 2011 and 2013. He also portrayed Shiva in the 2013 series "Mahabharat". But the actor is done with mythological characters, at least for now. "I don't think I would want to go that route right now." However, he wishes to step into the shoes of a historical figure in the future. "If given an opportunity, I would want to play a historical figure because it's been really long. I have not done anything historical. someday, some historical part comes my way." The "Uri" actor also expressed his eagerness to explore the comedy genre. "Comedy is something that I really want to do right now. So, I think comedy is something that I want to do," he said. Raina is happy with the way audiences have received "Kankhajura", which is the Hindi adaptation of critically-acclaimed Israeli drama series "Magpie" . Calling Mathew a "fantastic actor", Raina said he had a great experience working with him and has followed his work before. "I think Roshan is one of the most secure actors that I have met in my life. Usually, a two-character thing can become a little tricky to play with. I have followed his work earlier, 'Parasite' and other series and other movies, a couple of them in Malayalam also. I think he was a fantastic actor," he said. Following years of television and films, Raina made his OTT debut in 2019 with the drama series "Bhaukaal". The actor said the transition to streaming space was smooth. "I think I was fortunate enough that the makers were ready to work with me and they wanted to work with me. They had trust and faith. It was a very smooth transition and a very smooth platform for me."
