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First Post
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Son of Sardaar 2 Movie Review: Not Ajay Devgn or Mrunal Thakur, it is Ravi Kishan who makes a bogus and bonkers film bearable
'Son of Sardaar 2' is back with its ensemble cast including Ajay Devgn, Ravi Kishan, Sanjay Mishra, Mrunal Thakur, Neeru Bajwa, Chunky Panday, Kubbra Sait, Deepak Dobriyal, Vindu Dara Singh, Roshni Walia, Sharat Saxena, Sahil Mehta, and a posthumous appearance by the late Mukul Dev. But is the film worth watching? read more Cast: Ajay Devgn, Mrunal Thakur, Ravi Kishan, Neeru Bajwa, Deepak Dobriyal, Kubbra Sait, Chunky Panday, Sharat Saxena, Mukul Dev, Vindu Dara Singh and Sanjay Mishra Director: Vijay Kumar Arora Sometimes, I wonder why Bollywood makes such movies? We don't need star-studded films like Son of Sardaar 2. We need good stories and good craftsmen. Filmmakers need to understand that audiences have evolved, they know what is good cinema and what is bad cinema? They are literate enough to differentiate between the two. So, do not underestimate or take your audiences for granted dear Bollywood. And let me tell you nobody, literally nobody is star-struck. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A still from Son of Sardaar 2 You give us some good-looking faces, foreign destinations and some over age stars who don't even know what age-appropriate acting is and we will be happy? Is that what you think? Just forget it. Audiences today are way more intelligent than what you think them to be. They have got exposure to good cinema and they definitely know what you are feeding us is sheer garbage. Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, the film is a sequel to Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha starrer Son of Sardaar which was supposedly a 2012 hit. But _Son of Sardaar 2_ is cringe, it's not even a comedy. It just shows a low sense of humour. While watching the film, I asked a well-known trade expert who was sitting right behind me as to why does Bollywood make movies like this? To which he said, 'to make us laugh.' Honestly, are sense of humour is way superior and this kind of distasteful movie, can never make us laugh. This film is just snore worthy. Ajay Devgn is in the titular role and this time he is paired with Mrunal Thakur. Looks like in Bollywood male actors refuse to age or even attempt to do age-appropriate movies. Wonder why Mrunal Thakur even agreed to sign in for this? The only actor's performance which was worth watching is Ravi Kisha. This actor truly knows his craft and makes even a badly written mindlessly scripted film watchable. But again, a man who has done such brilliant performances in the past like Kiran Rao's directorial film Laapataa Ladies and Netflix's Maamla Legal Hai, why did he even agree to be part of this project which has such a bogus storyline. Sorry to say the movie is entertaining only in some parts of it, otherwise it is just mindless. I totally hated the 'cringe-worthy' pairing of Ajay Devgn (56) and Mrunal Thakur (33). And Chunky Pandey, what were you even doing in this film? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rating: 1 and half out of 5
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sitaare Zameen Par to release on YouTube on August 1, six weeks after theatrical release: Is Aamir Khan saving cinema, or replacing it?
A couple of weeks before the release of Sitaare Zameen Par, when members of the media met Aamir Khan, a camera crew perennially chased him even when he went about doing regular chores inside his Mumbai office. We also spotted that crew at the launch of PVR INOX's Aamir Khan Film Festival and his 60th birthday celebration. We were told it's to record footage for the content on Aamir Khan Talkies, a new subsidiary YouTube channel of Aamir Khan Productions. Across the next few weeks, there were exclusive throwback interviews and discussions with Ashutosh Gowariker (on Lagaan) and Vir Das and Abhinay Deo (on Delhi Belly). There was also the much-concealed Aamir audition for Ravi Kishan's role in Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies. Aamir covered all major YouTube channel while promoting Sitaare Zameen Par. Given his firm stand on signing any streaming rights deal for the film, we had to ask him then: 'Will it come out on YouTube?' Aamir firmly said no, and claimed that it'd come on a digital platform or satellite television only a year after the theatrical release. Cut to two months later: Aamir on Tuesday announced Sitaare Zameen Par would indeed skip streaming to premiere on Aamir Khan Talkies on a pay-per-view model. 'Watch a superhit film for just Rs 100,' screamed the hoarding in his background, as he even apologized to the media for lying to them about the film not premiering on YouTube after its theatrical run. 'I've grown up on cinema. Cinema has given me everything. So I had to lie in order to protect the cinema then,' Aamir confessed. But by introducing this 'disruptive' pay-per-view model on YouTube, is Aamir really saving cinema or replacing it? He claims he's been perturbed by the fact that Hindi cinema is reaching only a minor fraction of the humongous Indian population, and has been looking for a solution for the past 15 years. YouTube, in comparison, enjoys a massive reach making the cinema accessible to all corners of the country. He cited how the platform is used by 55 crore Indians at least once a day while only 2-3% of the population goes to theatres. But another section of the entertainment industry feels Aamir is not taking the easy way out, but just moving with the times. 'If you can democratize content, while making it conveniently accessible, then what's the harm?,' says a budding YouTuber, adding, 'Aamir is just asking you to look at cinema differently. Going to a theatre is for the elite now. His films would still go to the theatres first. But those who're not fond of going to the cinemas or can't afford it, he's servicing to them too, through YouTube.' If digital is bound to replace the moviegoing experience, then why is there so much hullabaloo around cinemas disappearing post pandemic thanks to the growing appetite and access to streaming? Aamir himself has championed cinemas by not subscribing to the streaming model, which entails a film dropping on the platform eight weeks after its theatrical release. Aamir argued that while he's not against the OTT industry, the eight-week window didn't suit him as it makes the audience less inclined to step out for a theatre visit. But industry insiders claim Aamir circumventing the eight-week-window diktat of streaming via YouTube also has to do with the economics of the arrangement. 'Actually, why Aamir sahab is going for YouTube is after Laapataa Ladies didn't work in theatres and most of the money it made on streaming went to Netflix,' says PS Ramanathan, who looks into the distribution and marketing of Rajshri Films. That's another production house which has been building its YouTube presence with the help of nostalgic interviews with character actors. It's also made shows for TV and streaming. However, its mainstay still remains cinema. 'In a pay-per-view model, you pay Rs 100 for every viewing (a film on Aamir Khan Talkies can be stored for a month, but has to be watched within 48 hours once you begin watching). So it's like appointment viewing or dedicated viewing as opposed to a subscription fees to a streaming platform, which includes a bouquet of other content from around the globe. The Rs 100 then goes directly into the pocket of Aamir Khan Productions. But ultimately, it depends on the film — would someone pay even Rs 100 to watch a film at home?,' adds Ramanathan. He quotes the most recent instances of Mohit Suri's romantic drama Saiyaara, which like Sitaare Zameen Par, is a mid-budget, middle-of-the-road film. After action epics took over, romance was relegated to streaming post pandemic. But what Sitaare Zameen Par, a light-hearted coming-of-age film achieved, Saiyaara took that to another level at the box office. Unlike in the case of the former, one can clearly see from the poster of Saiyaara that it'd drop on Netflix India eight weeks after its theatrical run. But the shows are still running full, with the film having collected over Rs 266 crore at the domestic box office already. The Netflix logo on the poster of Laapataa Ladies is what both Aamir and PVR INOX Managing Director Ajay Bijli suspected as the reason why the film didn't achieve a theatrical business like Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 12th Fail did the previous year. Like Aamir did for Sitaare Zameen Par, Chopra didn't sell the digital rights of 12th Fail to any platform till weeks after its theatrical release. Yet the collection kept rising in theatres even when the film dropped on Hotstar. 'Ultimately, it depends on how good the film is. If it's a bad film, nobody would watch it even for free in the convenience of their home. The movie should speak for itself. If it's a good film, people would watch it either in cinemas or on YouTube or on streaming for any cost,' says Akshaye Rathi, Director at Vidharbha Exhibitors. He feels the footprint of YouTube is far bigger than any individual OTT platform, so it's a win-win for both the audience and the producers who want to avoid the eight-week window that streaming imposes. But not every producer is as influential as Aamir or Chopra. 'If you go for YouTube, it would disturb your entire cashflow distribution,' argues Ramanathan. Streaming is the second biggest revenue vertical for most films these days, followed by theatrical. Many films, big and small, primarily rely on that revenue to break even and take risks with a theatrical run. Ultimately, it all comes down to the economics. For instance, Kamal Haasan promised to sidestep the four-week window for Tamil films with his new crime thriller Thug Life. But when the film bombed in theatres, Netflix India dropped its price, compelling the makers to release it earlier than planned to cover the losses. Aamir had to do it too with Laal Singh Chaddha in 2022. During the promotions, he put it on record that the film wouldn't release on streaming before six months since its theatrical outing. But after the movie failed in cinemas, he had to release it on Netflix India earlier than scheduled. That's where it got immense love and redemption, and so did Laapataa Ladies. Like it was with SS Rajamouli's RRR in 2022, the film got immense love across the world after it came out on OTT. By owning the complete rights of his upcoming films instead of selling them to streaming platforms, Aamir also has the bragging rights of singlehandedly taking India to the Oscars, like he once did with Lagaan back in 2002. 'One can't challenge the intent of Aamir. Even if he wants to take all the credit, he does want Indian cinema to reach both the country's masses and the audience across the globe. Like in the case of Satyamev Jayate, he already had StarPlus onboard, but he made sure the show is telecast on Doordarshan simultaneously because its reach was far wider then. Complete ownership just drives his creative instincts,' says a former employee of Aamir Khan Productions. However, another insider informs SCREEN that Aamir is even contemplating to release some of his smaller films directly on Aamir Khan Talkies, even skipping the theatrical release. While he'll save the tentpole ones like Sunny Deol's Lahore 1947 and Junaid Khan's Ek Din for the cinemas, Vir Das' Happy Patel may find a home on YouTube instead. With some streaming platforms making theatrical run a metric to set the price, cinemas retain their relevance. Also, if a Sitaare Zameen Par can drop on digital just six weeks after its theatrical release, even less than the eight-week window of streaming, would the YouTube model not be used arbitrarily for recovery? 'If that's the plan, then how are we saving cinemas then? I miss the Aamir Khan of Dhobi Ghaat (2010) days who would sneak in a role in an indie film instead of making the film all about himself. Of course, it's a partnership with YouTube so there must be other commercials involved. He has to turn every simple move into a revolution in order to sell it, which just evades me,' says an industry insider. Also Read — Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, Traitors, IPL, Kapil Sharma: How streaming is replicating television, the very beast it wanted to tame But trade experts like Rathi and Ramanathan feel Aamir will need YouTube's full support to institutionalize his distribution model, not just for marketing and positioning, but also for curbing piracy. 'My biggest concern is piracy. It's anyway so rampant, and a new film releasing on YouTube would make it even more prone. Streaming platforms have sound mechanisms in place to prevent piracy, but that's not the case with YouTube so far,' says Rathi. Ramanathan agrees and adds, 'This is a very new model. So it's hard to say if it'd work. I feel at best, it'd be a substitute to the streaming model, not a replacement.'
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Why Aamir Khan is skipping streaming services to release his film on YouTube
New Delhi: Actor Aamir Khan will premiere his latest film Sitaare Zameen Par, which released in theatres in June, on YouTube starting 1 August. Skipping the traditional post-theatrical streaming route, the film will be available on Khan's YouTube channel as a one-time paid rental—viewers can pay ₹100 in India to watch the film once. It will also be available in 38 international markets, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Spain, with pricing localized for each market. This marks YouTube India's first major exclusive film premiere via a transactional video-on-demand (TVoD) model. Khan said the film will not stream on any subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) or other TVoD platforms. A satellite television premiere is expected in six to eight months to reach audiences who may not be able to pay even for YouTube rentals. 'Our biggest hits have theatrical footfalls of 3-3.5 crore which is 2-3% of our population. The biggest reason for that is we don't have that many movie screens especially in comparison to countries like the US and China. The effort has been to take the film to as many people it potentially can reach on a platform that offers a large footprint," Khan told Mint in an interview. While acknowledging that pay-per-view has so far seen low traction in India, Khan said improved internet access, smartphone penetration, and the ease of digital payments through UPI could help the model gain momentum. He added that pay-per-view should be the next step in a film's monetization cycle after its theatrical run, instead of premiering on a subscription-driven service. Khan also said the film is unlikely to appear on an SVoD platform, citing streamer insistence on a six- to eight-week window between theatrical and OTT release, which he does not support. However, he noted that the film would eventually air on satellite TV to reach audiences unable to pay even for YouTube rentals. Older films produced by Khan, excluding Laal Singh Chaddha and Laapataa Ladies, which are already available on streaming, will also be released on YouTube in the next few months. Gunjan Soni, country managing director, India, at YouTube, said the digital launch of Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively on the platform marks a significant step in democratising Indian film distribution at a global scale. Since April 2025, videos related to the film have garnered over 370 million views on YouTube India, she said, pointing to sustained engagement. (this data is not to be attributed to her but to the company) Streaming has been a major revenue source for filmmakers over the past decade, and the pandemic further accelerated home viewing. During the lockdown, several films skipped theatres and debuted directly on digital platforms. In the post-pandemic period, multiplex and cinema owners have pushed for longer theatrical windows to give films time to perform in cinemas. In recent months, the timing of OTT premieres has become increasingly flexible, depending on a film's box-office performance. Underperformers may hit streaming platforms in as little as four weeks, compared to the usual six-to-eight-week gap. Still, despite offerings from companies such as BookMyShow, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, the pay-per-view model remains niche in India. Media experts point to the limited content available on TVoD platforms and note that most viewers have returned to theatres or continue to rely on annual OTT subscriptions. For these reasons, transaction-based models have yet to rival subscription or free services in terms of reach or popularity. Sitaare Zameen Par grossed ₹164 crore in India and is considered a hit.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
When Ajay Devgn's One-Liner Turned Panic Into Laughter After Fire Scare At Son Of Sardaar 2 Set
Last Updated: The cast of the film, including Ajay Devgn, Ravi Kishan, Mrunal Thakur and Kubbra Sait, sat together discussing their film and anecdotes. Ajay Devgn-starrer Son of Sardaar 2 is just days away from hitting the cinemas. With a few days remaining, the cast of the upcoming comedy actioner is pulling out all the stops in promoting their film. In one such event, the lead cast of the film, including Ajay, Ravi Kishan, Mrunal Thakur and Kubbra Sait, took a break from talking about Son of Sardaar 2 and shared anecdotes from the time when they were shooting for the film. In a video shared by Ajay on his Instagram account, Ravi Kishan recalled one late-night incident from the shoot, which turned into comedy gold. He narrated that all of them retired to their respective rooms after a hectic day of shooting and fell asleep. Suddenly, he woke up to the sounds of a fire alarm going off. At that time, both Mrunal and Kubbra shared that they too thought about discussing the incident. They revealed that the alarm went off at around 3 AM. Ravi Kishan then added that it was cold and he was confused about what to do next. That's when he received a call from Ajay. 'There is a fire, kidhar hai tu (where are you)," the Laapataa Ladies actor shared what Ajay had asked him at that time. What Ajay Told Ravi Kishan When He Said There Was A Fire? Confused with the whole fiasco, Ravi Kishan replied to the Tanhaji actor, asking him what to bring with him. Keeping up with his sarcastic self, Ajay told him, 'Tu coffee leke aa (bring some coffee)." The answer left everyone in splits. Then, Ajay hilariously added that his question made him reply with sarcasm. Mrunal admitted that for a moment, she thought it was Ajay who was pranking them, but there was a fire. In the caption of the post, Ajay wrote, 'On-screen ho ya off-screen masti nahi rukni chahiye! Full video out tomorrow. #SonOfSardaar2 in cinemas this Friday, August 1st. #SOS2 #SardaarIsBack." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) What Is The Story Of Son Of Sardaar 2? Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, Son Of Sardaar 2 will see Ajay Devgn reprising his role as Jaswinder 'Jassi" Singh Randhawa. The upcoming film, which is the spiritual sequel to the 2011 film Son of Sardaar, will see Jassi travelling to Scotland to reconcile with his wife. Once there, he gets entangled in a mob conflict and a chaotic wedding. The film also features Mrunal Thakur, Ravi Kishan, Neeru Bajwa, Deepak Dobriyal, Kubbra Sait as Mehwish, Chunkey Panday, Vindu Dara Singh, Roshni Walia and others. Son of Sardaar 2 also marks Mukul Dev's posthumous films. Initially, it was scheduled to release on July 25, but now it is set to hit the theatres on August 1, clashing with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri's Dhadak 2. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet New Wave Of Sensational Bollywood Debutants: Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda To Shanaya Kapoor
photoDetails english 2938101 Updated:Jul 29, 2025, 07:00 AM IST Meet New Wave Of Sensational Bollywood Debutants 1 / 11 Meet New Wave Of Sensational Bollywood Debutants: The debutants are ruling Bollywood right now with their innocent charm, energy, raw talent and awesome appeal. Be it Saiyaara couple Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda to Shanaya Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor and Vedang Raina, the list is long and impressive. Here's looking at 10 newcomers who caught our attention and how! Suhana Khan 2 / 11 Suhana Khan has begun her rise to fame in Bollywood. She stepped into the zone with The Archies and has gotten everyone intrigued about her upcoming project, King. With silent charisma and on-screen grace, all eyes are on Suhana for her next flick! Ahaan Panday 3 / 11 The latest newcomer to debut is Ahaan Panday, who has created a wildfire over the big screens with his recent release, Saiyaara. With an impressive acting knack, he has proven to be one of the most promising debutants of new-age Bollywood. Aneet Padda 4 / 11 Aneet Padda is basking in the impressive response to her latest release, Saiyaara. She brought quiet grace and strength to her role, making the audiences rush to the theatres to witness this love story and register a power-packed debut. Vedang Raina 5 / 11 Vedang Raina brought a quiet strength to the fore with his debut in The Archies, wherein he swooned the audience with his boyish charm. Later, he put his acting dynamics on full display in Jigra, highlighting his interest in exploring himself as an actor. With a growing filmography, Vedang is exuding a promise to choose unconventionality on-screen. Pratibha Ranta 6 / 11 Pratibha Ranta displayed her impressive acting potential through Laapataa Ladies and Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. With a magnetic screen presence, command and confidence, Pratibha has undoubtedly cemented herself as Bollywood's next big thing! Lakshya 7 / 11 Lakshya made an offbeat choice for his debut film, Kill, and kept the audience on the edge of their seats with gruesome action sequences and expressions. Within his first film, he highlighted his capability to pull off a challenging role, paving the way for on-screen flair in the future. Rasha Thadani 8 / 11 Rasha Thadani brought warmth and intensity to her performance in her debut film, Azaad. With an energy that lingered long after the film ended, Rasha proved that she's here to stay! Junaid Khan 9 / 11 Junaid Khan's debut in Maharaj was promising. Intense and revolutionary, Junaid won hearts with his expressive performance and natural flair. Shanaya Kapoor 10 / 11 Shanaya Kapoor made her Bollywood debut with the recently released film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. She made everyone notice her acting mettle through her on-screen honesty and maturity, leaving everyone rooting for her. With the upcoming film, Vrushabha, Shanaya is sure to turn heads even more! Khushi Kapoor 11 / 11 Being the youngest Kapoor from the clan, Khushi Kapoor is winning hearts with her on-screen charm and her off-screen honesty. She registered herself as a promising actress with Loveyapa, making everyone notice her growing potential. With a few dramas and fashion gigs lined up, Khushi is steadily paving her way towards stardom.
