Latest news with #Pagglait
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Umesh Bist To Direct Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, Huma Qureshi Opts Out Of Sequel
Umesh Bist, director of Pagglait, will helm Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 as Dibakar Banerjee steps aside. Boman Irani returns, but Huma Qureshi is no longer part of the sequel. Nearly two decades after Dibakar Banerjee's cult classic Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006) redefined dark comedy in Bollywood, its much-anticipated sequel is finally moving forward. But this time, Banerjee won't be calling the shots. According to sources, the sequel will be helmed by Umesh Bist, best known for Pagglait (2021) starring Sanya Malhotra and the 2024 acclaimed series Gyaarah Gyaarah. Insiders reveal that the makers are confident in Bist's ability to balance biting humour with strong emotional undertones, something that defined the original film. 'Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 also has wicked humour and a family angle, and hence they feel Umesh will surely do justice," the source said. Earlier reports suggested that Huma Qureshi was in talks to headline the film, but the deal hasn't materialised. The casting team is still on the lookout for the female lead. What's certain, however, is that Boman Irani will reprise his role as the wily builder Kishan Khurana. Confirming his return in an interview with Bombay Times, Irani admitted he is both thrilled and nervous. 'I am very excited for the sequel. And for the first time and after a long time, I am fearful. We don't want to make a weak effort to ruin a legacy. We have to work really hard to maintain that legacy of the film that it stood for," he shared. The original film revolved around Anupam Kher's Kamal Kishore Khosla, a middle-class man who finds his dream plot of land usurped by Irani's conman Khurana. What followed was a deliciously clever revenge plan hatched by Khosla's sons and friends, which struck a chord with audiences for its relatability, wit, and humour rooted in Delhi's middle-class ethos. With Bist steering the ship and Irani returning to the fold, expectations are high that Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 will live up to the legacy of the original. The only question now: who will step into the role of the female lead? 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 Today
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
6 Netflix gems set in Indian heartland
6 Netflix gems set in Indian heartland India's heartland is home to raw, rooted tales, and Netflix brings them alive with stories that echo small-town voices and big emotions. Take a look at the names here. Credit: Instagram/Netflix_in After her husband's death, a young widow surprises her conservative family by not grieving. Set in a modest North Indian town, Pagglait is a quietly powerful story about breaking expectations. Pagglaint Set in rural India, this Kiran Rao-directed gem is a hilarious yet poignant exploration of womanhood, patriarchy, and freedom. Laapataa Ladies Love, lust, and murder collide in this pulpy, poetic thriller set in a small-town. It stars Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey in the lead. Haseen Dilruba Based on real-life incidents, the series follows a righteous cop as he takes on organized crime in the ganglands of Bihar and Bengal. Khakee: The Bengal Chapter In a quiet village in Punjab, secrets lay in the mist covering a dead body, a groom, murdered days before his wedding. Soon, secrets start to surface, and all that glitters is not gold. Kohrra Fresh off its win for Best Hindi Feature Film at the 71st National Film Awards, Kathal is a deliciously absurd satire set in a small-town police station, where the case of missing jackfruits uncovers everything but fruit. Kathal
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nakul Roshan Sahdev: I never really paid attention to the insider vs outsider debate
Nakul Roshan Sahdev, known for his roles in 'Gully Boy' and 'Pagglait,' is making his debut as a lead in 'Murderbaad.' Nakul Roshan Sahdev debuted as a lead for the film Murderbaad . Sharing his excitement for it, he says, 'What drew me to the script was Jayesh's character arc and how he constantly blurs the line between right and wrong. I imagined Jayesh's inner struggle—how his condition isolates him and keeps him from truly connecting with society. " Despite having no industry connections, Nakul has made a space for himself with performances in Gully Boy and Pagglait. 'I've always been clear about what I want to do in life. I never really paid attention to the insider vs. outsider debate. I'm here to take cinema to the next level—not just to be part of something or some group. The relationships I've built along the way have become my chosen family. Even if they stop making films tomorrow, they'll still be my people. My relationships aren't transactional—they're built on genuine connection.' As someone with no backing or connections in Bollywood, what kept you going through the quieter phases of your career? "I dream, I achieve. It's that simple. Whatever I've dreamt of, I've made it happen. And I'll keep doing that. I never focus on the aftermath or the results—I just do what I want to do. That's what keeps me going."
India.com
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meeet man who once worked as waiter, served food at Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's wedding, is now a star, name is...
Some series and serials give identity to stars which never fades off. Something similar happened with Aasif Khan. If the name doesn't ring a bell, then let us tell you the man is known for one of the hit series Panchayat. If you think it is Jitendra, Ashok Pathak, Raghubir Yadav or Faisal Khan, then your guesses are completely wrong. The man in discussion is the famous Aasif Khan. Aasif had humble beginnings. Over the years, the actor starred in various series including Mirzapur, Panchayat, Paatal Lok, Jamtara, Pagglait, and Human. He gained massive recognition for his dialogue, 'Gajjab Bezzati hai Yaar,' in Panchayat, giving him the name and fame he deserved. Aasif Khan Heart Attack News Recently, Aasif made headlines when news of his heart attack surfaced online. According to reports, Aasif Khan suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. He received the needed treatment and the 34-year-old actor is stable now. When Aasif Khan Served Food at Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's Wedding Yes, while this may sound absurd, not many people know that Aasif once served food at Saif and Kareena's wedding. When he came to Mumbai, he started working in a mall. However, later, he worked in the kitchen department of a hotel, which hosted Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's wedding reception. Aasif Khan Faced Rejection When Aasif tried his luck in the industry, he faced massive rejections. One of the producers heavily criticised his looks and height. However, instead of taking that rejection negatively, he took it in a positive way and worked on his skills. He later returned to Mumbai to pursue his dreams in the entertainment industry once again and landed a job as a casting assistant.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Balaji Telefilms bets on films, digital as traditional TV loses steam
Balaji Telefilms is restructuring its business strategy with a sharper focus on movies and digital content , aiming to reduce its reliance on traditional television, which is under pressure due to pay-TV erosion and industry consolidation impacting margins. Historically, television has been the company's core business, with Balaji dominating primetime for years and delivering a string of popular shows. During the company's Q4 and FY25 earnings call on July 4, Group CEO and CFO Sanjay Dwivedi said the company is at the cusp of a turning point, driven by internal consolidation, strategic partnerships, and a redefined content distribution strategy. 'Over the next 2.5 to 3 years, movies will become the group's primary growth driver, followed by digital, with television as the third focus area,' Dwivedi told investors. 'We look at the content business broadly—whether TV or digital—alongside our motion pictures division and our B2C digital operations, including platforms like YouTube, Meta, and our proprietary app.' A key initiative during the year was the merger of ALT Balaji and Marinating Films into Balaji Telefilms, streamlining operations, reducing cost redundancies, and enabling significant tax benefits. This consolidation is expected to improve resource allocation across its core verticals, movies, television, and digital content. Among the notable developments was a long-term content partnership with Netflix. Described by Dwivedi as 'not a one-show, one-movie, or single-format deal,' the multi-year agreement spans various formats including direct-to-OTT films, telenovelas, binge-watch series, and reality shows. The collaboration builds on Balaji's earlier Netflix projects such as Kathal, Pagglait, and Jaane Jaan. Balaji also revamped its digital strategy, moving away from a purely subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) model to a hybrid framework that incorporates both SVOD and ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD). 'Relying solely on SVOD has been a financial drag,' said Dwivedi. 'Our app now operates on both ad-supported and subscription-based models.' This shift helped reduce ALT Balaji's cash burn from over ₹120-145 crore annually to just ₹35 lakh per month. The platform currently has over two million active users and added 3.29 lakh subscriptions in Q4, including 1.73 lakh renewals. Still, Dwivedi emphasized that ALT Balaji would now form a 'smaller piece' of the broader digital strategy, as the company expands its presence across platforms. Balaji Telefilms, he said, is keeping production costs for its app-based content low, with shows costing around ₹2.5–3 lakh each. This means the app will not significantly burden the company's balance sheet. The platform is still a small part of the overall business, but the company plans to diversify its offerings and launch a cleaner, more refined version of the app in the future, he noted. On the B2B front, Balaji has built a digital content order book worth over ₹300 crore, with projects commissioned by platforms such as JioCinema and Hotstar. 'Three shows were delivered in the last fiscal, two of which—Power of Paanch and Kull—performed strongly on JioHotstar. We are also in talks for second seasons,' said Dwivedi. To further broaden its digital reach, Balaji launched Kutting, a short-form vertical video platform similar to Instagram Reels and is developing regional content in Tamil and Telugu. The company's new YouTube channel crossed one million subscribers within a month of its launch. The film division, which Balaji expects to be its main growth engine over the next three years, is gaining momentum. Using a pre-sale and co-production model, the company recovers 85-90% of production costs before release. 'We don't greenlight any movie until digital rights are secured,' Dwivedi noted. 'Across our film portfolio, we've delivered a 22% return on capital over six years.' The upcoming movie slate includes Vrushabha starring Mohanlal, set for a Diwali 2025 release; Bhoot Bangla featuring Akshay Kumar and directed by Priyadarshan; and Vvan, a collaboration with The Viral Fever starring Sidharth Malhotra. Balaji plans to double its annual movie output from three to six films. Despite its legacy in television, the segment is facing yield and margin pressures. 'TV yields remain under stress, still down by more than 25% compared to pre-COVID levels,' Dwivedi said. Flagship shows like Bade Achhe Lagte Hain Phir Se and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi are ongoing, while discussions are underway with Colors for new titles, including a fresh season of Naagin. For FY25, Balaji reported revenue of ₹453 crore, down from ₹625 crore the previous year. However, net profit surged to ₹84.6 crore from ₹19.4 crore. The company also raised ₹130.7 crore in new capital during the year, with participation from promoters. The funds are being allocated across movies (₹65 crore), digital and music content (₹33 crore), and general corporate purposes (₹32.5 crore). 'In three years, we expect movies to be our primary business, followed by digital, with television becoming the third revenue stream,' Dwivedi reiterated. Looking ahead, Balaji is optimistic about rising content demand and platform growth. The company recently launched Kalnagri, an AI-generated show, as part of its push into tech-driven content creation. However, Dwivedi ruled out a digital business spin-off for now. 'Once the business scales and there's enough investor interest to unlock value, we can consider evaluating that option,' he said.
