Latest news with #Vijan
India Today
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
How Dinesh Vijan became Indian cinema's monster hitmaker
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 21, 2025)On April 7, as leading actors and filmmakers from the Hindi film industry gathered at Taj Land's End in Mumbai to ring in Maddock Films' 20th anniversary bash, one man stood tallest—studio founder Dinesh Vijan. Dressed in a black shirt and trousers, Vijan, or Dino as he is known in industry circles, had good reason to be proud. His last two films, Stree 2 (2024) and Chhaava (2025), had grossed over Rs 1,100 crore in India alone, with Stree 2 emerging the highest grossing Hindi film ever. Rajkummar Rao, Varun Dhawan, Vicky Kaushal, Kriti Sanon and filmmakers like Sriram Raghavan and Amar Kaushik spoke effusively about the production house. 'The guest list became so big that we had to go to Taj; otherwise, I'd have hosted it at our office or some little bar,' says no-frills producer, Vijan may not be a recluse like Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films, but he is not as media savvy as Karan Johar of Dharma Productions either. On the back of the two films alone, Maddock has been propelled to the A-League—a force to reckon with, the studio on every film professional's wishlist. 'How people look at you changes with success,' says Vijan. He was in Shirdi days before the release of Bhool Chuk Maaf. Visiting the holy temple has become a ritual since his hit film Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023). 'It helps to take the stress away of release,' he adds. One reason why Maddock is a behemoth in Bollywood is the horror comedy universe that has become its trump card. Unlike YRF's spy universe, it's distinctly Indian, with stories set beyond the metros—Chanderi for Stree, Arunachal Pradesh for Bhediya (2022) and the Konkan region for Munjya (2024). Vijan hadn't conceived the universe when Stree (2018) was being developed. But advice from Hollywood producer Charles 'Chuck' Roven in 2012-13 over dinner in Los Angeles had stayed: 'Build your own box, build your characters.' After Stree became a surprise superhit, Vijan did just that. By interspersing characters from the films (Stree, Bhediya and Munjya), Vijan has built himself an IP (intellectual property) that's reaping dividends at the box office. Maddock has announced eight more titles in the universe, with films flowing until 2028. This year's addition will be Thama, featuring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna and set in the South. WITHOUT SUPERSTARSHorror comedies are only part of Maddock's bouquet. There are family comedies and romances like Hindi Medium (2017), Bala (2019) and Luka Chuppi (2019), historic/ mythology which started with Chhaava and armed forces dramas (Skyforce and the upcoming Ikkis). 'We like making artistic films that resonate with a new, emerging India,' says Vijan. 'Ours is a content-first approach. Anyone who has a whacked-out idea comes to us first, which is good.' What is even more impressive is that Maddock has hit the peak without banking on superstars. None of the three Khans, Ranbir Kapoor or Alia Bhatt has done a Maddock film yet. In fact, Maddock has contributed to the star content of actors like Deepika Padukone (Love Aaj Kal in 2009 and Cocktail in 2012) and Rajkummar Rao (the Stree films). But stars have wised up: Akshay Kumar had a small but significant part in Stree 2. For Vijan, it's more important to find stories that do justice to a star's approach is to not tie up directors with contracts. 'You feel free. You can express yourself better,' says filmmaker Laxman Utekar, who has directed four Maddock films, including Chhaava. 'Dino doesn't sit with a calculator; he is emotionally involved in the film.'advertisement Each Maddock film begins with a tribute to Dino's father, Prem, a Mumbai-based businessman who inspired Vijan profoundly, including passing on the filmi keeda by taking him to the movies every Sunday. Vijan studied for an MBA in Mumbai and worked as an investment banker before pivoting to films. 'Without him, I wouldn't be the person I am, make the films I do and go through the hurdles I did,' he says. Vijan credits his father with shaping his understanding of India by exposing him to the country's diverse realities and cultures during their family trips. 'I can't tell you the soft value of it. It is priceless.' Films like Badlapur (2015), Luka Chuppi, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Sector 36 (2024) demonstrate Vijan's affinity for stories set in a lesser-seen India. 'India no longer looks to the West in an aspirational manner. We want stories about ourselves,' says FOR SUCCESSVijan admits that he isn't the most social person, but he values relationships and keeps a tight inner circle. It includes his sisters, Poonam and Pooja (both producers at Maddock); Sharada Karki Jalota, who helms creative; Ashni Parekh, who handles legal; and Homi Adajania, the director who has been with the studio since his debut film, Being Cyrus (2005). Vijan shuns showbiz glitz and prioritises personal life. A father to twins, he tries to reach home before they go to bed at 8 pm. He calls his wife Pramita his 'lady luck'; the two tied the knot in 2018.'Dinesh sir is focused on finding stories from our culture and history. With that, you can jump genres,' says Vicky Kaushal, who acted in the Maddock hits Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Chhaava. Also, Maddock relies on internal screenings to get feedback, with Vijan taking the lead on cutting eye-catching trailers and sitting on music sessions. The India-first outlook has empowered Vijan to consolidate his victories. Stree's success emboldened him to up the budget for part II. 'Do it bigger, better, madder and crazier,' he says. For Munjya, he spent nearly 60 per cent of the Rs 45 crore budget on visual effects to develop the titular character, a vengeful, annoying spirit. By far, his biggest gamble was Chhaava, a Rs 200 crore budget historical action drama on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. 'It was my biggest fear as I was navigating uncharted territory,' says Vijan. The film released in February and is Hindi cinema's biggest grosser for 2025 thus far. Vijan isn't even done with 2025—up next is the romance Param Sundari with Siddharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor; Thama is expected during Diwali; and there is Ikkis, a father-son story on the 1971 war hero Arun Khetarpal, with Dharmendra, Jaideep Alhawat and Agastya Maddock's stars are rising, but Vijan is aware of the testing times for the industry. 'Just our films working is not enough,' he says. 'Among the four to five main players, there is camaraderie and conversation on how we can help increase the overall pie.' Maddock has had its share of setbacks, with films like Agent Vinod (2012), Raabta (2017), Love Aaj Kal 2 (2020) and Roohi (2021). Kriti Sanon, who has been associated with Maddock since Vijan's ill-fated directorial debut Raabta, has seen Maddock grow from a 'cosy place' to a 'huge building' in Santa Cruz. 'He has learned from every film that hasn't worked,' she says. 'He analyses what he could have done differently and what didn't work in the film objectively.'advertisementVijan isn't letting success get to his head. 'I want Maddock to succeed me. So long as I am hitting it correctly, I should lead it. But at any point if I can't, I'd like to hire the guy who is better than me.' For now, though, everybody wants a piece of to India Today Magazine- Ends
India Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Dinesh Vijan's cinema
On April 7, as leading actors and filmmakers from the Hindi film industry gathered at Taj Land's End in Mumbai to ring in Maddock Films' 20th anniversary bash, one man stood tallest—studio founder Dinesh Vijan. Dressed in a black shirt and trousers, Vijan, or Dino as he is known in industry circles, had good reason to be proud. His last two films, Stree 2 (2024) and Chhaava (2025), had grossed over Rs 1,100 crore in India alone, with Stree 2 emerging the highest grossing Hindi film ever. Rajkummar Rao, Varun Dhawan, Vicky Kaushal, Kriti Sanon and filmmakers like Sriram Raghavan and Amar Kaushik spoke effusively about the production house. 'The guest list became so big that we had to go to Taj; otherwise, I'd have hosted it at our office or some little bar,' says Vijan.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Consumer court directs bank to refund Rs 2.4 lakh lost in online fraud
NEW DELHI: A consumer court in Dehradun has instructed a private bank to refund Rs 2.4 lakh to a customer, citing the bank's inadequate KYC verification that enabled fraudulent withdrawal from his account in 2016. The court also directed ICICI Bank's branch on Rajpur Road to pay Rs 25,000 in compensation and litigation costs, as per TOI reports. Ashutosh Vijan, employed in the merchant navy, submitted a grievance to the Dehradun district consumer commission regarding fraudulent activity on his NRI account. Earlier on March 3, 2016, he was notified via SMS of a Rs 1 lakh debit. Despite rushing to the branch, additional transactions occurred before his arrival. Bank personnel suspended his account and began efforts to retrieve Rs 5 lakh transferred to various accounts. Despite assurances of complete reimbursement within 30-45 days, no action materialised, and Vijan departed for his maritime duties. Following 10 months without resolution, Vijan sought assistance from the consumer commission. He highlighted the bank's failure to verify KYC for recipient accounts and noted that four transactions amounting to Rs 5 lakh occurred within 13 minutes, violating the mandatory 30-minute interval requirement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Upon examining the evidence, the commission supported Vijan's assertions. They observed that no senior official had provided an internal investigation report. The investigation revealed that all recipient accounts were fraudulent without proper KYC verification. While the bank returned Rs 2.6 lakh, Rs 2.4 lakh remained outstanding. The commission mandated the bank to repay the remaining sum with 7% annual interest from the complaint date, along with Rs 20,000 as penalty and Rs 5,000 for legal expenses. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Consumer court orders bank to refund Rs 2.4L lost to online fraud due to KYC breach
Dehradun: A consumer court has ordered a private bank to refund Rs 2.4 lakh to a customer after finding that its failure to complete KYC checks allowed fraudsters to siphon off funds from his account in an online scam in 2016. The court also directed ICICI Bank 's branch on Rajpur Road to pay Rs 25,000 in compensation and litigation costs. Merchant navy officer Ashutosh Vijan had filed a complaint with the Dehradun district consumer commission after his NRI account was compromised in an online fraud . On March 3, 2016, Vijan received an SMS about a debit of Rs 1 lakh from the account. He rushed to the bank but before he arrived, he received more transaction alerts. At the branch, officials blocked his account and initiated action to recover Rs 5 lakh that had been transferred to other accounts. The bank assured Vijan that the full amount would be restored within 30 to 45 days. However, the refund never came and Vijan returned to duty on his ship. After 10 months of inaction, Vijan approached the consumer commission. He said the bank failed to carry out KYC on the accounts where his money was transferred. He also flagged the lack of a mandatory 30-minute gap between four back-to-back transactions totalling Rs 5 lakh, which were executed within 13 minutes. The commission reviewed the documents and upheld Vijan's claims. It noted the absence of an internal investigation report from a senior official. It was found that all four beneficiary accounts were forged and had not undergone any KYC checks. Vijan said the bank refunded only Rs 2.6 lakh, while the remaining Rs 2.4 lakh was never returned. The commission ordered the bank to repay the outstanding amount with 7% interest per annum from the date of the complaint. It also directed the bank to pay Rs 20,000 in penalty and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Bhool Chuk Maaf': Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi film set for theatrical release
Bhool Chuk Maaf, the Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi-starrer time loop comedy, will now release in theatres and not on OTT, producer Dinesh Vijan said on Thursday. Vijan's production banner Maddock Films had recently announced that the movie will skip its theatrical release on May 9 and get a digital release on Prime Video on May 16 due to the recent events and the heightened security drills across the nation following Operation Sindoor. The multiplex chain PVRINOX had moved the court challenging its producers' decision to release it on Prime Video directly. PVRINOX Limited (PVRINOX), Maddock Films Pvt. Ltd. (Maddock), and Amazon MGM Studios have reached an understanding and now the movie will be released in theatres on May 23, 2025. 'As our surroundings begin to heal, we're especially grateful to offer a theatrical experience for a film that speaks from the heart. In these times, when family means everything, we urge audiences to head to theatres with their loved ones, share a laugh, reflect on life, and enjoy a story that, we hope, brings joy. Haldi se aage badhegi Ranjan ki gaadi? Full on Bhasad lekar aa rahi hai yeh shaadi! ✨ New date, same madness — rukawat ke liye #BhoolChukMaaf 🙏 Get ready for a family entertainer that's packed with fun, laughter, and all the feels. In cinemas on 23rd May. — Maddockfilms (@MaddockFilms) May 15, 2025 "We're also incredibly thankful to our exhibitors as partners for their continued support, flexibility, and commitment to theatrical storytelling. The release environment has changed for the better, and we're proud to collaborate once again with them for our film's release," Vijan said in a statement. ALSO READ: 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' trailer: Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi bring a loopy, goofy comedy Kamal Gianchandani of PVRINOX said they remain deeply committed to the theatrical experience. "We fully understand and respect the challenges faced by the team at Maddock Films in finalising the release of Bhool Chuk Maaf. We are thankful for their continued faith in the theatrical model and their decision to bring this film to audiences where it truly belongs - in cinemas. Their support reinforces the strong bond between content creators and exhibitors, and we look forward to a successful release," Gianchandani added. Bhool Chuk Maaf, directed by Karan Sharma, revolves around a soon-to-be-married man who realises that he is stuck in a time loop and keeps reliving the day before his wedding.
