TECH COMPARING

The team of the Marathi film Gondhal met Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the film’s journey after being selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars. The meeting was initiated by filmmaker and IFTDA President Ashoke Pandit and led by Ameet Satam, President, BJP Mumbai. The delegation made an appeal to the Chief Minister to extend financial and infrastructural support to the makers of Gondhal, particularly for the film’s promotional and representation-related activities in the United States. Written, directed and produced by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is produced by Diksha Davakhar. With the film now representing India on an international platform, the team highlighted the need for the right support and resources to help take the film’s journey forward in America. The delegation included Ashok Dubey, General Secretary, FWICE; Nishant Ujwal and filmmaker Swapna Waghmare Joshi from IFTDA, along with members of the film’s cast, including Kishore Kadam...

Yash Raj Films’ much-awaited revenge thriller series Akka has locked its release date. Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that the Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte starrer period gangster series will premiere on October 30 on Netflix. Akka is finally set to arrive on Netflix nearly three years after it went into production in November 2023. Mounted as Yash Raj Entertainment’s biggest tentpole streaming project to date, the series is set in the 1980s and revolves around a matriarchal society in a fictional city in South India. The show follows a pair of gangster queens whose matriarchal rule is challenged when an outsider brings an unseen threat, spiralling the all-powerful sisterhood into a storm of violence and survival. South Indian sensation Keerthy Suresh makes her streaming debut with the project and will be pitted against acting powerhouse Radhika Apte. Directed by debutant Dharmaraj Shetty, the series is a large-scale thriller revolving around fierce and powerful women na...

In a major development that has sent ripples across the film industry, the Income Tax Department on Monday, September 28, conducted search operations at around 12 locations in Mumbai linked to actor Rakul Preet Singh, her father-in-law and veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani, and Panorama Studios. Bollywood Hungama has further learnt that a search operation is also underway at filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar’s office. According to a report in TV9, the action was initiated following information received by the Income Tax Department regarding substantial sums allegedly being remitted overseas under heads such as film shoots, foreign distribution and production expenses. Investigating officials are reportedly examining whether these transactions involved tax evasion or other financial irregularities. Multiple teams of the Income Tax Department are carrying out searches and examining documents and financial records at various premises across Mumbai. At the time of publishing, the operations were st...

Ankur Rathee is currently being seen in Netflix’s Best of the Best, a South Asian dance drama led by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, Chaneil Kular and Rathee. The film, which explores identity, ambition and friendship through the world of competitive South Asian dance teams in the US, has also marked a new phase in Rathee’s international career. Rather than focusing on his Hollywood debut, which was announced previously, the actor has now opened up about his experience of playing Ronak, the charismatic and competitive captain of UCLA’s South Asian dance team. For Rathee, the role offered an opportunity to revisit a part of his own college experience. The actor was a member of South Asian and contemporary dance teams during his time at Princeton, and he drew from those experiences while portraying Ronak. “What made Ronak particularly exciting was the opportunity to revisit a part of myself I hadn’t accessed in years. I was a college dancer, I’ve lived the intensity of these team...

Microdramas are no longer being discussed only inside startup offices and short-video companies. The format is now entering one of India's most influential mainstream entertainment-industry forums. FICCI FRAMES 2026, to be held in Mumbai on September 29 and 30, has included a dedicated session titled Microdrama, Mega Business: The Next Content Disruption in its programme. The panel will examine how snackable fiction, creator-led series and platform-first originals are changing content creation, distribution and monetisation. Significantly, the discussion brings together representatives from different parts of the emerging ecosystem — Meta, Zee Entertainment's BULLET Microdrama, Eloelo Group, Kuku and the creative community. That places microdramas on an agenda otherwise populated by some of India's biggest entertainment names. FICCI FRAMES 2026 will feature discussions involving Ayushmann Khurrana, Ekta Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, filmmaker Sriram Raghavan and senior executives fr...

Anubhav Sinha is one of the most acclaimed directors and producer-writers in Indian cinema, having delivered a number of stories to audiences over the years. Known for his keen eye for storytelling, Sinha has consistently explored diverse narratives while also producing several notable films under his banner. Now, the filmmaker is all set to embark on a new journey as he launches his own music label, Benaras Beat, marking a new chapter in his creative journey. Talking about this new venture, Anubhav revealed that the idea of the label had been in his head for several years. Sharing his deep-rooted love for music and how the idea eventually took shape, he said, “So, there is a very interesting saying that if you want to do something and you don't do anything about it, then it's a dream, and if you want to do something and you do a lot about it, then it's an ambition. Benaras Beat was formed in my head and in the office about 7-8 years back. I love music, so much so that 3 y...

The makers of Ramayana have unveiled a new official poster featuring Yash as Ravana, following a special event attended by global internet personality MrBeast. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the two-part epic stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Yash’s portrayal of Ravana was already glimpsed in the trailer released a couple of months ago. The newly released poster offers another look at his interpretation of the character, with the actor seen in an elaborate royal appearance. In the poster, Yash is dressed in a heavily embellished golden crown featuring gemstones, along with layered pearl necklaces and gold bracelets. His intense expression and imposing appearance form the focus of the visual, offering another glimpse of how Ravana has been designed for the film. The poster comes shortly after the makers hosted a special event where MrBeast was present. The latest reveal adds to the promotional campaign around the upcoming epic ahead of its theatrical ...