Disney Plus Hotstar Reveals Ambitious India Growth Plans (EXCLUSIVE)

Naman Ramachandran When “Bellbottom,” starring Akshay Kumar, releases on Aug. 19, it will be the first major Bollywood film to release in Indian cinemas after a quarter devastated by the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Only 50% of screens in India have reopened and many of them are operating at reduced capacity.

Naman Ramachandran Netflix India has revealed quirky romance “Plan A Plan B,” directed by Shashanka Ghosh (“Veere Di Wedding”).The cast includes Riteish Deshmukh (“Marjaavaan”), Tamannaah Bhatia (“Baahubali”), Poonam Dhillon (“Jai Mummy Di”) and Kusha Kapila (“Ghost Stories”).The film follows a matchmaker who believes marriage is for everyone except herself, and a successful divorce lawyer with a secret, who cross paths, and explores if opposites coexist or attract.The film is written by Rajat

Naman Ramachandran Indian Media Entertainment Network (IMEN) has revealed a robust film and series slate that will keep it busy through 2023.First up is action film, Nilesh Sahay’s “Squad,” introducing Rinzing Denzongpa, which was shot extensively in Belarus.

Disney Channel's marks the network's first original movie centered on an Indian American family.

Naman Ramachandran Indian film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has seen it all – from being physically attacked on the sets of “Padmaavat” to walking the red carpet at a triumphant Cannes screening of “Devdas” – in his 25 years of filmmaking.A graduate of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India, in Pune, Bhansali equally consumed the oeuvre of Tarkovsky, Uday Shankar’s “Kalpana” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “One From the Heart.” While he could not fathom the Russian auteur’s work in

Naman Ramachandran Indian filmmaker, singer and actor Farhan Akhtar is returning to direction after a decade with feature film “Jee Le Zaraa,” starring Bollywood A-listers Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt. The film is due to start shooting in Sept.

Naman Ramachandran Musicians Ed Sheeran, Annie Lennox, A.R. Rahman and Mick Jagger are joining Steven Spielberg and a galaxy of Bollywood stars in supporting the We For India fundraiser for post-COVID relief relief work in India.Celebrities lending their name to the initiative include music group Sister Sledge ft.

Naman Ramachandran Leading Indian streamer Disney Plus Hotstar has revealed the first trailer for its magnum opus series “The Empire.” The eight-episode series is based on Alex Rutherford’s bestselling “Empire of the Moghuls” novels, a racy, fictionalized version of the history of the Moghul empire, which dominated South Asia from 1526 to 1720.

Naman Ramachandran Streaming service Discovery Plus is cranking up the Bollywood star factor for its India originals slate, which was revealed on Wednesday.Bollywood stars Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Ananya Panday (“Khaali Peeli”), Nora Fatehi (“Street Dancer 3D”) and musician Badshah (“Saaho”) will feature in the second season of “Star vs Food,” where Bollywood celebrities and chefs cook for friends and family.

Angelique Jackson CAA has signed Academy Award nominee and Emmy-nominated “Indian Matchmaking” creator Smriti Mundhra for representation in all areas.Mundhra created and executive produced the Netflix original series, which is nominated for an Emmy award for outstanding unstructured reality program. “Indian Matchmaking” offered an inside look at the custom of matchmaking in Indian cultures through a contemporary lens.In 2020, Mundhra’s film, “St.

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios India and India’s Applause Entertainment are continuing their partnership with the Indian adaptation of British crime drama “Guilt.”The as-yet-untitled drama will be directed by Shaad Ali (“Bunty Aur Babli”), whose adaptation of hit French series “Call My Agent,” also for Applause, is in the works. The six-part “Guilt” adaptation, in the Hindi language, will be headlined by Jaideep Ahlawat (Amazon’s “Paatal Lok”) and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub (Amazon’s “Tandav”).

Singer Shaima is on the rise! The muslim pop star has a new EP, titled Unveiled, which is set to drop in August, and she opened up in an exclusive interview with HollywoodLife about her career.

Naman Ramachandran Current streaming market leader Disney Plus Hotstar will continue its sway over India with 46 million subscribers by the end of December, according to a report by leading research firm Media Partners Asia.The streamer currently has approximately 34 million subscribers.The report, titled “The Future of India’s Online Video Market,” notes that together, Disney Plus Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video India and Netflix account for an 80% market share of subscribers and revenues in

Naman Ramachandran Veteran producer and former Disney UTV MD Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP is teaming with Premnath Rajagopalan of Blue Monkey Films for multi-season espionage thriller series “Panthers.” The series will be directed and showrun by Rensil D’Silva (“24: India”), whose thriller “Dial 100,” starring Manoj Bajpayee, Neena Gupta and Sakshi Tanwar and produced by Sony Pictures Films India and Alchemy Films, is debuting Aug. 6 on streamer ZEE5.

Naman Ramachandran Starz-backed streamer Lionsgate Play has revealed ambitious expansion plans in Southeast Asia, local commissions in India and a 60-strong English-language programming slate.In Asia, the service is currently available in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.“We’re certainly looking to go out to all South Asian territories, which is Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives: these are some of the territories that we’re going to go immediately,” Amit Dhanuka, executive VP at Lionsgate

Naman Ramachandran India’s leading streamer Disney Plus Hotstar has revealed a star-studded slate of 16 original series and four films.

Made in Chelsea stars Binky Felstead and Ollie Locke have a friendship we could only dream of and we've had the joy of watching them grow up on the E4 show over the years. Binky is now happier than ever as a mum to two gorgeous children, four year old India and one month old Wolfie, and a wedding to her fiancé Max Darnton is on the way.

Naman Ramachandran Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan (“Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety”) will headline RSVP and Baweja Studios’ “Captain India,” to be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta. Inspired by one of India’s successful rescue missions from a war-torn country, Aaryan will play a pilot who spearheaded the operation and displayed exemplary bravery and courage in the process.

Naman Ramachandran Top Indian actor Taapsee Pannu has launched production company Outsiders Films alongside former Sony Pictures Networks executive Pranjal Khandhdiya.Pannu who works in both Bollywood and the South Indian film industries, is known for her eclectic choice of roles including “Thappad,” for which won best actress at India’s prestigious Filmfare awards, “Badla” and “Mulk.”Khandhdiya’s producer credits for Sony include “Piku,” “Poster Boys” and “Soorma,” in which Pannu was one of