‘RRR’s Ram Charan On Indian Film Industry’s Vanishing Borders, Crossover Ambitions

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefFilm adaptation rights to hit Indian novelist Chetan Bhagat’s 2016 acclaimed book “One Indian Girl” have been acquired up by Sony Pictures International Productions. The studio plans a Hindi-language adaptation that will go into development later this year. Bhagat’s book, which broke pre-sale records on Amazon India when it was launched, revolves around a high-flying woman financier who is intelligent and successful, but finds it difficult to find love.

Tika Sumpter, Comedian CP and Isha Blaaker are all joining the cast in recurring roles for the show's sophomore season.Additionally, Cree Summer and 's Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins will join as guest stars.Based in Harlem, New York,  stars Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb and Corbin Reid as three fiercely loyal friends who work to juggle the trials and tribulations of being successful career women while navigating their romantic relationships and their connections to one another. As the show's logline reads, «At its core, it’s an unapologetically female show about enviable friendship and not only surviving – but thriving together.»Sumpter will play Naomi, the biological mother of Amari (Ellie Reine), who has returned home from the Navy.

EXCLUSIVE: Park Chan-wook’s anticipated Cannes Competition title Decision To Leave has sold to arthouse streamer, theatrical distributor and producer Mubi in what we understand to be the company’s biggest film deal to date.

Starz is expanding the cast of its comedy series “Run the World.”Tika Sumpter, Comedian CP and Isha Blaaker are all joining the cast in recurring roles for Season 2. Additionally,  Cree Summer and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins will guest star in the upcoming season, the network announced on Wednesday.“Run the World” follows a group of smart, funny and vibrant thirtysomething Black women — played by Corbin Reid, Bresha Webb and Amber Stevens West — who live, work and play in Harlem.

), “BARDO” will enjoy a theatrical release on a global scale later this year including in Mexico, its country of origin, as well as the US, Canada, UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Japan and Korea, among many more before debuting on Netflix.Iñàrritu previously worked with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki on his last two films to Oscar-winning effect.“BARDO” stars Daniel Giménez Cacho and Griselda Siciliani. In addition to Khondji, the film features a below-the-line team that includes production design by the Oscar-winning Mexican designer Eugenio Caballero (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) and costume design by Anna Terrazas (“ROMA”).Netflix previously released noteworthy titles like Alfonso Cuaron’s “ROMA,” Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” and Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up” in theaters before the films were available to stream on Netflix, and for Iñárritu’s first Netflix feature it appears he’s being given a similar rollout strategy – although it’s unclear if “BARDO” will have an exclusive theatrical window or if the film will release on streaming and in theaters on the same day.This is Iñárritu’s first film since 2015’s “The Revenant,” which earned him a Best Director Oscar on the heels of 2014’s “Birdman” which won Best Director, Picture and Original Screenplay.

Selome Hailu Tika Sumpter, Chris “Comedian CP” Powell and Ishaa Blaaker have been cast in recurring roles in Season 2 of Starz’s “Run the World” while Cree Summer and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins will guest star, Variety has learned exclusively.The series follows a group of smart, funny and vibrant 30-something Black women who live, work and play in Harlem.Sumpter plays Naomi, the biological mother of Amari (Ellie Reine) who has returned home from the Navy. With the assertiveness of a military officer, she immediately reclaims her position in Amari’s life, leaving Sondi (Corbin Reid) to question her place in this new family dynamic.Comedian CP plays Preston Thurgood, the multi-millionaire creator of Prestify, who has no need to put on airs. His hilarious, down-to-earth personality is plenty to get Renee’s (Bresha Webb) attention; however, his lavish lifestyle certainly won’t hurt his case.

Naman Ramachandran As India celebrates 75 years of independence, Netflix and the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, have partnered to honor real-life stories of extraordinary women through a series of short videos titled “Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniyan.” The initiative was launched on Tuesday in the presence of Anurag Thakur, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting.Bela Bajaria, global head of TV, Netflix, who was also present at the event, said: “Great stories can come from anywhere and are ever so inspiring when they are about people who rise against the odds. In partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, ‘Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniyan’ focuses on celebrating remarkable individuals and their stories that can inspire people in India and around the world.” Narrated by acclaimed actor Neena Gupta (Badhaai Ho”), the short videos capture the journey of these individuals and how they broke the glass ceiling in their respective fields, ranging from science to sports.

EXCLUSIVE: Singapore-based Indian financier Vistas Media Capital has launched a North American division to be run by film industry vet Ben Waisbren.

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra have shared the name of their baby girl! The couple welcomed their little one in January, with Joe, 29, and Priyanka, 39, sharing their joy at the news.They penned at the time: "We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate,” a joint statement shared via Instagram read. “We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family.Thank you so much.” Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter Now TMZ reports they've shared that the couple have named their daughter and, according to a birth certificate obtained by the outlet, they've chosen Malti Marie.The beautiful moniker has an equally as lovely meaning attached.

Naman Ramachandran Amazon Prime Video India has teamed with filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Rohit Shetty Picturez for original series “Indian Police Force,” headlined by Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra.The series, which is in production now, “proudly pays an ode to the selfless service, unconditional commitment and fierce patriotism of our police officers across the country who put everything on the line in their call of duty to keep us safe,” according to a statement from Amazon India, adding that it “aims to set a new bar for action content emerging from India for audiences worldwide.”Shetty is known for his Singham cop franchise, the latest of which, “Sooryavanshi,” starring Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh, was one of the biggest Bollywood box office hits of 2021. Malhotra’s last film, war film “Shershaah,” bowed directly on Amazon and was one of the highest watched films on the service in 2021.

Naman Ramachandran Prashanth Neel’s “K.G.F: Chapter 2,” starring Yash, was the second highest grossing film worldwide over the Easter weekend, with a $70.6 million gross, according to estimates released by Comscore. The weekend winner was “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” with $114.7 million.“K.G.F: Chapter 2” is a sequel to 2018 film “K.G.F: Chapter 1” which earned $33 million, making it the highest grossing Kannada-language film of all time.

Naman Ramachandran S.S. Rajamouli’s Indian blockbuster “RRR,” starring NTR Jr and Ram Charan, has grossed INR10 billion ($132 million) globally, according to numbers released by producer DVV Entertainment. An action-drama set in the 1920s, the historical fiction story by Vijayendra Prasad and Rajamouli imagines real-life Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (NTR Jr) meeting and becoming fast friends.

EXCLUSIVE: Lupin and Intouchables star Omar Sy will now co-star opposite Emmy winner Kerry Washington (Scandal, Django) in Lionsgate action-thriller Shadow Force, we can reveal.

RRR, the latest epic from Baahubali filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli, has grossed over 960 crore ($126M) at the global box office in its first two weeks, and continues to grow. It is already the fourth biggest Indian movie ever worldwide and also gives Rajamouli bragging rights to three titles on the Top 10 chart of Indian films globally, more than any other director in the country.

Naman Ramachandran “RRR” screenwriter K.V. Vijayendra Prasad will pen the script of “1770 – Ek Sangram,” a big-budget adaptation of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s 1882 Bengali-language novel “Anandamath” (aka “The Abbey of Bliss”).Set in 1770, the story takes place against the backdrop of the Sannyasi Rebellion when a brotherhood of monks banded together to fight the ruling British East India Company. “Vande Mataram,” which was later adopted as India’s national song, was first published in “Anandamath.” Friday (Apr.

Naman Ramachandran Popular Indian television soap star Helly Shah is debuting in cinema with feature film “Kaya Palat” and short “Zibah.” Inspired by the true story of rival mafias, “Kaya Palat” is a dark thriller set in Jammu, which is part of the politically volatile state Jammu and Kashmir. Principal photography has commenced on the outskirts of Jammu.

Naman Ramachandran Indian star Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr., popularly known as NTR Jr, is elated with the success of S.S. Rajamouli’s “RRR.”An action-drama set in the 1920s, the historical fiction story by Vijayendra Prasad and Rajamouli makes real-life Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (played by Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (NTR Jr) meet and become fast friends. The occupying colonial British are their common enemy.The film opened March 25 with $65 million, making it the leading film globally that weekend.

Joe Leydon Film CriticStraight out of Tollywood: “RRR,” a bigger-than-life and bolder-than-mainstream action-adventure epic, is performing mightily in international release as audiences marvel at its spectacle, embrace its emotions, and sway to its music while being repeatedly gobsmacked by its unfettered audacity. Propelled by the Telugu Cinema triumvirate of superstars N.T. Rama Rao Jr.

Naman Ramachandran Indian star Ram Charan is revelling in the success of S.S. Rajamouli’s period action drama “RRR” (“Rise Roar Revolt”). The film released March 25 worldwide and scored a $65 million opening weekend, debuting in third place in the U.S.