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Criminal Justice Season 4 Finale: Who Really Killed Roshni and Why Madhav Mishra Chose Silence(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Criminal Justice Season 4: A Family Matter returned with 8 intense episodes, with its final climax episode released on July 3 on JioHotstar. The new season explored the murder of nurse Roshni Saluja (Asha Negi), who was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Her lover, Dr. Raj Nagpal (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub), became the prime suspect, though he maintained from the start that he had not killed her. So who really did?

Plot Recap

Dr. Raj Nagpal first marriage with Anju Nagpal was broken in the sense that Anju shared with Raj in having a daughter, Ira, who has Asperger’s. Raj was having an open affair with Roshni, who was a nurse at his own hospital. Then, Anju, who was living in her part of the house, constantly came over to check on Ira, while Roshni took care of child.

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict (Week 5): Pankaj Tripathi Brings 5th Most-Viewed Show In India Post-covid! (Photo Credit –Instagram)

Pankaj Tripathi’s web series Criminal Justice season 4 is now officially the second most web series of 2025 in India, followed by Bobby Deol’s Aashram Season 3 part 1, which garnered 35.3 million views on Mx Player and Prime Video. Meanwhile, Pankaj Tripathi’s show has garnered a total of 34.2 million in five weeks on JioHotstar!

Pankaj Tripathi To Grow Further!

Interestingly, this plan of weekly arrival of episodes has cleverly worked for Pankaj Tripathi‘s web series since it has maintained a spot in the top 3 shows of the week every single week ever since it arrived on JioHotstar! The web series is expected to grow for another week, with the last episode ready to arrive on July 4.

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict Week 5

Criminal Justice Season 4 managed to garner 4.5 million views in its fifth week,...

Panchayat S4 Ott Verdict: 2nd Best Opening Of 2025! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Jitendra Kumar-led Panchayat season 4 received a mixed response from the audience. There were debates and discussions about how the show could not match the brilliance of its previous seasons, and now, the opening week numbers on Prime Video are a testimony to the fact that this was a lukewarm season.

Panchayat’s Last Season’s Debut Week Viewership

The third season of the Tvf show that streams on Prime Video opened with a brilliant viewership of 12 million views. This was one of the best opening week numbers of the last year. In fact, season 3 was one of the most-viewed web series of last year!

Panchayat Season 4 Ott Verdict

Panchayat season 4, in its debut week, garnered a viewership of 8.8 million, taking the top spot in the list of the most-watched streaming originals in India for the week of June 23 – 29, as per Ormax data.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, talks with Subhash K Jha About playing a role of murder suspect in the hit series Criminal Justice Season 4, working with the incredible cast, plus more!

What is it like working with Applause Entertainment and Sameer Nair?

Sameer sir, definitely. He is one of my favourite person also. I just love him. The way he talks and his knowledge. I also love reading and he also enjoys that. And every time we talk about books also, he sends a few books across. I have also gifted him a few books. So I think it is more like an intellectual thing that I really enjoy working with him. And he doesn’t trouble you as an actor. His understanding of performances and of the creative side is also superb. Generally, we don’t find that in producers. Which is fine. I’m not complaining about that. But I...

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict (Week 4): Pankaj Tripathi Is Roaring High! (Photo Credit –Jio Hotstar)

Pankaj Tripathi’s web series Criminal Justice Season 4 is still roaring, and probably the weekly arrival of the episodes of the web series has worked in favor of the show since it has been at the number 1 spot in the list of most viewed shows of the week since four weeks!

Pankaj Tripathi Surpasses Two Panchayats!

With a total of 29.7 million views in four weeks, Pankaj Tripathi‘s courtroom drama has surpassed not one but two seasons of Panchayat! Panchayat Season 3 garnered a lifetime viewership of 28.2 million views in 2024, while Panchayat Season 2 garnered a viewership of 29.6 million views.

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict Week 4

Criminal Justice S4 managed to garner a massive 5.7 million views in its fourth week, taking the top spot in the list of most-watched streaming originals in India for the week...

Panchayat Season 4 Review Ft. Jitendra Kumar: Can Someone Help Sachiv Ji Land An Mba Admission? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Panchayat Season 4 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, Ashok Pathak, Pankaj Jha

Creator: Tvf

Director: Akshat Vijaywargiya, Deepak Kumar Mishra

Streaming On: Prime Video

Language: Hindi with Subtitles

Runtime: 8 episodes of 40 minutes each!

“Election mein milte hain aur sab ko naapenge,” when Phulera’s Kranti Devi, played by a brilliant Sunita Rajwar, tells this to Manju Devi, played by the gorgeous Neena Gupta, I placed a bowl of popcorn on my table and geared up to witness the hilarious cat-fight of the recent times. That’s how Panchayat Season 4 started.

Last season made it clear that this season would be all about the politics in Phulera village, with Pradhan Ji’s dominance getting challenged by Bhushan and the gang!

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict (Week 3): Pankaj Tripathi Roars Like None! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Pankaj Tripathi has done the unthinkable with his courtroom drama Criminal Justice Season 4, roaring with numbers like never. In three weeks, the show will have a total of 24 million views on JioHotstar, and it is still not surrendering, as the last episode finally arrived on Thursday!

Surpasses Last Season’s Viewership!

The fourth season of the courtroom drama has surpassed the total viewership of the last season. Titled Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach, the third season of the courtroom drama garnered a total viewership of 23 million views when it arrived in 2022.

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict Week 3

Criminal Justice S4 managed to garner a massive 5.3 million views in its third week, taking the top spot in the list of most-watched streaming originals in India for the week of June 9 – June 15, 2025, with estimates based on audience research by Ormax.

Pankaj Tripathi In Criminal Justice 4(Photo Credit –Jio Hotstar)

Pankaj Tripathi, aka Madhav Mishra, emerges once again as the beloved small-town attorney in the fourth season of Criminal Justice: A Family Matter. The narrative depicts Madhav Mishra defending Raj Nagpal (played by Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) in a murder case involving the death of his girlfriend Roshni Saluja (played by Asha Negi).

The storyline leads viewers through a dramatic maze of family secrets, emotional trauma, and dramatic courtroom fights. So far, with five episodes out, viewers are anticipating episode six, which releases on June 19, 2025.

Tripathi’s Fee Takes A Big Leap

Given the series’ immense popularity, Pankaj Tripathi has reportedly increased his fee significantly. According to HerZindagi, the actor, who previously charged ₹4 crores per season, might have taken home around ₹10 crores for Season 4. And honestly, fans aren’t surprised—Madhav Mishra has become one of the most iconic characters in Indian Ott courtroom dramas.

After the chaos that erupted when Raj Nagpal was named the prime suspect in the murder of his lover, Roshni, episodes four and five of Criminal Justice: A Family Matter unravel a fresh wave of missing pieces in the case and set the stage for the beginning of the trial. The case had already been making constant headlines, but now, many of the circumstances surrounding the murder appear to be shifting, adding new layers of complexity and doubt. This season, the challenges facing the beloved defense attorney Madhav Mishra are tougher than ever, and now, the question is whether he’ll manage to hold on to that signature smile.

Spoilers Ahead

What does Madhav discover at Roshni’s funeral?

Criminal Justice episode four opens with Roshni’s cremation, where her mother curses Anju for having the audacity to show up. But with Roshni’s loved ones, and those merely pretending to be,...

Subhash K Jha speaks with Surveen Chawla about her career so far including her most recent roles in Criminal Justice and Rana Naidu and more!

That’s two more knock-out performances in Criminal Justice and Rana Naidu , don’t you feel underrated?

Well, to answer your question, I think, I personally think, underrated, no. Most definitely not. I don’t think I’m underrated at all, because you know, my plethora of work speaks for itself. I would say that, and I think makers come to me with roles which they think I can do justice to, and they come to me that says a lot of the faith they have in me, and I would like to take that away from, whether it’s writers or directors or makers, who come to me with roles like that. So, no, I wouldn’t say underrated.

But those who have followed...

Rana Naidu: Season 2 Review: Gritty, Dark & Intense! (Photo Credit –Facebook)

Rana Naidu: Season 2 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh, Arjun Rampal, Dino Morea, Sushant Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Surveen Chawla, Kirti Kharbanda & Others

Creator: Karan Anshuman

Director: Karan Anshuman, Suparn Verma

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English with subtitles

Runtime: 8 episodes of 50 minutes each

Rana Naidu: Season 2 Review: Arjun Rampal & Rana Daggubati Make It Spicier! (Photo Credit –Facebook) Rana Naidu: Season 2 Review: What’s It About:

The Daggubatis – Rana & Venkatesh are back with the Desi version of Ray Donovan, and if you were having doubts about this season being better than the last season or not, let me assure you – no one would be disappointed with this high-octane action drama! The gang (let us not call them a family still) led by dad Venkatesh and his three sons – Rana Daggubati, Sushant Singh, and Abhishek Banerjee are...

Barkha Singh is an actress who has made her way to the spotlight with sheer hard work, talent, and dedication. She has etched her name as one of the finest in the Ott space and is making waves in the industry. She has been a part of several projects and has consistently delivered remarkable performances, earning a massive fan following.

Barkha Singh is celebrating yet another proud moment in her career as two of her latest shows, Lafangey and Criminal Justice, have ranked among the Top 5 most-watched original series in India, according to Ormax Media’s Ott viewership ratings. Taking to social media, Barkha expressed heartfelt gratitude to her fans and viewers for their constant love and support on her story.

Sharing the news, Barkha wrote, “2 releases out. Both topped the charts! My gratitude is through the roof rn!”

Watch the post by Ormax-

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKreuvbRKt...

Applause Entertainment’s gripping courtroom drama Criminal Justice Season 4: A Family Matter has made a historic impact, delivering the strongest opening day ever for a Hindi original in the streaming universe with a staggering 8.4 Million Views.

Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India and directed by Rohan Sippy, the show launched with a three-episode premiere on May 29, followed by a weekly episodic rollout. The series has struck an emotional chord with audiences across the country.

Returning as the beloved Madhav Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi leads a stellar ensemble cast, including Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Surveen Chawla, Asha Negi, Khushboo Atre, Barkha Singh, Mita Vashisht, and Shweta Basu Prasad.

Sameer Nair, Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, said, “Criminal Justice is the longest-running and one of the most cherished franchises in the Hindi streaming space, built on trust, scale, and consistent storytelling. The record-breaking opening of season 4 is a proud milestone for all of us.

Criminal Justice S4 Ott Verdict: Pankaj Tripathi Settles For Number 2! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Criminal Justice Season 4 has served as piping hot courtroom drama, and it seems like another victory for Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India. The web series has opened to rave reviews, and Pankaj Tripathi is roaring high with phenomenal viewership during the debut week!

Falls Slightly Short Of Last Season’s Debut!

Pankaj Tripathi-led courtroom drama fell slightly short in terms of viewership of last season’s debut week number! Season 3 of the series arrived on Hotstar on August 29, 2022, and it garnered a viewership of 8.9 million in its debut week.

Criminal Justice Season 4 Ott Verdict!

In its debut week, in the list of the most-watched streaming originals in India for the week of May 26 – June 1, Criminal Justice S4, managed to garner a viewership of 8.4 million, as per Ormax data, claiming the number one spot in...

Pankaj Tripathi talks with Subhash K Jha about the joys of playing the canny lawyer Madhav Mishra in Season 4 of Criminal Justice.

Tell me, what kind of relationship has you developed with this Madhav Mishra in Criminal Justice over the years?

I often say that I am the Madhav Mishra of acting because he used to serve affidavits; that is, he was a lawyer in survival mode, and he used to do small jobs for survival. I came from a small cinema where I did one or two scenes.

And see where you are now!

I feel a very strong sense of belonging. The identification is very strong, very, very strong and the history of both of them is connected with Bihar. Do you know, Sir, I also studied at the Patna Law College. I remember Sridhar Raghav had come to narrate Season One to me, so he said, ‘This...

Criminal Justice Season 4 Review: Pankaj Tripathi Is A Show Stealer! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Criminal Justice: A Family Matter Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Surveen Chawla, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Barkha Singh, Shweta Basu Prasad, Meeta Vasisht, Asha Negi & others

Creator: Harman Wadala, Rahul Ved Prakash, Varsha Ramachandran, and Riya Poojary

Director: Rohan Sippy

Streaming On: JioHotstar

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 8 episodes of 50 minutes each, new episodes out on every Thursday

Criminal Justice: A Family Matter Review: Each & Every Move Well Designed! (Photo Credit – YouTube) Criminal Justice: A Family Matter Review: What’s It About:

“Har ek gawaah ek adhyaay hai us katha ka jo hum baanchenge judge sahab ke saamne. To judge sahab ko kahani sahi samajh aaye iske liye aavashyak hai, katha ka kram sahi ho.” With this lesson, as important as the bible for any lawyer, Pankaj Tripathi, as advocate Madhav Mishra, is ready to defend another Murder trial.

Applause Entertainment and Sameer Nair have done it again. Season 4 of Criminal Justice, now streaming on Jio Hotstar, is designed as the visual version of a page-turner. The sleep-steep storytelling is simply irresistible.

There are hot springs of ingenuity strewn across the eight episodes so that we never know when and where the investigation will end. And honestly, do we want this to end?

And even if, let’s just say for the sake of saying, the plot was not throbbing with as much scripting vibrancy as it does, there is the delightfully credible Pankaj Tripathi as our resident lawyer, Madhav Mishra.

His instinctive understanding of the compulsions behind the given crime are so grave and gamely it feels like a panic picnic. Fun while it blasts, so to speak

Pankaj’s Madhav Mishra once again holds the show together. He gets terrific support from not only his immediate costars...

Must-Watch Courtroom Dramas On Ott (Photo Credit – Hotstar)

Courtroom dramas have a unique appeal. They bring together law, emotion, and conflict in a setting where every word counts. With Criminal Justice Season 4 yet to release, legal drama fans can explore several titles that offer equally compelling stories. These shows portray the justice system through different lenses. Here is a selection of Indian courtroom dramas currently streaming on Ott platforms.

1. Court: State vs a Nobody

Streaming On: Netflix IMDb Rating: 7.9 Director: Ram Jagadeesh

Plot: Court is a Telugu-language legal drama directed by Ram Jagadeesh. It follows the story of a young couple entangled in the complexities of the legal system. The film adopts a realistic and unembellished view of the legal system and received mostly positive reviews from audiences. It stars Priyadarshi Pulikonda as a lawyer fighting a challenging legal battle. Harsh Roshan, Sridevi, Sivaji, Sai Kumar, Harsha Vardhan, Rohini,...

Special Ops 2 Teaser Review: More ‘Himmat’ & Better Mission! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Jio Hotstar is all set for a thrilling summer season. After dropping the trailer for Pankaj Tripathi’s Criminal Justice Season 4, an exciting teaser for Special Ops 2 has been dropped. Neeraj Pandey delivered a masterclass on espionage thrillers with Baby and social thrillers with Special 26 and A Wednesday. The filmmaker is back with a high-octane ride starring Kay Kay Menon as Himmat Singh.

As always, the actor is offering high hopes with the second season of the show as well. There is not a single dialogue in the teaser, only fast paced glimpses but these glimpses tease well and speak volumes of the story that is about to arrive and kill with an intense story!

Kay Kay Menon‘s glimpse as Himmat Singh is so compelling that it leaves you wanting for more. He’s the anchor of another high level operation,...

The fourth season of Applause Entertainment’s outstanding courtroom series Criminal Justice, starring Pankaj Tripathi, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Surveen Chawla, Mita Vashisht, Asha Negi, Shweta Basu Prasad, Khushboo Atre will stream on JioHotstar from May 22, 2025.

Directed by Rohan Sippy, the upcoming chapter is titled A Family Matter and produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios. The very popular web series is an Indian adaptation of the successful BBC Studios drama format of the same title.

Since its inception, Criminal Justice has enjoyed a stream of loyal followers and fans. Emerging as the breakout show of 2019, the first installment picked up multiple awards across categories, including drama series, ensemble cast and the crew and more.

Says Sameer Nair, the enterprising CEO of Applause Entertainment, “We are excited to create the next chapter in this successful franchise.”

Under Sameer Nair’s keen guidance, Applause Entertainment has grown from strength to...

The Gentlemen star Daniel Ings has joined Catherine Zeta-Jones in Prime Video, Fremantle and Steel Springs Pictures’ Kill Jackie, which has rounded out cast.

Ings will play buttoned-up lawyer Sam in the thriller series, which is an adaptation of Aidan Truhen‘s “gonzo thriller” The Price You Pay.

Ings is joined by Sidse Babett Knudsen (Prime Target, Borgen), Óscar Jaenada (Rambo V, Cantinflas), Hattie Hook (Of An Age, Ten Pound Poms), Darci Shaw (A Thousand Blows, This City is Ours), Raff Law (Masters of The Air, Triton), Enzo Cilenti (Black Mirror, The Crown), Christine Adams (Hijack, Malice), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Britannia, Napoleon), Karlis Arnolds Avots (Soviet Jeans, Lovable), Set Sjöstrand (The Wheel of Time, Valhalla), Tadashi Ito (Society of the Snow, The Platform 2),Sebastian Armesto (Gangs of London, A Small Light), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh, The Great), Gavin Spokes (House of The Dragon, Slow Horses), Jonathan Cake (And Just Like That,...

Kesari Veer Trailer Review Ft. Suniel Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi & Viveik Oberoi: No Prayers Might Work Here! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Another trailer for another history meets period drama magnum opus has been launched, and honestly, either I am saturated at this point, or clearly, no one is making anything new. Kesari Veer stars Suniel Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi, and Viveik Oberoi, and the trailer of the film seems like an influencer reel that features a recreation of the best scenes of Baahubali, Chhaava, Padmaavat & Bajirao Mastani, to be precise!

The film offers a story from the history of the religion and culture of our country, and this one deals with the Legends of Somnaath. With a looter-slash-invader whom I assume is Mahmud Of Ghazni, asking Kaun Hai Shiva, and his soldier telling him ‘Ek Kaala Patthar Hai Jispe Ye Log Bhasm Lagaate Hain.’

Probably, I am too tired of these ye...

Criminal Justice S4 Teaser Review: Pankaj Tripathi’s Comeback Is Intriguing! (Photo Credit –YouTube)

It was during the pre-pandemic era when Ott had just arrived and was delivering class content. It was during those days that Pankaj Tripathi arrived to rescue Vikrant Massey in Criminal Justice. The web series is now arriving with its fourth season, starring Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Surveen Chawla.

As a long-time admirer of this gripping series, I have been an ardent fan of Pankaj Tripathi’s Madhav Mishra. The teaser plays its cards very close to its chest, creating the much-needed anticipation for another round of legal battles and moral quandaries.

This dilemma between to be or not to be is clearly outlined in the Criminal Justice S4 teaser when Pankaj Tripathi assuringly says, “Ye case jitna aasaan lag raha hai, hai nahi. Warna hamari jholi mein girta hi nahi!” Pankaj Tripathi slips into Madhav...

Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s Set To Star In Alia Bhatt & Sharvari’s Alpha? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Acclaimed actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya has reportedly joined the cast of Yash Raj Films’ much-anticipated spy thriller Alpha. The film, headlined by Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, is set to be a significant addition to Yrf’s expanding Spy Universe.

This addition is bound to increase the excitement surrounding the highly anticipated movie. Dibyendu is known for his powerful performances in projects like Criminal Justice, Rocket Boys, and the recently announced Gulabi.

His inclusion adds depth to the stellar ensemble cast of Alpha. While the makers are keeping details of Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s role under wraps, insiders suggest he will play a pivotal character integral to the film’s high-octane narrative.

Trending Gandhari: Taapsee Pannu Wraps Up Shoot For Kanika Dhillon’s Kathha Productions Movie

Sikandar Naache Teaser Out: Salman Khan & Rashmika Mandanna Set The Perfect Tone For A Power-Packed Track!

New casting picks have just been announced for the third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Actor Jamie Campbell Bower, best known for playing Vecna in Netflix's hit series Stranger Things, is one of two additions newly revealed to be coming into The Rings of Power for Season 3. Bower will be playing a series regular role, described as a "handsome high-born knight" who's being referred to under the code name "Arlen." It's believed that he could be a new love interest for Morfydd Clark's Galadriel after her fallout with Charlie Vickers' Halbrand/Sauron.

Per Deadline, another newcomer for The Rings of PowerSeason 3 will be actor Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan). He will be featured in a recurring role, and the code name being used for the character in the casting information is "Dromm." All that's known about this character is that he "has a brother,...

When Mumbai commercial powerhouse Reliance Industries and Disney India decided to team up and form India’s largest broadcasting, production and streaming business, it was clear the ambition was as big as the $8.5 billion price tag slapped on the deal.

Reliance, owned by India’s most wealthy man, Mukesh Ambali, had control of channels biz Viacom18 plus ultra-popular low-cost streamer JioCinema and its sports content for a cricket-mad nation, while The Walt Disney Company’s Indian assets included Disney+ Hotstar, the leading streaming service in the country after its 2021 launch, and the Star India networks. When the Sony and Zee Entertainment Enterprises merger collapsed under the weight of regulatory scrutiny, the pathway became even clearer for the new kid on the block to assert dominance.

With a content library totaling more than 30,000 hours and estimated annual revenues of more than $3.1B, the newly named JioStar was set to get going,...

BBC Studios has confirmed that it is discontinuing its local production activities in India and has struck an exclusive multi-year partnership with Banijay Asia to adapt its formats for the Indian market.

The deal gives Banijay Asia exclusive rights to BBC Studios’ unscripted and scripted format catalog in India. The agreement takes effect after BBC Studios completes its current production commitments in the region.

Once a prominent player with hits like local adaptations of “Criminal Justice” and “The Office,” BBC Studios had positioned itself as a bridge between British storytelling and Indian sensibilities.

Banijay Asia, a joint venture between Banijay Entertainment and its founder-ceo Deepak Dhar, will leverage its local expertise to give BBC’s formats an Indian flavor for broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company has already demonstrated success in format adaptations, having brought shows like “Masterchef,” “Big Brother,” and “Temptation Island” to Indian audiences.

BBC Studios’ format library...

BBC Studios has confirmed it will cease producing in India, with Banijay Asia gaining access to its formats catalog in the country.

The BBC’s production and sales arm has been mulling an exit from Indian production for several weeks and today confirmed it will “cease its own production activity locally, once current and contracted commitments are delivered, to focus on this new model in India.”

A BBC spokeswoman said four full-time staff members and 30 fixed-term contractors will lose their roles as a result of the move.

In place of BBC Studios’ own local production, an agreement with Banijay Asia described as “multi-year” has been struck. It will see Banijay Asia gaining access to all of BBC Studios scripted and unscripted formats, including The 1% Club and The Great Bake Off, and looking to place them with India’s broadcasters and streamers.

Last month, it emerged the BBC was considering an exit from Indian production,...

2 storytellers, two films, 1 exciting partnership! Kabir Khan, the powerhouse director behind blockbusters like Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 83 and Chandu Champion, and Applause Entertainment, known for series like Black Warrant, Scam, Criminal Justice , Tanaav, Undekhi among others are set to present two exciting stories to the world of cinema.

The films will be co-produced by Applause Entertainment and Kabir Khan Films, with Kabir Khan at the helm. Known for his ability to craft deeply moving stories with mass theatrical ;appeal, Kabir will be taking on the role of director for one film while creatively producing both. This partnership unites Kabir’s cinematic vision with Applause Entertainment’s commitment to groundbreaking narratives, promising films that are entertaining while resonating deeply with today’s audiences.

Sameer Nair, Managing Director, Applause Entertainment, “Our partnership with Kabir is fuelled by our mutual love for storytelling. At Applause, our vision is to collaborate with...

BBC Studios India is reportedly eyeing an exit from the subcontinent, signaling a potential shake-up in the region’s content production ecosystem, according to local media reports.

Once a prominent player with hits like local adaptations of “Criminal Justice” and “The Office,” the studio had positioned itself as a bridge between British storytelling and Indian sensibilities. However, industry insiders suggest challenges in scaling operations and stiff competition from homegrown production houses and streaming giants may have prompted the move. If finalized, the exit could mark the end of a distinctive chapter in India’s evolving entertainment landscape, leaving fans and collaborators questioning the fate of ongoing and future projects.

“We regularly review our business operations to ensure they are as efficient and effective as possible and are currently undertaking a review of our production operating model in India. However no decision has been made,” a BBC Studios spokesperson told Variety.

BBC Studios is considering winding its content production biz down in India due to the local landscape.

The potential exit comes amid industry-wide consolidation and shrinking content budgets from TV broadcasters and Ott platforms, India’s Economic Times first reported. No final decision has been made.

BBC Studios’ Indian production outfit has made Indian adaptations of The Office and Criminal Justice, as well as shows like Out of Love, Gaalivaana and sports docu-series Sons of the Soil. It also has content pacts with ITV Studios and All3Media.

“We regularly review our business operations to ensure they are as efficient and effective as possible and are currently undertaking a review of our production operating model in India. However no decision has been made,” a BBC spokesperson told Deadline.

BBC Studios also distributes a wealth of its biggest hits in India such as Dancing with the Stars and Luther. The commercial outfit...

It isn’t clear as yet why Vikrant Massey has decided to quit acting just when things are looking up for him after 12th Fail and The Sabarmati Report.

Long before these, Vikrant was immediately noticed as Ranveer Singh’s best friend in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera. Ever since then Massey has been struggling to find his bearings in the film industry.

He was eminently watchable in the webseries Criminal Justice and Broken But Beautiful. Sadly films like Chhapaak and Haseen Dilruba seem to cast him as this millennium’s Vinod Mehra, that dependable actor who was typecast as the supportive co-star in women-oriented films in the 1980s.

Vikrant Massey awaited that one big explosion in his career. Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut A Death In The Gunj did justice to Vikrant Massey’s talent. But no one saw that film outside film festivals. In A Death In The Gunj...

Sophie Okonedo will be honoured with the Richard Harris award at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards (Bifas).

The actor will receive the award at the Bifas ceremony held this Sunday, December 8, at the Roundhouse in London.

Okonedo is best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in 2004’s Hotel Rwanda while her other film credits include The Secret Lie Of Bees, Christopher Robin, Wild Rose, Death On The Nile and Catherine Called Birdy.

She was previously nominated for two Bifas - in 2002 for Stephen Frears’s Dirty Pretty Things and in 2009 for Anthony Fabian’s Skin.

On the TV side, Okonedo is...

Indian studio Applause Entertainment is gearing up for an ambitious slate of projects as it enters its eighth year of operations.

The company, led by managing director Sameer Nair, a pioneer of Indian television with previous stints at Star TV, Ndtv Imagine, Turner General Entertainment and Balaji Telefilms, has its sights set on expanding into new genres and formats while building on its established successes.

Leading the charge is “Nyaya,” a courtroom drama produced in association with Mangata Films. Directed by Nitya Mehra, Karan Kapadia and Heeraz Marfatia, the fictionalized series based on real events follows a 17-year-old girl seeking justice against a powerful ‘godman,’ or leader of a religious cult, who raped her. The project boasts a strong cast including Fatima Sana Sheikh, Aneet Padda, Arjun Mathur, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub and Raghubir Yadav.

“When this opportunity came up, we really pounced on it,” Nair told Variety. “They’ve shot it really well.

Jisoo, a member of Korean music sensation Blackpink, is confirmed to lead the cast of upcoming zombie thriller series “Newtopia.”

The series, hatched by local streaming service Coupang Play, involves two lovers navigating a zombie-infested Seoul. The man, portrayed by Park Jung-min, initially encounters a zombie outbreak during his mandatory military service. His girlfriend, played by Jisoo (real name Kim Ji-soo) is an engineer with a new job who is waiting for his release. Separately, the pair criss-cross the city and fight off zombie attacks as they try to reunite.

Coupang Play, the online branch of Korean e-commerce giant Coupang, said that the show is co-scripted by Han Jin-won, who co-wrote Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite,” and Ji Ho-jin, who wrote Disney+’s “A Shop for Killers.” Filming is completed and the completed show, previously titled “Influenza,” is expected to release in 2025 at an unspecified date.

The series is the...

Sony Pictures Networks India has named Disney+ Hotstar content chief Gaurav Banerjee as its new Managing Director and CEO.

He’ll replace N.P. Singh, who recently announced he was transitioning out of the role after 25 years in senior leadership positions at Sony’s Indian division. Banerjee’s hire will become effective on or before August 26, subject to regulatory approvals.

“I am deeply honoured to take on the role of MD & CEO at Spni,” said Banerjee. “Under N.P. Singh’s remarkable leadership, Spni has achieved tremendous success and innovation in the entertainment industry. I am excited to lead talented teams as we explore new frontiers in original programming, enhance our viewers’ experiences, drive our distribution footprint across India, and significantly boost our revenues. Together, we will set new benchmarks in entertainment and deliver exceptional value to our audiences and stakeholders.”

Banerjee is among India’s most experienced content execs, and...

Criminal Justice Season 4 Confirmed(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Criminal Justice is a popular courtroom and crime drama on Disney+ Hotstar. The first season was released in 2019 and received tremendous reviews. The show has an exciting cast, with Pankaj Tripathi’s Madhav Mishra being the consistent one. Well, get ready for more drama and thrills, as the makers just confirmed the fourth season.

Yes, Disney+ Hotstar confirmed there will be Criminal Justice Season 4. The makers have promised that the new season will be complex and keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The show’s cast and related personalities have shared their excitement about the fourth season.

Criminal Justice Season 4 Confirmed

In an official statement, Pankaj Tripathi, who plays Madhav Mishra, shares, “In the hall of fame of on-screen lawyers, I feel that Madhav Mishra has earned his place with Criminal Justice. I could not believe how much Madhav’s character in the series resembled me.

Exclusive: Disney+ Hotstar isn’t done with the Criminal Justice franchise just yet — in fact, it might only just be getting started.

We can reveal the streamer has ordered a fourth season of the Hindi-language series, which is from Applause Entertainment and was originally based on the 2008 BBC series of the same name.

Peter Moffat’s British show went to two seasons, but Gaurav Banerjee, Disney+ Hotstar’s Head of Content for Disney+ Hotstar and HSM Entertainment Networks, Disney Star, and his team have now taken the Indian show well beyond that point. You can watch a teaser trailer for the fourth season here.

“This is a pretty special moment because it marks five years of the Hotstar Specials journey, which launched in 2019,” he said. “Criminal Justice was our first big fiction series, and it is fantastic to see the franchise become stronger and continue to get critical acclaim and consumer love.

Zee End Is Nigh

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the disappointed bride in the failed engagement between Zee and Sony India, has formally ended its quest for a merger. On Tuesday, it withdrew its application before the industry regulator National Company Law Tribunal and said that it will focus instead on internal growth. Pulling the Nclt application also makes it somewhat easier for Zee to pursue its arbitration and other legal actions against Sony.

The plan to merge the two mid-size film and TV businesses was on the table for over two years, but finally (acrimoniously) collapsed in January 2024. Sony is also seeking restitution from Zee, which it says failed to live up to the agreed merger terms. Since the wedding bells stopped ringing, Zee has also announced that it will slice its workforce by 15%.

Netflix Starts Filming Guillaume Canet’S ‘Taken’-Style Thriller

Guillaume Canet, whose latest directorial outing “Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom...

For veteran Bollywood filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, his latest film “12th Fail” is the gift that keeps on giving.

Based on the 2019 book of the same name by Anurag Pathak, the film tells the true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma who conquered extreme familial poverty to pass one of the world’s toughest examination processes and become an Indian Police Service officer.

Distributed by Zee Studios, the modestly budgeted “12th Fail” released theatrically in October 2023 in a Bollywood market where only big-budget action spectacles were working and many smaller films were taking the easier route to bowing directly on a streamer. The lead cast of Vikrant Massey (Disney+ Series “Criminal Justice”) and Medha Shankr, while extremely competent, were not marquee names.

The film struck a chord with audiences and has grossed $8.5 million to date, more than three times its budget. “Each film has its own God, and it’s always...

Noted actor Pankaj Tripathi faced one of the toughest challenges of his career when he was asked to portray former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in biopic “Main Atal Hoon.”

Vajpayee (1924-2018) was a poet and a politician who served three terms as Prime Minister. He belonged to the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp), the party, which is currently in power in India. Vajpayee, who presided over India’s nuclear tests, was also known as a diplomat who improved relations with the country’s arch rival Pakistan and introduced multiple reforms. He was popular across party lines.

“I’m not good at mimicry,” Tripathi told Variety. The conflict that the actor was how much of Vajpayee to mimic and how much to internalize his performance. “How much of his mannerisms should I keep and how much not,” Tripathi said.

Tripathi read several books about Vajpayee and watched news clips and speeches.

As the country celebrates Bihar Diwas on Friday, Ians has compiled a list of actors from the state who have made it big on the big screen and are making waves in Bollywood.

Manoj Bajpayee: The National Film Award winner, who is from village Belwa in West Champaran district, applied for admission into the National School of Drama (Nsd) four times, but got rejected on each occasion. That did not stop him from pursuing his celluloid dreams and attaining the fame he could never have dreamt of.

He made his film debut with a one-minute role in the 1994 Naseeruddin Shah-Om Puri-starrer ‘Drohkaal’, followed by a minor role as a dacoit in Shekhar Kapur’s much-acclaimed ‘Bandit Queen’. Fame came Bajpayee’s way when he played the gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama ‘Satya’.

The 54-year-old actor is well known for his roles in movies such as ‘Kaun?...

Scripted formats were placed front and center of BBC Studios’ panel at Series Mania, as the Doctor Who seller confirmed it is making up to three more versions of Ghosts and has bought Spain’s Brutal Media.

One of the hit BBC show’s creators, Simon Farnaby, recently told a podcast the show – which has achieved smash ratings on CBS in the U.S. – is being remade in Germany and Spain.

Matt Forde, who runs BBC Studios Global Entertainment, confirmed “there are two or three other versions in the works.”

“We love those shows and love the UK versions,” said Forde. “We are finding ways into these worlds in local creative communities.” Ghosts was recently renewed for a fourth CBS season, although the BBC version has ended.

Deadline revealed recently that BBC Studios’ deal with Lionsgate, which spawned the likes of Ghosts, had elapsed, but Forde was bullish about the scripted formats game.

Indian streamer Disney+ Hotstar is planning a major push into animation content for adults.

The push follows the success of Graphic India’s 3D animation “The Legend of Hanuman,” the third season of which debuted earlier this month to a critical and audience reception that the streamer is happy with. The series is derived from ancient Indian mythological epic “The Ramayana.”

“There are so many stories around around ‘The Ramayana’ that are remaining to be told. We feel that this is a franchise, which has lots of storytelling left, and we want to really scale up and build this world in an exciting manner,” Gaurav Banerjee, head, content, Disney+ Hotstar and HSM (Hindi-language speaking markets) Entertainment Network at broadcaster Disney Star, told Variety.

Disney+ Hotstar is teaming with Graphic India again for another adult animation series, which will be unveiled within the next six months, but it is coy about specific details at the moment.

British actor extraordinaire Matthew Macfadyen is known for many things. He’s beloved and forever remembered by many for his swoon-worthy performance as the posh, privileged, and perfect Mr. Darcy to Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet in the 2005 Oscar-nominated romance Pride & Prejudice, a project that helped establish him as a capable and commanding screen presence. From there, he went on to secure a BAFTA nomination for his performance in Rowan Joffe’s Secret Life, where he played a pedophile attempting to reform his life and overcome his urges. And in 2010, he wowed audiences with his arc in the series Criminal Justice, which won him the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. Okay, yes, clearly he is a pretty darn great dramatic actor. But in all seriousness, Macfadyen is at the top of his game when he is a bumbling fool. (Insert that bellowing laugh here.)...

To say anyone “won” at the end of “Succession” is a stretch, but there’s no denying who came out on top at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards. Matthew Macfadyen, who played the eternal shit-eater (turned CEO) Tom Wambsgans on HBO’s drama, took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor. It was his first nomination and thus, his first win.

At the Golden Globes, the Supporting Actor race isn’t divided between Comedy and Drama contenders. There’s only one category for all supporting stars, meaning Macfadyen beat out not only his nominated co-stars, Alan Ruck and Alexander Skarsgård, as well as Billy Crudup’s dramatic performance in “The Morning Show,” but also Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”) and James Marsden (“Jury Duty”), whose roles land them in the comedy categories at other awards shows. Thankfully, that means no one can whine about whether Macfadyen’s colorful quips should’ve forced...

Kangana Ranaut Heaps Praises On Vikrant Massey For His Performances In 12th Fail ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Vikrant Massey has been one of the rising stars of Bollywood. Ever since he entered the film industry after working in TV, there’s been no stopping for him. After his appearances in shows like Dharam Veer, Balika Vadhu, Qubool Hai, and more, he moved to Bollywood and starred in films like Lootera, Dil Dhadakne Do, Chhapaak, and many others. He also has critically acclaimed web shows like Mirzapur, Broken But Beautiful, Made In Heaven, and Criminal Justice to his credit. However, in the past few months, he’s been in the news for his latest film, 12th Fail, which has now grabbed Kangana Ranaut’s attention.

On October 27, 12th, Fail, and Tejas were released on the big screens, but it was the Massey starrer who was leading the race at the box office...

Rajkumar Hirani, the acclaimed filmmaker behind blockbuster movies like Pk and Sanju, is all set to make his debut in the Ott space. The director-producer has roped in Vikrant Massey, the talented actor who has impressed the audience with his performances in web series like Mirzapur and Criminal Justice, to star in his upcoming project.

According to reports, Hirani will not be directing the series himself, but will be producing it and giving creative inputs to the team. The genre and plot of the series are still under wraps, but it is expected to be a high-quality content that will showcase Hirani’s trademark style of storytelling and humour.

The project is also a big opportunity for Massey, who has been steadily rising in the industry with his versatile roles and acting skills. The actor has previously worked with Hirani in the biopic Sanju, where he played the role of Sanjay Dutt’s friend Kamlesh.

Disney+ Hotstar, the leading streaming platform in India, is all set to launch its second Malayalam web series after the success of Kerala Crime Files. The new web series, titled Pharma, will feature Nivin Pauly, Sruthi Ramachandran, Rajit Kapur, Veena Nandakumar, and Narain in pivotal roles.

The series is directed by PR Arun, who helmed the critically acclaimed film Finals, and produced by Krishnan Sethukumar, who has backed films like Unda, Ivide, and James And Alice.

Ferrari Furst Look

According to reports, The series promises to be a potent mix of drama, suspense, and action that will keep the viewers hooked till the end. The series also boasts of a talented technical crew that includes cinematographer Abhinandan Ramanujam, music composer Jakes Bejoy, and editor Sreejith Sarang.

Pharma will be released on Disney+ Hotstar as part of its Hotstar Specials banner. The release date and trailer of the series are yet to be announced.

Actress Anupriya Goenka shared how she accepted and embraced the dark side of her character, Shankari Devi in the upcoming power-packed series ‘Sultan of Delhi’. Playing an antagonist is beyond challenging in today’s day and age. One can seem to empathise with their character once they understand the emotions and backstory attached to it.

Talking about her character in the series, Anupriya said: “Shankari is one of the most interesting characters that I have played so far. On the face of it, she comes off as a completely negative character, who has ulterior motives, and can use anybody and everybody to serve her purpose, but her vulnerable side is unknown to the audience.”

“With time, I learned to embrace the dark side of her as she deals with life without justifying anything beyond a point,” she said.

Anupriya is known for her works in ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, ‘Padmaavat’, ‘War...