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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...

Exclusive: Hot on the heels of launching Netflix police drama Black Warrant, India’s Applause Entertainment has struck a two-picture deal with 83 and Ek Tha Tiger director Kabir Khan.

The pact will see Applause and Kabir Khan Films co-produce a pair of features, with Bollywood blockbuster maker Khan at the helm as director and creative production lead on both. No further details of the pics yet, but Applause Managing Director Sameer Nair said the partnership is “fuelled by our mutual love for storytelling.”

“This collaboration with Applause is a natural fit as we both share a passion for stories that resonate with people at their core,” added Khan. “The beauty of this partnership lies in the creative freedom it offers, and I’m thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Sameer and his incredible team.”

Khan began his directing career in 2006 with adventure thriller Kabul Express, and went on...

Bollywood Mascot: The much-anticipated Bollywood film Naagin is finally set to hit the production floor! Producer Nikhil Dwivedi, known for backing unconventional and ambitious projects, has teased a significant update about the movie, coinciding with the festive occasion of Makar Sankranti in 2025.

The Naagin Buzz

The film, centered around the mythical shape-shifting serpent, has been making waves since its announcement. Described as a visual extravaganza, Naagin promises to blend mythology with a contemporary narrative, offering audiences a larger-than-life cinematic experience.

Major Announcement Incoming

In a recent interaction, Nikhil Dwivedi revealed that the production team has meticulously planned the film’s rollout. “We are excited to bring something truly unique to the table. Expect a massive update on Makar Sankranti 2025,” he said, building anticipation among fans.

This announcement could range from casting reveals to glimpses of the film’s concept art or a first-look teaser.

What to Expect

While details of the plot remain under wraps,...

Freedom at Midnight might be adapted from Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre’s very controversial non-fiction book (of the same name) that was published way back in 1975, but even the people who haven’t heard of it do know what it is about. I mean, India’s partition (and subsequent independence from the British rulers) has remained a hot topic of modern history, and people keep talking about it. Quite naturally, Sony Liv’s new series, which sheds light on the tumultuous political and religious climate of India around the years 1946–47, was bound to draw attention from the audience.

Released in the seventy-eighth year of our independence, the Nikhil Advani-created series tells the story of the Partition. Advani, who has had a fascinating career in Bollywood as a writer, director, and producer, directs all seven episodes of the series. Given how engrossed I found myself in it despite knowing what was going to happen,...

The Harshad Mehta Securities Scam of 1992 is considered the biggest fraud to have taken place in the history of our country. The scam is still spoken about for the money made by the culprit and other bank officials and stockbrokers. Hansal Mehta’s 2020 show Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story is one of the most accurate depictions of the case, and it generated quite the buzz about the scam that shook the Indian economy. Using the Harshad Mehta case as a base, Venky Atluri’s new Telugu-language film Lucky Bhaskar tells the tale of a man who basked in the glory of the riches he made through the scam until reality caught up to him.

Spoilers Ahead

Why was Bhaskar questioned by the Cbi?

Lucky Bhaskar began with Bhaskar Kumar talking about his life in the city of Mumbai, where he grew up as the older son of a chartered...

Stars: Kestie Morassi, Ian Rooney, Mark Jensen, Paul Moder, Paul Havea, Matt Norman, Carter Doyle, Stuart Orr, Scott Gooding, Barry Sparkles | Written and Directed by Cameron McCulloch

Originally shot in 2001, director Cameron McCulloch made Scam. The action-comedy film about a scam artist named Kim (Kestie Morassi), who plans to steal Aus$1million worth of jewellery, despite fierce competition from rival gangs (including her ex-boyfriend Ben), all to impress her mobster father (Ian Rooney).

Prior to its anticipated release, McCulloch’s efforts went up in smoke, literally, as most of the original footage was lost in a house fire… or so we thought. It seems McCulloch heeded the words of Knackers O’Conner,: “Did you, or did you not, say you we’re gonna do this job?!” Well, 20 years later, McCulloch did do his job and brought Scam to the world for its viewing pleasure.

Scam is very much a...

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.

Indian production powerhouse Abundantia Entertainment, known for hits including “Airlift,” “Shakuntala Devi” and the popular “Breathe” series, is gearing up for an expansive slate of projects aimed at capturing younger audiences both domestically and globally.

The company’s CEO Vikram Malhotra outlined its upcoming plans in an exclusive interview with Variety.

Leading the charge is “Daldal,” a Prime Video original series starring Bhumi Pednekar as Mumbai’s newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Rita Ferreira. Directed by Amrit Raj Gupta (“Gullak”), the thriller-drama pits Ferreira against a cold-blooded killer while navigating personal struggles.

The company is also readying “Chhorii 2,” a sequel to its 2021 horror hit. Nushrratt Bharuccha returns alongside new addition Soha Ali Khan in the Prime Video original film directed by Vishal Furia. The story follows Sakshi as she battles an evil cult to save her daughter.

Another project in the pipeline is “Laal,” a true crime feature film set in middle India.

Hansal Mehta announced the third edition of his smash hit series Scam, titled Scam 2010 – The Subrata Roy Saga. Scam will be based on the life of businessman Subrata Roy. Based on the book, Sahara: The Untold Story by Tamal Bandyopadhyay, the Sony Liv series will be produced by Applause Entertainment, in association with Studio Next and helmed by Hansal.

After two successful seasons of ‘Scam’, Hansal Mehta has announced the third part of the franchise. This time, the focus will be on Subrata Roy and the show is titled, ‘Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga’. The director wrote, “Sc3m is back! Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, coming soon on @sonylivindia #Scam2010OnSonyLIV” Watch the promo here:

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A post shared by Hansal Mehta (@hansalmehta)...

Scam Season Threepeat

Streamer SonyLIV, filmmaker Hansal Mehta and studio Applause Entertainment have combined again for “Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga.” Based on the book “Sahara: the Untold Story” by Tamal Bandyopadhyay the series will tell the story of businessman Subrata Roy of the Sahara India Pariwar that operates in the financial services, construction, real estate, sports, manufacturing, hospitality, media and life insurance sectors. In the early 2000s, Roy was accused of several financial misdemeanors, leading to his arrest in 2014. He died in 2023.

“Scam 2010” is the third in a franchise about Indian financial scandals that began with “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story” and “Scam 2003: The Telgi Story.” Mehta will direct and Applause will produce in association with Studio Next.

Sameer Nair, MD, Applause Entertainment, said: “The ‘Scam’ series has become more than just a show; it’s a pop cultural phenomenon. With Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga,...

SonyLIV is getting the gang back together for another Scam.

The Indian streamer has ordered a third series in the crime drama franchise, titled Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, with Applause Entertainment and director Hansal Mehta returning to make the show in association with Sony’s Studio Next.

According to Sony Liv, Scam 2010 is the “the dust-to-diamonds story of maverick businessman Subrata Roy, and is based on the book ‘Sahara: the Untold Story’ by Tamal Bandyopadhyay on one of India’s most notorious financial scales.

“In the early 2000s, the glamourous Roy was caught in a whirlwind of accusations ranging from chit-fund manipulations to fake investors, ultimately leading to his arrest in 2014,” press materials added. With approximately 25,000 crore rupees still lying unclaimed with government authorities, the repercussions of the scam continue to reverberate even today.”

No word on casting just yet, but a teaser trailer said the show was “streaming soon.

Magdaon Express Will Be Available For Streaming For Free On This Date! (Photo Credit – IMDb)

Kunal Kemmu’s directorial debut, Madgaon Express, is the new cult friendship movie. The movie is the perfect mix of massy, wild, and raunchy fun but with a deep sense of emotions at its core. While Madgaon Express was released on Ott, it was available for rent and fans were disheartened because they wanted to watch the movie on streaming for free. And the entertainment Gods have listened to their prayers. Excel Entertainment’s fun wild film will be available to stream for free soon.

Madgaon Express tells the story of three childhood friends — Gandhi, Divyenndu, and Tiwary — who embark on a trip to Goa that goes completely off track.

Eager viewers who prefer watching at home will need to wait for further announcements from the production house or streaming services as the details regarding...

Director Jai Mehta, who is receiving a lot of acclaim for his latest web series ‘Lootere’, has said that he is an actor’s director, in the sense that he believes in jamming with the actors over a scene and see what they can bring to the table outside of the scope of the script.

The series stars Rajat Kapoor, Vivek Gomber, Amruta Khanvilkar, Aamir Ali and others. It follows Rajat Kapoor as the ship captain and his struggle with a criminal legacy of pirates.

Sharing insights on his process of working with the actors, Jai Mehta said: “The process that I follow is something I have learnt from Hansal sir that the reason we’re casting an actor is to see what they can bring to the table. Actors are our immediate collaborators and also the makers of the show along with us.”

He then gave an example of...

Vidya Balan And Pratik Gandhi Star as a couple in Do Aur Do Pyaar. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Do Aur Do Pyaar is staying steady at the Box Office. With fresh pairings that inject new energy into the genre, audiences eagerly anticipate a delightful journey filled with love, laughter, and modern relationships. Vidya Balan‘s return to rom-coms sparks nostalgia and anticipation, while the captivating soundtrack sets the stage for a musical rom-com experience.

Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi came together as powerhouse performers in the recent summer rom-com ‘Do Aur Do Pyaar’. The pair, with a strong bond based on mutual respect and admiration for each other’s artistic abilities, sincerely compliment one another, going beyond their on-screen chemistry as a married couple.

While Balan is not one to shy away from complimenting a fellow actor. She revealed that she was deeply captivated by Pratik Gandhi‘s subtle acting and...

Hannah Waddingham, Bella Ramsey, drama series Happy Valley and Squid Game: The Challenge were among the winners at the 2024 Royal Television Society program awards. The Rts unveiled the honorees in London on Tuesday evening.

The Sixth Commandment won the most awards with three, including for best limited series and best supporting actor Éanna Hardwicke. Comedy Extraordinary and drama Top Boy were among the other winners.

Waddingham was honored for her work as one of the hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest, while Ramsey won for their role in the prison anthology drama series Time.

The BBC led the winners across the more than two dozen award categories, being able to celebrate a total of 21 honors.

Last year, Kate Winslet and Kit Connor were among the Rts honorees. The organization last year also introduced several new awards categories.

The complete list of Royal Television Society program awards winners for 2024 follows.

Arts...

The Oscars 2024 premiered recently and it was an awesome sight to see. This time, however, it wasn’t just an award-distribution ceremony as actors literally used the platform to spread their message and beliefs about the world.

With the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, several actors showed up at the Oscars wearing a red lapel pin. As per Rami Yousef, the pin signified their support for calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and the safe return of captives in the war-torn city!

Billie Eilish was spotted with the red lapel pin (Credits: The New York Times)

Why Actors Wore A Red Lapel Pin To The Oscars

It was back in October when several artists collectively signed a letter asking President Joe Biden to ceasefire immediately in Gaza and release all the captives held in the city. Calls for peace and humanity were all around and were even further fueled by the involvement of several artists.

The upcoming streaming documentary ‘Bogus Phone Operators’ unravels one of the biggest call centre scams in India. The documentary exposes the ‘Thane Call Centre Scam’ and goes behind the criminal networks operating from India that swindled the American citizens while sitting in India.

A group of 600 deceptive call centre employees in Maharashtra’s Thane, allegedly collaborated to pull off a fraud involving over 15,000 Americans, resulting in estimated losses exceeding $50 million.

The documentary provides an in-depth exploration of this scam, which prompted collaboration between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Indian Police to uncover the ‘Thane Call Centre Scam’.

The investigative crime documentary will be available to stream on IN10 Media Network’s global premium membership-based Ott platform, DocuBay.

Girish Dwibhashyam, COO of DocuBay, explained the motive behind producing the documentary, as he said: “The shocking ‘Thane Call Centre Scam’ compelled us to act. The story of hundreds of employees...

Choose Your Favourite Actor With A Difference (Male – Web Series) On Koimoi Audience Poll 2023 (Picture Credit: Facebook & IMDb)

Koimoi Audience Poll: While the heroes/superstars always take away the major limelight, it’s good to see that true actors, who always keep challenging themselves by experimenting, are getting more appreciated. Today, even we’ll honor them by discussing the ‘Best Actor With A Difference (Male)’ in the web series category. The nomination list includes Vijay Sethupathi from Farzi, Gagan Dev Riar from Scam 2003, and two others.

Before we get started, let us inform you we have shortlisted the four best nominees for the category, and the audience will have the power to vote for their favorite by clicking on one of the options in the Twitter poll mentioned at the end of the article.

Take a look at the nominees for the Best Actor With A Difference (Male – Web Series...

Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, Volume 2

For those out there lost in the Ott jungle of gangsterism and scams, Telgi Story Volume 2, produced by Applause Entertainment which began in September , reaches a compelling culmination two months later when Abdul Karim Telgi meets his nemesis.

But at what cost?

For Telgi as played by the invisibly riveting Gagan Dev Roar, trouble kicked in hard when he decided to play the vulgar money flaunter in a dance bar. The five concluding volumes, all showcasing a wealth of plotting excellence without making a song and dance of it, chronicle the sharp and jagged edges of the corruption trap Telgi lays down for the powerful political lobby, coming back to prick him in the places where it hurts the most.

As the saying goes, if you hang around pricks for long, you get pricked sooner or later. As the drama in the second season...

Actor Mukesh Tiwari, who is known for his work in ‘Gangaajal’ and the ‘Golmaal’ franchise, along with actor Dinesh Lal Yadav, will be seen in the upcoming episode of the streaming show ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’.

While Mukesh essays the role of Suryapratap Gehlot, Dinesh will be seen portraying the character of Pramod Jaisingh in the new episode.

Tasked with leading the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (Sit) on Telgi’s stamp paper case, Gehlot’s sharp mind and relentless pursuit of justice lead him to uncover the intricate web of deception woven by Abdul Karim Telgi.

Talking about the character, Mukesh said: “It is an absolute honour to be a part of the widely-loved Scam franchise. For me, taking on Suryapratap Gehlot’s role in ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ has proven to be a learning experience like no other. The series provided me with a golden opportunity and...

Actor Mukesh Tiwari, who is known for his work in ‘Gangaajal’ and the ‘Golmaal’ franchise, along with actor Dinesh Lal Yadav, will be seen in the upcoming episode of the streaming show ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’.

While Mukesh essays the role of Suryapratap Gehlot, Dinesh will be seen portraying the character of Pramod Jaisingh in the new episode.

Tasked with leading the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (Sit) on Telgi’s stamp paper case, Gehlot’s sharp mind and relentless pursuit of justice lead him to uncover the intricate web of deception woven by Abdul Karim Telgi.

Talking about the character, Mukesh said: “It is an absolute honour to be a part of the widely-loved Scam franchise. For me, taking on Suryapratap Gehlot’s role in ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ has proven to be a learning experience like no other. The series provided me with a golden opportunity and...

Exclusive: SonyLIV has already found success adapting Israeli scripted hits Your Honor and Fauda and the Indian streamer is now remaking a third title from the firm the network behind them, Yes TV.

The streamer is adapting Magpie as a Hindi-language crime drama with the working title Kan Khajura, which means centipede. This follows a deal with distributor Yes Studios.

In Israel, Magpie has run to an 11-part first season and eight-part second on Yes TV. The second recently completed its run to strong reviews and was produced by the network and Tehran‘s Donna & Shula Productions.

The show tells the story of Asa Katz, a man in prison for murder who is released early on the condition that he cooperates with the police as their informant – a role known as a magpie that he also had in jail. He returns to his old neighbourhood and his older brother,...

Exclusive: Applause Entertainment and Zee’s Zindagi will try on The Pink Shirt together at South By Southwest Sydney this month.

The South Asian powerhouses have lined up the streaming series as the second production out of a recently struck content partnership, and will be taking it to the Palace Central Cinema on October 16 for the film strand of South by SouthwestSydney.

The eight-episode show will star Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali, and is billed as “a riveting take on modern-day relationships, their love, challenges, and struggles in a raw and real way, and as a “simple and confusing, tragic yet funny tale of broken and complex relationships.”

The drama revolves around the journey of Sophia (Aly) and Umer (Ali), who are stuck in respective toxic relationships only to discover an alluring intensity for each other and embark on a transformative journey towards love that mends them as people.

The...

India’s Hansal Mehta has scored his second successive streaming hit of the year with SonyLIV series “Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story.” This follows his earlier success with Netflix show “Scoop.”

Based on Sanjay Singh’s book “Telgi: A Reporter’s Diary,” “Scam 2003” is written by Kiran Yadnyopavit, Kedar Patankar and Karan Vyas. It follows the story of Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind behind a scam printing counterfeit stamp paper in India, which earned $3.8 billion. A stamp paper is a government-issued blank document with headers of varying financial values that are used to validate most business transactions in India.

The show is the second in the “Scam” series after SonyLIV’s “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story,” also created by Mehta. This time around, Mehta entrusted directing duties to Tushar Hiranandani as he wanted fresh eyes on the material. Mehta was also busy wrapping “Scoop.”

“‘Scam,’ ‘Scoop,’ all of...

“Tanaav,” the Indian adaptation of the global hit thriller series “Fauda,” will return for a second season. India’s Applause Entertainment, the content studio of India’s Aditya Birla Group, has secured format rights to Season 2 from Israel’s Yes Studios.

Produced by Applause Entertainment, “Tanaav” successfully premiered on SonyLIV in November 2022. The series is transposed from Israel and Palestine to the troubled area that is Kashmir and tells the story of a Special Covert Ops Unit.

Season 1 of “Tanaav” featured a stellar cast, including Manav Vij, Sumit Kaul, Rajat Kapoor and Shashank Arora, and was directed by Sudhir Mishra (“Serious Men”) and co-directed by Sachin Mamta Krishn (“Hostages”). Production on Season 2 has commenced.

Sharon Levi, managing director of Yes Studios, pointed out that “Tanaav” was the first local adaptation of “Fauda,” the “first big global hit” of Yes Studios.

Speaking of Applause Entertainment, Levi said: “It was very important...

The trailer of the highly anticipated series ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ was unveiled on August 22. Co-directed by Hansal Mehta and Tushar Hiranandani, the series features Gagan dev Riar as Abdul Karim Telgi.

The trailer of ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ was released on Tuesday, August 22. Directed by Hansal Mehta and Tushar Hiranandani, the series features actor Gagan Dev Riar in the lead role.

‘Scam 2003’ is based on one of India’s biggest scams by Abdul Karim Telgi. The franchise earlier showcased the story of Harshad Mehta in ‘Scam 1992’.

The makers of ‘Scam 2003’ released its trailer on August 22. The series is about India’s biggest stamp paper scam and the man behind it – Abdul Karim Telgi. The series will begin streaming on September 1 on SonyLiv. Actor Gagan Dev Riar is impressive as Telgi in the trailer.

The scam of 2003 is one of the incidents which shocked the entire nation on a massive scale.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is enjoying the response to the recently released second season of his ‘Scam’ series – ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’, feels that the medium of Ott too will go down the path of redundancy just like its predecessor television.

Hansal has returned with the ‘Scam’ series after almost 3 years. The first season of the show, which starred Pratik Gandhi in the titular role of stock market scamster Harshad Mehta, was released in 2020 and registered a breakout success.

Hansal, who serves as the creative director on ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ this time, told Ians: “It is the nature of capitalism and market forces that if something succeeds, that success has to be replicated in order to make more money out of it.

“People repeat it and make it a formula until it fails then, they have to do something new. This is not only limited to films as a business,...

In the third episode of Scam 2003, Telgi aligns himself with More, the leader of the Loktantra Secular Party, in pursuit of greater profits. However, this decision doesn’t sit well with Garima, the leader of the United Shakti Party. Garima hatches a plot aimed at dismantling Telgi’s illegal stamp paper business. Despite his efforts, Telgi faces arrest, but this setback doesn’t deter him from continuing his illicit operations. When an ex-jailmate, Jk, lends a helping hand, they explore new avenues to generate counterfeit stamp papers. Now, Scam 2003 episode 4 promises to reveal how Telgi navigates the obstacles that come his way, all while persisting in his quest to sustain and expand his business.

Spoilers Ahead

Does Telgi Succeed In Securing A Promotion For Madhusudan Mishra?

Scam 2003 Episode 4 opens by contrasting two distinct approaches to Telgi’s goals. He initially attempts to influence Madhusudan through bribery, but soon realizes that...

The trailer of the second season of the hit streaming show ‘Scam’ — titled ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ – was unveiled on Tuesday. It starts off with establishing the lead character of Abdul Karim Telgi through the curiosity and the dialogues of people.

The second season of the show tells the story of India’s biggest stamp paper scam plotted by Abdul Karim Telgi, which shocked the nation with its unimaginable scale.

It then goes on to reveal the actor playing Abdul Karim Telgi – Gagan Dev Riar – as a dialogue exchange reminiscent of ‘Guru’ takes place – “Kya naam tha?”, to which Riar replies, “Tha nahi madam… Hai, Abdul Karim Telgi”.

Telgi then explains what exactly is a stamp paper and it’s importance in the Indian economy as he says, “Agar desh ki arthvyavashta kuber khazana hai toh stamp paper uski chabi hai”, as a Garba tune plays in the background.

Prolific Indian content studio Applause Entertainment, led by Sameer Nair, and acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s Andolan Films are teaming to produce two politically-charged series.

“Black Warrant” is based on the bestselling book “Black Warrant: Confessions Of A Tihar Jailer,” by prison officer Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhury, a journalist with vast experience of chronicling India’s prison system. Delhi’s Tihar is India’s best-known prison.

A black warrant is a jailer’s authorization to carry out the execution of a convicted criminal. The series will benefit from Gupta’s insider knowledge of the prison. He spent close to four decades working there during which time he oversaw prisoners including businessman Rajan Pillai, the perpetrators of the 2012 Delhi rape case, Charles Sobhraj (aka ‘Bikini Killer’ and ‘The Serpent’), kidnappers Kuljeet Singh (alias Ranga Khus) and Jasbir Singh (alias Billa) and Afzal Guru, the terrorist who was convicted for his...

Mumbai, June 5 (Ians) One of India’s second generation of streaming shows ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Mirzapur’ have emerged as the table toppers on the list of IMDb top 50 all-time most popular Indian web series.

Interestingly, both the shows belong to the genre of crime thrillers, a space that the Ott platforms aim to leverage and rightly so given the audience response to titles that have a good mix of crime and thrill. Crime genre occupies 30 out of 50 slots on the list.

Vikramaditya Motwane, showrunner and co-director of ‘Sacred Games’, said: “I’m absolutely honoured and delighted by the fact that ‘Sacred Games’ has been ranked at No. 1 by IMDb users. A huge thanks to all the amazing people who’ve loved the show and, as always, an even bigger thanks and congratulations to the incredible cast and crew.”

Pankaj Tripathi has played prominent roles in three out of the top...

Director Hansal Mehta’s ‘Scoop’ is a crime drama series streaming on Netflix. The series is based on Jigna Vora’s biographical memoir ‘Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison’. It follows the real-life story of Jigna Vora who was accused of murder of mid-day reporter Jyotirmoy Dey in June 2011.

In journalism, a scoop or exclusive is an item of news reported by one journalist or news organization before others, and of exceptional originality, importance, surprise, excitement, or secrecy. Scoops are important and likely to interest or concern many people. It may be a new story, or a new aspect to an existing or breaking news story. It may be unexpected, surprising, formerly secret, and may come from an exclusive source.

Scoop Premise

If you have read the meaning of scoop above, it will make more sense to read further. Scoop, the web series, retells an account when print...

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for hard hitting crime drama series “Scoop” from acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”).

Based on journalist Jigna Vora’s 2019 memoir “Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison,” the series is created by Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul (“Thappad”). The book recounts how renowned journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was murdered by members of the Chhota Rajan gang in 2011. A few months later, fellow journalist and crime reporter Vora was arrested in connection with the murder.

“Scoop” marks Mehta and Netflix’s maiden partnership and the series is set up as the first season of a franchise. Mehta has directed all six episodes of the first season.

The series follows Jagruti Pathak, a headline-writing journalist who is caught between the nexus of the police, the underworld and the media. “It explores that nexus through a personal story,” Mehta told Variety.

“The...

One of the most beloved cricket leagues in India is about to start its season. The Indian Premier League cricket season starts Friday, March 31 on Willow TV. Sling TV is your best option to watch Ipl cricket in 2023 offering a number of different add-on channel packs that will allow you to stream every match. Right now you can (buy link: sling-tv text: get your first month’s subscription for 50% off). Check below to see which Sling add-on is right for you!

How to Watch 2023 Indian Premier League Cricket When: Starts Friday, March 31 TV: Sling TV Stream: Watch with a Subscription to Sling TV (50% Off). Get 50% Off $40 / month sling.com About 2023 Indian Premier League Cricket

The Indian Premier League is a men’s T20 competition, which means each side gets a single innings per game. It has a score limit of 20 overs, which is where the style of cricket play gets its name.

Audible received a total of 19 nominations for this year’s Podcast Academy Awards, with the Audible Original series Moriarty — based on the villain in the Sherlock Holmes universe — receiving a total of three nods, including in the top category of podcast of the year.

The narrative fiction series that stars Dominic Monaghan as Professor Moriarty will compete against Chameleon: Wild Boys (Campside Media), Design Matters with Debbie Millman (Design Matters Media, Inc.), Direct Deposit (Audible), Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis (Audible), Gay Pride & Prejudice (Gimlet), Pink Card (ESPN 30 for 30), Reclaimed: The Story of Mamie Till Mobley (ABC Audio), The Outlaw Ocean Podcast (CBC Podcasts and the L.A. Times) and The Prince (The Economist) for the top prize.

The award last went to Pineapple Street Studios, Amazon Music and Wondery’s 9/12 during the 2022 ceremony.

Other individual shows tied with Moriarty for the most nominations include Bone Valley and Last Known Position,...

Filmmaker R. Balki has talked about casting actress Shreya Dhanwanthary in his upcoming psychological thriller film ‘Chup’, starring Dulquer Salmaan.

Shreya is well-known for her Amazon Prime Video web series ‘The Family Man’ and ‘Scam 1992’.

“Shreya is a volcanic talent. I had seen her perform in ‘Scam 1992’ and ‘The Family Man’ and was hugely impressed.”

“When I met her for the first time, within five minutes of the conversation, I asked her whether she’d like to read a script and that’s how I offered her ‘Chup’. I saw Nila in her the moment I met her.”

Others headlining the power-packed cast of the film are Sunny Deol and Pooja Bhatt.

The movie is directed by R Balki and produced by Hope Productions and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. The film is written by R Balki himself based on the story he started working on a few years ago.

The...

Saiyami Kher’s new look from an upcoming film is inspired by late veteran star Nargis Dutt.

In the monochrome pictures of Saiyami, which are from an upcoming film, her look is inspired by the legendary Nargis Dutt. She is seen wearing a simple cotton saree, with a bindi and plaited hair. The look is inspired by Nargis’ character from her 1958 film ‘Lajwanti’.

Saiyami says, “Nargis Dutt is a legend and just mere comparison with her is the biggest compliment I have got and the comparison feels like such an honour. She was just perfect in any form, be it acting, beauty, grace.”

“I have loved most of her movies, ‘Shree 420’, ‘Aag’ and ‘Mother India’ are my favourite. I always wonder how it would have been to live in that era and do films then. I love black and white pictures and films. It’s actually a dream for...

Saiyami Kher is known for picking her roles very carefully and has made some of the most versatile choices. In the latest, Saiyami is teaming up with Gulshan Devaiah for her next, which is an untitled drama genre film. The project is being produced by Anurag Kashyap and currently it’s been shot in Hyderabad.

This won’t be the first time that both actors will team up. Earlier, the duo had worked together in the anthology ‘Unpaused’ Season 1, produced by Amazon Prime.

Saiyami says, “It is an interesting project and something that will stay with people for a long time. Gulshan is an amazing actor, extremely creative, extremely versatile. We worked together for Unpaused Season 1 and there is a comfort level working with him. Unfortunately, I can’t reveal much about it but I can promise you that the wait will be worth it.”

Saiyami is looking forward to...

Amanda Mackey, the award winning casting director behind films such as “A League of Their Own” and “Smokin’ Aces” has died. She was 70.

“We are heartbroken to hear about the passing of Casting Director Amanda Mackey. She was an inspiration to many in our field and everyone at CSA sends our condolences to her family and friends,” the Casting Society said in a statement.

Mackey was recognized by The Casting Society with an Artios Awards for both films. Her other credits include “Bad Moms,” “United 93,” “Ronin” and “The Hunt for Red October.”

She received an Emmy nomination in 2014 for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for “The Normal Heart” which she shared with casting partner Cathy Sandrich Gelfond.

Together Sandrich Gelfond and Mackey were among the most highly-regarded and sought-after casting directors in the industry.

Mackey was filmmaker Andy Davis’ go-to casting director. Together they worked...

Saiyami Kher is one busy girl, with two major projects of hers coming up. There are talks of the actor collaborating with Pratik Gandhi for her next project. Pratik is best known for portraying Harshad Mehta in Sony Liv series Scam 1992.

“Saiyami and Pratik are collaborating on the project, which will be produced by Excel Entertainment and directed by ‘Raees’ movie director Rahul Dholakia. The film titled ‘Agni’ also stars Divyendu Sharma as one of the leads. The film is based on firefighters. While not much of the details of the project are known, the shooting already started this month. Most of the shooting will be happening in Mumbai and Delhi,” revealed the source close to the team.

Last year both the actors collaborated for a podcast titled ‘Gangistan’ which is streaming on Spotify. Excel Entertainment, the production company of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, has produced movies like Dil Chahta Hai,...

The Ott show ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ was one of the most loved shows in recent times. The show not just made Pratik Gandhi an overnight star, it also led to the second season helmed by Hansal Mehta. Sameer Nair, the producer of the ‘Scam’ series, recently shared an update on the progress of the second season.

Sharing an update, Nair said, “Currently on ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’, we are about 60 per cent into shoot. The show is primarily being shot in Mumbai, Pune, Karjat and other locations.”

The second season of the show is titled ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ and takes into account the stamp paper scam cooked up by a fruit-seller, Abdul Karim Telgi.

Talking about the learnings from the first season, the producer said, “The learnings from ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ was the importance of focusing on attention to detail and...

Exclusive: Applause Entertainment is readying a sketch comedy show billed as ‘Saturday Night Live meets The Kumars at No. 42,’ as the company turns five. Also on the slate is a travelog tracing the journey made by legendary prince Lord Ram and a documentary on the climate crisis in India, Deadline can reveal. An access doc on Hindi movie megastar Salman Khan is also nearing completion.

Applause, led by Indian broadcasting veteran Sameer Nair, is best known for scripted drama series such as Scam 1992 and Taj – A Monument of Blood and adapting the likes of The Office, Luther, Guilt, Hostages and Criminal Justice in Hindi, but is now pushing heavily into unscripted and genres such as sketch comedy. The Woke: This Week is from the latter, with Mumbai-based Applause producing alongside creators Kunal Vijaykar and Cyrus Broacha.

It’s billed as “a mix between” NBC weekly sketch satire Saturday Night Live...

Prolific Indian studio Applause Entertainment is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a flourishing streaming slate, several films, an ambitious expansion model and a doubling down on investment.

The company is led by CEO Sameer Nair, a pioneer of Indian television with previous stints at Star TV, Ndtv Imagine, Turner General Entertainment, and Balaji Telefilms.

On the film front, Applause’s Hindi-language “The Rapist,” by Aparna Sen, won the prestigious Kim Jiseok award at Busan in 2021. Next up is a film by actor-director Nandita Das, whose last film “Manto” was at Cannes. The film, which has the working title “Zwigato” and is a social satire about the Indian food delivery gig economy, is currently in post. It stars popular TV host Kapil Sharma and Shahana Goswami (“A Suitable Boy”).

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana’s feature debut, the Hindi-language “Sharmajee Ki Beti” is a social comedy that follows five women from different age...

Exclusive: In May, we revealed Indian studio Applause Entertainment was deep in development on a big-budget drama series about independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, and the studio has now turned to a pair of familiar faces to supercharge the project.

Hansal Mehta, who helmed Applause’s SonyLIV drama Scam 1992, has been named director and showrunner of Gandhi (working title) and Siddhartha Basu, who worked with Applause CEO Sameer Nair on the first seasons of India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (titled Kaun Banega Crorepat), has joined as historical consultant, factual advisor and creative consultant.

Gandhi will be period drama set during the Indian Independence struggle and is billed as epic in scale, with multiple characters and locations from the Mahatma’s life featured. It is being adapted from historian and author Ramachandra Guha’s books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi — The Years That Changed the World...

Hustle Bustle: Russell Returns With Surprising Verve

Just when you thought David O. Russell’s American Hustle might bow as an attempt at an awards friendly version of something Martin Scorsese may have helmed, think again. The sometimes explosive, sometimes notorious director, coming off two helpings of crowd pleasing entrees with 2010’s The Fighter and 2012’s The Silver Linings Playbook, has concocted his most thoroughly enjoyable film in years, a slickly paced con game that’s so frenetically enjoyable, it’ll fool you into believing it’s even more substantial than it really is.

While its characters are graced with the sort of melancholy notes that staunchly overruled miserable existences of the persons populating his last efforts, Russell strikes an overtly comedic pose here, a droll comedy of idiots, made a titch more scathing because, as we’re honestly informed in the opening credits, ‘some of this actually happened.’ In truth,...