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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.

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...

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.

Mumbai, Feb 19 (Ians) Actor Navneet Mallik, who is currently portraying the lead character of Sumedh in the show ‘Aankh Micholi’, has enacted a scene that is similar to Ayushmann Khurrana’s sequence in his 2015 movie ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’.

The scene was an integral plot point in the show, wherein Navneet’s character Sumedh picks up his onscreen mother played by actress Bhakti Rathod and run a race.

Navneet picking up Rathod will certainly remind the audience of Ayushman picking up Bhumi Pednekar in ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’.

In the movie, Ayushmann, who plays the role of Prem shoulders the weight of his wife Sandhya (Bhumi) and wins the race.

Talking about the same, Navneet said: “I am certain there will be comparisons. Ayushmann was iconic in that scene and we have tried our best to make it different. Such race sequences are widely appreciated, so we aimed to maintain the authenticity of our setting.

Mumbai, Feb 12 (Ians) Actor Navneet Malik, who is currently juggling between the shoots of his two projects ‘Aankh Micholi’ and ‘The Virgin Tree’, revealed how he is greedy as an artist, adding that he is surprised by his own versatility.

‘The Freelancer’ fame actor is currently playing a Gujarati character Sumedh in the show ‘Aankh Micholi’.

In addition to his ongoing project, Navneet will soon resume shoot of him portraying the younger version of actor Sanjay Dutt in the film ‘The Virgin Tree’.

Talking about the projects, Navneet said: “ ‘Aankh Micholi’ is one of those rare shows, where a male character has so much to offer. In the meantime, ‘The Virgin Tree’ offers me to step in the shoes of the iconic Sanjay Dutt. There is no way I would have let go off either.”

“I would rather work twice as hard as expected to do both. Also, as an...

Actor Navneet Malik, who plays a tea stall owner in the undercover cop saga ‘Aankh Micholi’ co-starring Khushi Dubey, has opened up on learning the art of making tea for the show. Navneet shared: “It is not like I have never made tea. I come from a family where my mother did teach me a few things. And when you move to a new city, these are the basics. When I signed the show, I thought there isn’t much to do there in that department. However, once I was at a local tea shop with my friends and I realised they aren’t making tea like we usually do at our place.”

“There is a certain choreography, certain histrionics that goes into the making of tea. When I spoke to the tea stall owner, he also told me that the reason they do this is to attract more people.

Actor Navneet Malik, who is seen in the show ‘Aankh Micholi’ opened up on learning Gujarati for the undercover cop saga, and shared that playing a character is not just mugging lines and delivering.

Navneet, who primarily hails from Haryana plays a Gujarati character in the show. He has learned Gujarati dialect to enhance his performance and get into the character of Sumedh.

‘The Freelancer’ fame actor shared: “As an actor it is imperative to make yourself believe that you are the character. For my character of Sumedh I wanted to speak in a particular dialect, because the character has a certain accent and dialect.”

“It is very important to understand that playing a character is not just mugging lines and delivering. I have started tutoring and learning the dialect, as it is important, that is only when I would be able to deliver my best. And it is safe...

Actor Navneet Malik, who will be seen as the lead character in the upcoming show ‘Aankh Micholi’ has opened up on the ‘exciting’ shooting experience in Dwarka and Junagadh, Gujarat, and said that it will be a visual treat for the audience.

The undercover cop saga stars Khushi Dubey and Navneet Malik in the lead.

Navneet, who plays the role of Sumedh in the show visited Dwarka and Junagadh for the special sequence of the show ‘Aankh Micholi’.

The actor who was seen in the action thriller ‘The Freelancer’ said: “It was quite an exciting experience. In order for it to have a realistic touch, we shot several sequences in the lanes of Dwarka and Junagadh, as the show is set in Gujarat.”

“We shot some action sequences too. It will be a visual treat for the audience,” he added.

The shooting locations will surely captivate the audience, and they...

Mumbai, Dec 18 (Ians) Actor Mohit Raina, who has been getting a lot of positive response for the second season of his streaming ‘The Freelancer’ has shared that the greatest quality of his titular character in the series is his ability to read the minds of people, something which allows him to cut across the language barrier given his job profile.

In the series, which is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat, Mohit essays the role of a commando who goes on an extraction mission to bring Aliya back from Syria.

The actor recently spoke with Ians, and discussed his character in the series, the experience of working with the creator and the showrunner Neeraj Pandey, and the key difference between Ott and films.

Talking about the biggest asset of his character, he told Ians: “The greatest quality of Avinash is to read the minds of people.

Part one of The Freelancer must be one of the most riveting thrillers to have come out of Disney+ Hotstar. This Neeraj Pandey venture is all about action and the politics of the religion that has engulfed a certain part of the Middle Eastern region. There is a lot uncovered by the makers of the show in the first part about radical and moderate Islamists and how these ideologically different groups of the same faith operate. Besides all the above, it was about saving a young woman named Aliya who was forced by her husband’s family to live in Isis-occupied Syria.

The first part of The Freelancer ended with Aliya’s brother and sister-in-law blowing themselves up inside a crowded medina. Aliya was soon able to fathom the brutality with which Isis operated. Aliya is yet to be rescued by Avinash, along with the assistance of the CIA, but...

Neeraj Pandey’s extraction thriller The Freelancer has been released, and it brings an end to an exciting drama about saving a young woman from an Isis-controlled area amidst the peak of their power in the region. The young woman is Aliya Khan, who was married into a rich family from Malaysia. Part two of the show was released, and there was a definite end to the whole drama around getting her out of the region without drawing much attention.

Aliya Khan was the only daughter of Inayat and Sabeena Khan and was raised to be a righteous person. Her father, Inayat Khan, was one of the toughest cops with the Mumbai Police but was removed from his post along with Avinash Kamath for gross misconduct while on duty. Avinash Kamath went on to become a mercenary and never looked back. Aliya’s father stayed back. As described by Sabeena...

The first part of The Freelancer ended on an explosive note as Aliya and her husband were witnesses to a horrific sight. That was the high note of the first part of this extraction thriller, and it created hype around what the next part of the show could deliver. Creator Neeraj Pandey, who is known for his involvement in films and shows that deal with intelligence and international politics, is back with the second part, or as the makers call it, The Freelancer: The Conclusion. Avinash Kamath, the mercenary, has a job to finish, and he will go to any extent to fulfill the promise he made. This Disney+ Hotstar Special released the last three episodes of the show on December 15, 2023. The concluding episode is about Avinash’s quest to locate Aliya and extract her safely from Isis-controlled Syria, where she was held without her consent.

Aliya was horrified at...

The concluding part of ‘The Freelancer’ based on Shirish Thorat’s book ‘A Ticket to Syria‘ is worth the wait. If the first was to establish the extremist threat and its consequences, the conclusion is ‘extraction with a game plan’. It is not just about the gun battle but more of creating the environment of the hostage / victim and her saviour.

Aleeya Khan (Kashmira Pardeshi), daughter of Avinash Kamath’s (Mohit Raina) friend Inayat Khan (Sushant Singh), gets married to Mohsin Fazal (Navneet Malik). Soon the new bride finds herself in a situation in a conflict-ridden land set in an hostile environment set apart by misdirection and treachery. Aleeya endeavours to escape from the challenging conditions of Syria it sets in motion a web of deception, courage and tragedy.

On the other hand is Avinash Kamath, who is already on the extraction mission, sets out on its last leg; his final journey to extract Aleeya,...

The concluding part of ‘The Freelancer’ based on Shirish Thorat’s book ‘A Ticket to Syria‘ is worth the wait. If the first was to establish the extremist threat and its consequences, the conclusion is ‘extraction with a game plan’. It is not just about the gun battle but more of creating the environment of the hostage / victim and her saviour.

Aleeya Khan (Kashmira Pardeshi), daughter of Avinash Kamath’s (Mohit Raina) friend Inayat Khan (Sushant Singh), gets married to Mohsin Fazal (Navneet Malik). Soon the new bride finds herself in a situation in a conflict-ridden land set in an hostile environment set apart by misdirection and treachery. Aleeya endeavours to escape from the challenging conditions of Syria it sets in motion a web of deception, courage and tragedy.

On the other hand is Avinash Kamath, who is already on the extraction mission, sets out on its last leg; his final journey to extract Aleeya,...

Actor Mohit Raina, who is awaiting the release of the second season of his hit streaming series ‘The Freelancer’, has shared that his titular character of Avinash Kamath will become more resilient and determined in the second season of the series.

In the second season, Mohit’s character sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission. The series is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat, and is directed by Bhav Dhulia. The series also stars Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis and Sarah Jane Dias.

Talking about his character, Mohit Raina said: “The audience’s reaction to Avinash Kamath, so far, has been great. It’s always good when your portrayal gets appreciated by the audience. So I am happy. Avinash Kamath’s character becomes a little more resilient and determined in the second part, the last three episodes,...

Actor Mohit Raina, who is awaiting the release of the second season of his hit streaming series ‘The Freelancer’, has shared that his titular character of Avinash Kamath will become more resilient and determined in the second season of the series.

In the second season, Mohit’s character sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission. The series is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat, and is directed by Bhav Dhulia. The series also stars Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis and Sarah Jane Dias.

Talking about his character, Mohit Raina said: “The audience’s reaction to Avinash Kamath, so far, has been great. It’s always good when your portrayal gets appreciated by the audience. So I am happy. Avinash Kamath’s character becomes a little more resilient and determined in the second part, the last three episodes,...

This week of December offers a brand new slate of titles on the Ott, from crime thriller to docu series and coming of age story. Here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention this week.

Vyooham

The Telugu crime thriller series, ‘Vyooham’ features Sai Sushanth Reddy in the lead role with Chaitanya Krishna, Pavani Gangireddy, Ravindra Vijay and Shashank Siddamsetty in pivotal roles.The trailer showcases Acp Arjun Ramachandra, portrayed by Sai Sushanth Reddy, as he engages viewers in a relentless quest for justice.

The plot unfolds from a seemingly simple hit-and-run involving a tragic loss for a pregnant couple into a compelling tapestry of intertwined lives. Tasked with tracking down a serial killer, a trained naxal, handling a suspended cop, and dismantling a terrorist organisation, Arjun’s journey is intensified by the haunting echoes of his own painful past. It will...

This week of December offers a brand new slate of titles on the Ott, from crime thriller to docu series and coming of age story. Here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention this week.

Vyooham

The Telugu crime thriller series, ‘Vyooham’ features Sai Sushanth Reddy in the lead role with Chaitanya Krishna, Pavani Gangireddy, Ravindra Vijay and Shashank Siddamsetty in pivotal roles.The trailer showcases Acp Arjun Ramachandra, portrayed by Sai Sushanth Reddy, as he engages viewers in a relentless quest for justice.

The plot unfolds from a seemingly simple hit-and-run involving a tragic loss for a pregnant couple into a compelling tapestry of intertwined lives. Tasked with tracking down a serial killer, a trained naxal, handling a suspended cop, and dismantling a terrorist organisation, Arjun’s journey is intensified by the haunting echoes of his own painful past. It will...

Actor Mohit Raina, who essays the titular character in the streaming show ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’, has shared that he is a huge fan of ‘Jason Bourne’ franchise, and that Matt Damon’s character of Jason Bourne was a huge source of inspiration for him while shooting for the series.

In the second season of the show, Mohit’s character of Avinash Kamath sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission.

The series is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat.

Talking about the same, Mohit said: “I have always been a fan of Jason Bourne movies and I’ve seen ‘Bourne Ultimatum’ and ‘Bourne Supremacy’. I think because I had seen all those movies in my college days, subconsciously I remembered all the sequences and all the action choreographies that were involved in them and I had that in the back of my...

Actor Mohit Raina, who essays the titular character in the streaming show ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’, has shared that he is a huge fan of ‘Jason Bourne’ franchise, and that Matt Damon’s character of Jason Bourne was a huge source of inspiration for him while shooting for the series.

In the second season of the show, Mohit’s character of Avinash Kamath sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission.

The series is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat.

Talking about the same, Mohit said: “I have always been a fan of Jason Bourne movies and I’ve seen ‘Bourne Ultimatum’ and ‘Bourne Supremacy’. I think because I had seen all those movies in my college days, subconsciously I remembered all the sequences and all the action choreographies that were involved in them and I had that in the back of my...

Mumbai, Dec 12 (Ians) Actress Kashmira Pardeshi feels blessed on collaborating with seasoned actors like Mohit Raina and Anupam Kher, under the skilled direction of Neeraj Pandey and Bhav Dhulia, for the web series ‘The Freelancer’.

Helmed by Mohit, the action thriller series is set for the new season which is titled as ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’.

Kashmira plays the character of Aliya Khan in the show, while Mohit is seen as Avinash Kamath aka ‘The Freelancer’.

Talking about her experience working with the team of the show, Kashmira said: “I’m so happy to have done my first project with actors like Mohit and Anupam Kher, and this will always be so special for me, especially when it’s directed by Neeraj Pandey and Bhav Dhulia.”

“It’s been a wonderful journey. You feel truly blessed when you see yourself entering the industry with the names and faces that you...

Mumbai, Dec 12 (Ians) Actress Kashmira Pardeshi feels blessed on collaborating with seasoned actors like Mohit Raina and Anupam Kher, under the skilled direction of Neeraj Pandey and Bhav Dhulia, for the web series ‘The Freelancer’.

Helmed by Mohit, the action thriller series is set for the new season which is titled as ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’.

Kashmira plays the character of Aliya Khan in the show, while Mohit is seen as Avinash Kamath aka ‘The Freelancer’.

Talking about her experience working with the team of the show, Kashmira said: “I’m so happy to have done my first project with actors like Mohit and Anupam Kher, and this will always be so special for me, especially when it’s directed by Neeraj Pandey and Bhav Dhulia.”

“It’s been a wonderful journey. You feel truly blessed when you see yourself entering the industry with the names and faces that you...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Saturday gave major fitness goals to his fans, by giving a glimpse of his back workout, and said he will continue to work towards a better physique.

Taking to social media, Anupam dropped a Reel video wherein he can be seen working out and flaunting his back. He is only wearing black shorts.

The ‘Aiyaary’ actor gave the music of ‘Rhythm of Shiva’ to his video.

Along with the video, the 68-year-old actor wrote: “Back to my Back: I had to stop working out for almost five months due to a fracture in my right shoulder during the shoot of #Vijay69. Now I have started all over again and decided to put this video in public domain to feel responsible and continue to work towards a better physique! Wish me good luck and send me some strength! Jai Ho! I #YearOfTheBody”.

Fans took to the...

Mumbai, Dec 9 (Ians) Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Saturday gave major fitness goals to his fans, by giving a glimpse of his back workout, and said he will continue to work towards a better physique.

Taking to social media, Anupam dropped a Reel video wherein he can be seen working out and flaunting his back. He is only wearing black shorts.

The ‘Aiyaary’ actor gave the music of ‘Rhythm of Shiva’ to his video.

Along with the video, the 68-year-old actor wrote: “Back to my Back: I had to stop working out for almost five months due to a fracture in my right shoulder during the shoot of #Vijay69. Now I have started all over again and decided to put this video in public domain to feel responsible and continue to work towards a better physique! Wish me good luck and send me some strength! Jai Ho! I #YearOfTheBody”.

Fans...

Actress Kashmira Pardeshi, who is gearing up for the release of the second season of her streaming show ‘The Freelancer’, has opened up on the most challenging scene that she shot for the series. ‘The Freelancer’, which stars Mohit Raina in the titular role, is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat.

Talking about the scene, Kashmira Pardeshi said: “I would like to specifically mention the scene that I have got the most reviews for. Most people called and said why were you talking for more than 3 minutes in the bathroom scene, that takes me back to the time we were shooting it the same day.”

She further mentioned: “It was the same day we shot all bathroom scenes – those scenes for me were quite challenging as they were very extreme. That one day was very challenging.”

The series has been directed by Bhav Dhulia, and created by showrunner Neeraj Pandey.

Actress Kashmira Pardeshi, who is gearing up for the release of the second season of her streaming show ‘The Freelancer’, has opened up on the most challenging scene that she shot for the series. ‘The Freelancer’, which stars Mohit Raina in the titular role, is based on the book, ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat.

Talking about the scene, Kashmira Pardeshi said: “I would like to specifically mention the scene that I have got the most reviews for. Most people called and said why were you talking for more than 3 minutes in the bathroom scene, that takes me back to the time we were shooting it the same day.”

She further mentioned: “It was the same day we shot all bathroom scenes – those scenes for me were quite challenging as they were very extreme. That one day was very challenging.”

The series has been directed by Bhav Dhulia, and created by showrunner Neeraj Pandey.

Mumbai, Nov 28 (Ians) The streaming series ‘The Freelancer’ is set to return with its second season titled ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’, the trailer of which was unveiled on Tuesday.

The trailer follows the events of rescue of Aliyah by Mohit Raina’s titular character Avinash.

The series is based on the book ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat, which also stars Anupam Kher, Kashmira Pardeshi, Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji, Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, and Sarah Jane Dias, among others.

Talking about the show and his character, Mohit Raina said, “My inbox was flooded with messages from fans and audiences after the release of the first four episodes, and I am glad that they enjoyed watching me in a different avatar in this thriller series.

“‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’ will see Avinash explore more facets of his character and his actual self as he sets out to rescue Aliya.

Mumbai, Nov 28 (Ians) The streaming series ‘The Freelancer’ is set to return with its second season titled ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’, the trailer of which was unveiled on Tuesday.

The trailer follows the events of rescue of Aliyah by Mohit Raina’s titular character Avinash.

The series is based on the book ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat, which also stars Anupam Kher, Kashmira Pardeshi, Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji, Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, and Sarah Jane Dias, among others.

Talking about the show and his character, Mohit Raina said, “My inbox was flooded with messages from fans and audiences after the release of the first four episodes, and I am glad that they enjoyed watching me in a different avatar in this thriller series.

“‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’ will see Avinash explore more facets of his character and his actual self as he sets out to rescue Aliya.

Finally, Avinash Kamath sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission. Will ‘The Freelancer’ be able to save Aliya? Disney+ Hotstar releases the much awaited trailer of The Freelancer: The Conclusion. The series is based on the book – A Ticket to Syria by Shirish Thorat, directed by Bhav Dhulia, produced by Friday Storytellers, created by show-runner Neeraj Pandey, directed by Bhav Dhulia and produced by Shital Bhatia.

Set to release on December 15, 2023 on Disney+ Hotstar, The Freelancer: The Conclusion is toplined by popular actor Mohit Raina and veteran actor Anupam Kher along with Kashmira Pardeshi.

The series also features talented actors like Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik, Manjiri Fadnis, Sarah Jane Dias amongst others

Creator and show-runner Neeraj Pandey said, “We are very happy with the overwhelming audience response and positive reaction to the initial episodes of ‘The Freelancer’ which were released by Hotstar...

Finally, Avinash Kamath sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission. Will ‘The Freelancer’ be able to save Aliya? Disney+ Hotstar releases the much awaited trailer of The Freelancer: The Conclusion. The series is based on the book – A Ticket to Syria by Shirish Thorat, directed by Bhav Dhulia, produced by Friday Storytellers, created by show-runner Neeraj Pandey, directed by Bhav Dhulia and produced by Shital Bhatia.

Set to release on December 15, 2023 on Disney+ Hotstar, The Freelancer: The Conclusion is toplined by popular actor Mohit Raina and veteran actor Anupam Kher along with Kashmira Pardeshi.

The series also features talented actors like Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik, Manjiri Fadnis, Sarah Jane Dias amongst others

Creator and show-runner Neeraj Pandey said, “We are very happy with the overwhelming audience response and positive reaction to the initial episodes of ‘The Freelancer’ which were released by Hotstar...

Actor Mohit Raina is all set to return to accomplish the mission of saving Aliya in ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’, which is set to stream from December 15.

Talking about the series, Mohit said: “Avinash Kamath’s character graph has grown with each episode as he experiences a turmoil of his own. Season 1 was received well by the audiences and my character was widely appreciated by all.”

“It was the first time I explored something like this and I am glad the audiences thoroughly enjoyed it and are in for a nail biting extraction mission as Avinash is all set to roll in action with The Freelancer: The Conclusion,” he added.

The series also stars Anupam Kher, Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji, Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, Sarah Jane Dias amongst others.

Anupam added: “Dr Khan is a very thought-through character and he has various layers to his personality. It’s...

Actor Mohit Raina is all set to return to accomplish the mission of saving Aliya in ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’, which is set to stream from December 15.

Talking about the series, Mohit said: “Avinash Kamath’s character graph has grown with each episode as he experiences a turmoil of his own. Season 1 was received well by the audiences and my character was widely appreciated by all.”

“It was the first time I explored something like this and I am glad the audiences thoroughly enjoyed it and are in for a nail biting extraction mission as Avinash is all set to roll in action with The Freelancer: The Conclusion,” he added.

The series also stars Anupam Kher, Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji, Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, Sarah Jane Dias amongst others.

Anupam added: “Dr Khan is a very thought-through character and he has various layers to his personality. It’s...

Actor Navneet Malik, who is known for his roles in ‘Heropanti 2’, ‘Love Hostel’, and ‘The Freelancer’ expressed his feelings as the ‘Kaali-Peeli taxis’ in Mumbai, have made its final exit from the city streets, reminiscing about all the rides that have been a part of his life.

The well-known black-and-yellow Padmini taxi will no longer be in operation from Monday. This has led to an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from many people, who are sharing their memories and stories connected to these iconic taxis.

These taxis were easily recognisable due to their black and yellow paint job.

Saying goodbye to these taxis on Monday, Navneet said, “I can’t help but remember all the rides they’ve been a part of in my life. These iconic cabs were more than just a way to get around; they were like threads woven into the fabric of our city.”

Reminiscing a beautiful memory,...

Actor Navneet Malik, who is known for his roles in ‘Heropanti 2’, ‘Love Hostel’, and ‘The Freelancer’ expressed his feelings as the ‘Kaali-Peeli taxis’ in Mumbai, have made its final exit from the city streets, reminiscing about all the rides that have been a part of his life.

The well-known black-and-yellow Padmini taxi will no longer be in operation from Monday. This has led to an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from many people, who are sharing their memories and stories connected to these iconic taxis.

These taxis were easily recognisable due to their black and yellow paint job.

Saying goodbye to these taxis on Monday, Navneet said, “I can’t help but remember all the rides they’ve been a part of in my life. These iconic cabs were more than just a way to get around; they were like threads woven into the fabric of our city.”

Reminiscing a beautiful memory,...

Director Bhav Dhulia, who is known for his works like — ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’, and ‘The Freelancer’ has teamed up with Abundantia Entertainment for two feature film projects.

The projects are an engaging, large-scale, action-thriller tinged with a deep patriotic flavour, and an equally thrilling underdog story, inspired by true events set to introduce Indian fans to a whole new style of investigative storytelling.

Abundantia Entertainment is the producer of films like ‘Jalsa’, ‘Sherni’, ‘Ram Setu’, ‘Shakuntala Devi’, ‘Chhorii’, ‘Toilet – Ek Prem Katha’ ‘Sukhee’, ‘Airlift’, ‘Breathe’ and ‘Breathe: Into The Shadows’ among others.

On making his directorial feature-film debut, Bhav said: “I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on some high-quality streaming content and have thoroughly enjoyed creating for the longer format.”

“I felt that now is the right time to make the transition to feature films. As I get ready to embark on this new journey,...

Director Bhav Dhulia, who is known for his works like — ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’, and ‘The Freelancer’ has teamed up with Abundantia Entertainment for two feature film projects.

The projects are an engaging, large-scale, action-thriller tinged with a deep patriotic flavour, and an equally thrilling underdog story, inspired by true events set to introduce Indian fans to a whole new style of investigative storytelling.

Abundantia Entertainment is the producer of films like ‘Jalsa’, ‘Sherni’, ‘Ram Setu’, ‘Shakuntala Devi’, ‘Chhorii’, ‘Toilet – Ek Prem Katha’ ‘Sukhee’, ‘Airlift’, ‘Breathe’ and ‘Breathe: Into The Shadows’ among others.

On making his directorial feature-film debut, Bhav said: “I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on some high-quality streaming content and have thoroughly enjoyed creating for the longer format.”

“I felt that now is the right time to make the transition to feature films. As I get ready to embark on this new journey,...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher has shared a glimpse of the historic Ram Mandir being built in Ayodhya. Anupam took to Instagram where he shared a video of the temple being built. He is also seen describing the iconic location. He then takes on a tour as the temple is in preparation.

He captioned it: “Doston, main aapko Ayodhya main ban rahe aetihasik Ram Mandir ki jhalak dikha raha hun. Bahut sukhit anubhuti hui is vishal bante huye mandir ko dekh kar. Har bhakt Ram lalla ke mandir ke nirman main apni shraddha aur bhakti se lipt hain. Poore ayodhya ke vatavaran main Jai Shri Ram ki goonj hai. Main bhagyashali hun ki mere aagrah karne par mujhe is mandir ke ek eent bhent main mili.”

Anupam in the clip also shared that the Ram temple will be inaugurated next year in January.

On the work front, Anupam was seen in ‘Ib 71’, ‘Extraction’ Series,...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher has shared a glimpse of the historic Ram Mandir being built in Ayodhya. Anupam took to Instagram where he shared a video of the temple being built. He is also seen describing the iconic location. He then takes on a tour as the temple is in preparation.

He captioned it: “Doston, main aapko Ayodhya main ban rahe aetihasik Ram Mandir ki jhalak dikha raha hun. Bahut sukhit anubhuti hui is vishal bante huye mandir ko dekh kar. Har bhakt Ram lalla ke mandir ke nirman main apni shraddha aur bhakti se lipt hain. Poore ayodhya ke vatavaran main Jai Shri Ram ki goonj hai. Main bhagyashali hun ki mere aagrah karne par mujhe is mandir ke ek eent bhent main mili.”

Anupam in the clip also shared that the Ram temple will be inaugurated next year in January.

On the work front, Anupam was seen in ‘Ib 71’, ‘Extraction’ Series,...

Principal photography has commenced on “Paan Parda Zarda,” a high-end series that unites some of India’s top talents.

“Paan Parda Zarda” is a gangster drama series set against the backdrop of illegal opium smuggling in central India. It is produced by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Studios in association with Reliance Entertainment and Dreamer and Doers Co.

The series is a collaboration between showrunner and co-directors Gurmmeet Singh (Prime Video series “Mirzapur”) and Shilpi Dasgupta (film “Khandaani Shafakhana”), showrunner Mrighdeep Singh Lamba (the “Fukrey” film franchise) and writers Suparn S. Varma (Prime Video series “The Family Man”), Hussain Dalal (Prime Video series “Bambai Meri Jaan”), Abbas Dalal (Disney+ Hotstar series “The Trial”), Radhika Anand (Toronto film “Thank You for Coming”) and Vibha Singh (film “Mardaani”).

The cast includes Mona Singh (Prime Video series “Made in Heaven”), Tanvi Azmi (Netflix film “Tribhanga”), Tanya Maniktala (BBC/Netflix series “A Suitable Boy...

Actress Breshna Khan, who is known for her work in the Raveena Tandon-starrer ‘Aranyak’, and the streaming shows ‘Escaype Live’, and ‘The Freelancer’, will now be seen in Santosh Sivan’s untitled project. The actress has already shot for her first schedule and will soon be starting the shoot for the next.

The film is a period drama and consists of three acts, Breshna will play the lead in the first act and will continue to have an overarching presence throughout the film.

Talking about the film, the actress said, “It’s a periodic film based 500 years back in Kashmir, directed by Santosh Sivan. The story is divided into three acts and I’m playing one of the leads in the first act who’s going to remain a key characterthroughout the film and appear in flashbacks and dream sequences after the first act.”

Breshna further mentioned, “This is...

Actress Breshna Khan, who is known for her work in the Raveena Tandon-starrer ‘Aranyak’, and the streaming shows ‘Escaype Live’, and ‘The Freelancer’, will now be seen in Santosh Sivan’s untitled project. The actress has already shot for her first schedule and will soon be starting the shoot for the next.

The film is a period drama and consists of three acts, Breshna will play the lead in the first act and will continue to have an overarching presence throughout the film.

Talking about the film, the actress said, “It’s a periodic film based 500 years back in Kashmir, directed by Santosh Sivan. The story is divided into three acts and I’m playing one of the leads in the first act who’s going to remain a key characterthroughout the film and appear in flashbacks and dream sequences after the first act.”

Breshna further mentioned, “This is...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, as he gears up for the release of his next film ‘The Vaccine War’, has gone to the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata to perform his new autobiographical play ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’. The actor has said that he and the audiences will partake in moments of laughter, joy, sorrow and life.

Taking to his X account (formerly Twitter), the actor wrote: “Namaskar Kolkata. Just landed in the #CityOfJoy to perform my autobiographical play #‘KuchBhiHoSaktaHai at Science City Auditorium tomorrow at 7 Pm. Am told that the show is packed.”

He further wrote in Bangla, “You and I together, we will share bits of some laughter, some tears, love and some life’s moments”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher)

He captioned the video by simply showing a one and a half minute clip of his plane proceeding to land,...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, as he gears up for the release of his next film ‘The Vaccine War’, has gone to the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata to perform his new autobiographical play ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’. The actor has said that he and the audiences will partake in moments of laughter, joy, sorrow and life.

Taking to his X account (formerly Twitter), the actor wrote: “Namaskar Kolkata. Just landed in the #CityOfJoy to perform my autobiographical play #‘KuchBhiHoSaktaHai at Science City Auditorium tomorrow at 7 Pm. Am told that the show is packed.”

He further wrote in Bangla, “You and I together, we will share bits of some laughter, some tears, love and some life’s moments”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher)

He captioned the video by simply showing a one and a half minute clip of his plane proceeding to land,...

Actress Manjari Fadnnis has shared she loves watching light hearted content, and revealed that the American TV sitcom ‘Friends’ is her go to thing, when she is stressed, and wants to relax.

‘Friends’ is created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. It stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. The show revolves around six friends in their 20s and 30s who live in Manhattan, New York City.

Best known for her performance in the film ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’, Manjari was first seen on television during the second season of the Indian version of the singing reality show ‘Popstars’, in 2003. She was one of the participants who made it to the finals for the musical band Aasma. She made her film debut in 2004 with ‘Rok Sako To Rok Lo’.

Talking to Ians, Manjari shared about the content she loves to watch on Ott in her leisure time.

Actor Navneet Malik who started his career as a model is now steadily moving forward in the field of acting, feels that ‘The Freelancer’ can prove to be a turning point for him professionally. Navneet has got the looks and he is impressing everyone with his acting chops. The actor who has worked in ‘Love Hostel’ and ‘Heropanti’ is currently seen in a negative role in Neeraj Pandey’s new show ‘The Freelancer’.

In an exclusive interview, the actor spoke about how he entered the world of acting: “I started my career as a model and for 6 years I was the face for almost all big brands. I got my acting break when Red Chillies approached me for ‘Love Hostel’. Then ‘Heropanti 2’ happened and now ‘The Freelancer’. I feel to be a part of ‘The Freelancer’ is a big step in my acting career and it can prove to be the turning point.

Actress Manjari Fadnnis, who is best known for her performance in the coming of age romantic comedy ‘Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na’, spoke about the moments which still makes her feel nostalgic, after 15 years of its release. The 2008 movie ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’ directed by Abbas Tyrewala, starring Imran Khan and Genelia D’Souza in the lead released. It also stars Prateik Babbar, Manjari, Ratna Pathak, Naseeruddin Shah, Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Paresh Rawal in pivotal role.

Manjari played the character of Meghna, who was Jai’s (Imran) girlfriend. Recently, the movie completed 15 years of the release, and the 39-year-old actress recalled about the memories from the shoot.

When asked what still makes her feel nostalgic about the movie, Manjari told Ians: “Walking on the empty streets of South Bombay. I think that was the only time I have seen it so quiet, and so quaint, that was so wonderful.

Disney+ Hotstar’s new extraction drama, The Freelancer, is set across the Middle East, North Africa, and India. Part one of the show, just through four episodes, tells us the story of a mercenary who is desperate to rescue a young 21-year-old woman from an Isis-controlled area. Neeraj Pandey is known for delivering some good stories in this genre. The process of getting information about a particular remote village where the young girl is now stuck and the mercenary’s quest to find a definite route forms the crux of the plot.

Spoilers Ahead

Inayat Khan’s Quest For His Daughter

The Freelancer begins with what seems to be a young woman running away from a group of people. Her escape plan is short-lived when she crashes into the vehicle that is chasing her. This kidnapping of the woman sets the tone of the show. This scene is in the trailer as well.

The Freelancer, Neeraj Pandey’s latest venture into the extraction thriller genre, is out for everyone to watch and enjoy. Part one of the show has four episodes that discuss in detail the work of a mercenary. The same man is on a mission to extract the daughter of a friend from an Isis-controlled territory. The wheel has been set in motion, but only time will tell how quickly the woman will be recused. Part one ended on a brilliant cliffhanger and set the tone for the upcoming three episodes. The makers have done a brilliant job so far of presenting the story tightly.

Spoilers Ahead

The Freelancer Part 1 ends with Aliya heading to Raqqa with her husband Mohsin, brother-in-law Khalid, and his wife Asar. Unbeknownst to her, her brother-in-law and his wife were going to commit a suicide bombing inside a crowded market in Raqqa to make a statement...

Neeraj Pandey is known to give audiences out-of-the-box stories surrounding the Indian intelligence agencies that safeguard national security. Two seasons of Special Ops, Baby, and A Wednesday, are among the riveting works of Neeraj Pandey. With The Freelancer, he dives into the lives of mercenaries, especially from India, who end up having to do contract work for organizations and countries around the world. Adapted from Shirish Thorat’s novel “A Ticket to Syria,” the Disney+ Hotstar special has released four episodes so far which revolves around an ex-cop turned mercenary who takes it upon himself to extract a young woman from Syria.

Avinash Kamath, an ex-Mumbai Police officer turned mercenary, is back in the city after hearing the news of his friend Inayat Khan’s demise. Inayat Khan, an ex-cop himself, was killed outside the American embassy as he forcefully crossed the barricades. The unusual way in which he...

Neeraj Pandey created a stamp of his type of storytelling right from his debut ‘A Wednesday’. Going by his repertoire, titles like Special 26, Baby, Rustom, Naam Shabana, Aiyaary, Special Ops, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, people who binge on thrillers would not think twice to binge watch ‘The Freelancer’. The action-thriller series is based on the bestselling 2017 book ‘A Ticket to Syria’ by Shirish Thorat.

The Freelancer Plot

‘The Freelancer’ is set in an hostile climate set apart by misdirection and treachery. It follows the rescue operation of a young girl Aliya, held against her will in war-torn Syria. It is her journey as she endeavours to escape from challenging conditions.

The story begins with Aliya (Kashmira Pardeshi) running in the bylanes of Syria, trying to escape, but gets hit by a car. The story takes the audience back and forth in time to set the premise. Who is Aliya,...