News

Jio Studios and Stage5 Productions’ Bun Tikki, a poignant coming-of-age drama exploring the intricate dynamics of a father-son relationship, had its global premiere at the prestigious 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) in California. The event was a stand out at the festival, drawing attention from global cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry leaders alike.

The screening was graced by renowned fashion icon turned producer Manish Malhotra who was joined by debutant feature film director Faraz Arif Ansari and lead actor Abhay Deol.

At the screening, director Faraz Ansari said “ Bun Tikki is a really special film for me. It stems from the love and empathy that my mother instilled in me during my growing up years. There was a lot of love and empathy at home which was a super power that my mother gave me and I believe it reflects in my story telling and I feel that...

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Studios and Stage5 Production’s “Bun Tikki,” starring veteran Indian actors Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman alongside Abhay Deol, has been selected for a world premiere at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2025.

The coming-of-age drama, helmed by first-time feature director Faraz Arif Ansari, follows a seven-year-old named Shanu and his single father Sidhant as they navigate family dynamics and identity. The pic marks the second festival outing for the Jio Studios-Stage5 Production partnership, following “Saali Mohabbat” at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Stage5 Production, founded by fashion designer Manish Malhotra, produced the film alongside Jio Studios. Malhotra serves as producer with Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra and Marijke deSouza.

The cast is rounded out by Nushrratt Bharuccha and Rohaan Singh. The film centers on themes of parenthood and resilience, with Shanu grappling with self-discovery while his father deals with grief and societal pressures.

Abhay Deol, known for his unconventional roles in films like Dev D and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, recently Abhay Deol stirred the internet by appearing in a photo shoot for where he is seen kissing his own reflection in the mirror. In an accompanying interview, he elaborated on his views about sexuality, rejecting the binary Western classification and advocating for a more nuanced Eastern perspective that encompasses the entire human experience. Deol stated, “I refuse the Western way of identifying sexuality because it’s so black and white. The Eastern approach is so different, it recognises the whole of us. I don’t define my sexuality, and this might sound controversial but for me it’s not something that I think can be defined.”

He further explained his belief that everyone embodies both masculine and feminine traits, and thus, “we are all they/them.” He remarked, “I think it’s...