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Karan Johar’s Indian production powerhouse Dharma Productions has major new investment.

The Koffee With Karan maker is selling 50% to its shares to Serene Productions, which is led by pharmaceutical tycoon Adar Poonawalla, for 1,000 crore ($120M). The binding agreement values Dharma, which comprises Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment, at around $240M.

Local reports suggest Johar had also met with the likes of Reliance Industries, Saregama and the Adani Group about offloading shares before sealing the Serene Productions agreement. The company’s revenues for 2022/23 financial year were about $124M.

Following the deal Johar, whose father Yash Johar founded Dharma back in 1976, will retain the remaining 50%. He will be Executive Chairman, spearheading the company’s creative vision, with Apoorva Mehta as CEO.

Dharma Productions’ recent films include Kill, Bad Newz, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, while digital-focused Dharmatic Entertainment is known for streaming shows such as...

Dhadak 2: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri Embark On A Raw & Tragic Love Journey(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Get ready for a love story that challenges the status quo! Zee Studios, Dharma Productions, and Cloud 9 Pictures have finally unveiled details about the highly anticipated Dhadak 2. Stepping into the lead roles are the talented Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, promising a fresh and captivating on-screen pairing.

The original Dhadak, released in 2016, was a Hindi remake of the Marathi film Sairat. Starring Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, Dhadak explored forbidden love amidst societal differences and resonated deeply with audiences. Now, Dhadak 2 builds on that success, taking the baton forward with a brand new story.

Triptii Dimri, known for her breakout role in the critically acclaimed Bulbbul & Qala and her portrayal of the feisty Laila in Laila Majnu, brings her captivating screen presence to Dhadak 2. Siddhant Chaturvedi, who impressed audiences...

Indian director-producer Karan Johar wrapped up the conference section of the first Cinevesture International Film Festival with a lively conversation that ranged from working with the right people and Bollywood’s shifting gender politics, to letting slip a few new projects from his Dharma Productions slate.

Johar, who’s having a busy year as a producer with Love Storiyaan on Prime Video and Showtime on Disney+ Hotstar, started the session by talking about how he surrounds himself with people “who know all facets of cinema, not just the mainstream” – even if they’ve been outspoken critics of his work in the past.

He used the example of indie maverick Anurag Kashyap, and producer Somen Mishra, now head of content at Dharma and its Ott division Dharmatic Entertainment, who used to slate him on the popular ‘Passion of Cinema’ blog.

“I think I was their favorite target. But when Rensil D’Silva...

Love Storiyaan

Except for one story in this six-tiered ache cake with no icing, there is nothing unusual about the love stories that are a part of this cuddlesome omnibus.

What makes Love Storiyaan so desirable is its unwavering mood of love conquers all. Aekta and Ullekh in the first story, An Unsuitable Girl, directed by Hardik Mehta are hardly your Romeo and Juliet. She is a 40-plus divorcee with two grownup daughters. He is a patient suitor. And the real story here is between Ullek and Aekta’s younger daughter whom he must win over before marriage happens.

It is this quality of deflected affinity that often takes the seemingly routine relationship to the level close to an epic love story.

In the second story, Love On Air, set in arresting Assam, directed by Vivek Soni (whose voice is the third protagonist from behind the camera) two disc jockeys Rajni and Nick,...

Mumbai, Feb 15 (Ians) Love being in the air, we all having had our share of Valentine’s Day, it is the perfect time to delve deeper into the numerous aspects of love, creatively at that.

And who can be better that Karan Johar with his Dharmatic Productions team giving us a cute collection of stories (‘storiyaan’) suffused with the different flavours of six romantic liaisons from different parts of the country.

Released on Amazon Prime Video, ‘Love Storiyaan’ has endearing tales of unusual love blossoming in small and metropolitan cities, involving ordinary people — well, mostly. Dedicated to everyone who has ever loved, lost and was bold enough to fall in love again, the episodes feature inspired stories from Priya Ramani, Niloufer Venkatraman and Samar Halarnkar’s popular Instagram handle #IndiaLoveProject.

An anthology of six short films, this is as diverse as it can get. The construct is deliberately an attempt...