India Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Siddhant Adlakha A radical vision of Indian womanhood collides with scattered storytelling in director Konstantin Bojanov‘s “The Shameless,” a provocative queer drama laid low by its oblique narrative. Following two women destined for a life of sex work, the drama is lucid in its politics, but often opaque in its drama — a dynamic embodied by two wildly different lead performances. Anasuya Sengupta is remarkable as “Renuka,” a Muslim woman who dons the moniker of a Hindu goddess while on the run from police.

EXCLUSIVE: Justin Lin has rounded out the cast for his next film Last Days with five additions: Toby Wallace (Babyteeth), Ciara Bravo (Cherry), Claire Price (The Capture), Dieudonné Ngabo (Forever) and Marny Kennedy (Between Two Worlds).

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Variety will present a Women in Cinema Panel at the Cannes Film Festival in tandem with the Red Sea International Film Festival featuring top talents from Egypt, India, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Senegal. The panel will take place at La Plage Des Palmes on Saturday, May 18, at 12pm CET.

Naman Ramachandran Los Angeles-based Flourishing Films has boarded Singapore- and India-based Mumba Devi Motion Pictures‘ “Grand Sugar Daddy” and “Not Today” at the Cannes Film Festival‘s market. Flourishing is focused on expanding access to Black, diverse and female-driven filmed content originating from the U.S., Africa, the U.K. and worldwide.

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

Sikandar Kher, who can currently be seen starring in Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut Monkey Man, has signed with Zero Gravity Management.

Naman Ramachandran Dimpy Agrawal‘s Gubbara Entertainment has unveiled a $1 million script development fund aimed at empowering Indian feature filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival‘s market. Agrawal previously served as a producer at Netflix India and her credits include some of the streamer’s top titles from the territory such as Zoya Akhtar’s “The Archies,” Vishal Bharwaj’s “Khufiya,” Vasan Bala’s “Monica, O My Darling” and Ajay Singh’s “Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga.” She has had prior stints at Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Phantom Productions. Gubbara was launched in early 2023.

For two years in a row, Deepika Padukone has kickstarted India’s box office with a bang: In 2023, the acclaimed actor and producer reunited with her Om Shanti Om co-star Shah Rukh Khan for espionage actioner Pathaan, which went on to take $76 million in India and crossed the $100 million global box office milestone without a China release. This year Padukone starred in Viacom/Marflix’s Hindi aviation actioner Fighter (from Pathaan director Siddharth Anand), which grossed $43 million globally in just 30 days.

When OK! caught up with actor Gary Lucy at a recent event for The Wickers charity, he opened up on life as a family man - including being dad to five little ones. The former Hollyoaks star told us: “I have five babies. I’m the daddy man! My oldest is 18 and my youngest is eight months.

Naman Ramachandran Glasgow-based Momentum Films, led by producer Rakasree Basu (“Iqbal and the Jewel of India”), has officially launched at the Cannes Film Festival‘s market. The company is focusing on developing original stories by converging the Scottish and the South Asian cinematic landscapes across feature films, high end television and narrative documentaries. Momentum has an under-production film “Adrift,” which was shot in Tamil Nadu, southern India, and is currently in post-production.

Naman Ramachandran 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 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.

SonyLIV is getting the gang back together for another Scam.

Forbes has released its annual 30 Under 30 list for 2024 in Asia, which features the likes of Voice Of Baceprot, IVE and more.Released today (May 16), the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list shines a light on individuals aged below 30 who have made a significant impact in their respective fields, including entertainment and sports, science and activism, entrepreneurship and more.This year’s entertainment and sports portion of the list is headlined by Indonesian metallers and stars of NME’s The Cover, Voice Of Baceprot. Trailing behind them are K-pop outfit IVE, Japanese pop-rock group Atarashii Gakko!, Filipino rapper Ez Mil, Indian rapper Arpan Kumar Chandel (aka King), Japanese singer Aina The End and Indonesia’s Mahalini Raharja.The list also includes Chinese-New Zealand actress Jess Hong, Thai singer-actor Vachirawit Chivaaree, also known as Bright, and Indian singer-songwriter Pavithra Chari.This year’s North American 30 Under 30 list featured the likes of Boygenius, Ethel Cain, Dominic Fike, Gracie Abrams, Latto, Reneé Rapp, Ice Spice, Peso Pluma, Trippie Redd, Kali Uchis and more.This year’s European 30 Under 30 list features PinkPantheress, Nia Archives, Cat Burns, FLO, Holly Humberstone and more.Last year’s Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list included K-pop girl groups NewJeans and Le Sserafim, Cambodian rapper VannDa, Singaporean singer Shye, South Korean singer LØREN, Indian singer-rapper Ambika Nayak – known professionally as Kayan – and Hong Kong singer Michael “MC” Cheung Tin-fu.The entertainment and sports category of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list was judged by ONE Championship co-founder and Group President Hua Fung Teh and Caldecott Music Group CEO and founder Kuok Meng Ru.

EXCLUSIVE: Mike Goodridge has been on a rare journey. Not many in the industry can boast a CV that includes running a trade publication, an international sales company, a film festival and being the producer of multiple Cannes Film Festival movies.

Naman Ramachandran India is making a concerted push to become a global production hub with enhanced incentives, diverse locations and a strong presence at Cannes. It is a record year for India at Cannes, with its first title in competition in 30 years, Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light,” and seven more Indian or Indian-themed films across the festival’s various strands. In addition, the country has a strong Cannes Film Market presence, while the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, on behalf of India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), has organized a range of events aimed at global content co-producers, sales agents and distributors at the India Pavilion on the Croisette.

EXCLUSIVE: Radhika Apte (Sister Midnight), Naveen Andrews (The Dropout) and Ken Leung (Avatar: The Last Airbender) have signed on to star opposite the previously announced Sky Yang in Last Days, the next film from the Fast & Furious franchise’s Justin Lin.

It's that time of year where many people are preparing to head on holiday - if you've not already.

Naman Ramachandran Indian filmmaker Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran‘s next film “Papa Buka” will commence principal photography in Papua New Guinea in July. The film will follow Indian historians Romila and Anand who go to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to write a book about the Indian soldiers who fought with the British and Australian armies against the Japanese during WWII in the country.

BBC MasterChef enthusiasts were left gobsmacked as the voice behind the iconic cooking show was unveiled during a special episode celebrating its 20th anniversary.The semi-final episode was a star-studded affair, featuring a line up of past judges, winners, and Michelin-starred chefs, where the final eight contestants whipped up a three-course meal inspired by previous champions for an impressive 70 guests.The excitement levels peaked when judge John Torode swapped his usual attire for chef whites to lead the kitchen as the executive head chef for the night. However, the real surprise came when India Fisher, the voice that has guided viewers through countless culinary journeys, stepped in front of the camera.

Naman Ramachandran Manoj Bajpayee, known as one of India’s finest actors, is adopting a mass-market action hero persona in upcoming film “Bhaiyya Ji.” The story, where Bajpayee’s character faces off against a powerful man and his henchmen to seek revenge for wrongs done to his family, is literally ripped from the headlines. The actor read the real-life story in a newspaper several years ago and it stayed with him.

Elsa Pataky is giving a glimpse at her intense workout routine. The 47-year-old actress decided to share part of her workout, accompanied by her kids, 11-year-old India, and 9-year-old Sasha, at their home gym in Byron Bay, Australia.Chris Hemsworth’s suggestion to help Anya Taylor-Joy get her driver’s licenseElsa Pataky celebrates Mother’s Day ‘the Spanish way’Chris Hemsworth breaks one of Anna Wintour’s rules during the 2024 Met GalaThe actress showed her well-equipped gym, which she also shares with her husband Chris Hemsworth.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Harry Shearer has voiced dozens of characters on Fox’s “The Simpsons,” from Mr. Burns to Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner, but he was replaced as the voice of Springfield physician Dr. Hibbert when producers of the show vowed in 2020 to no longer have white actors voice characters of color.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The Max prequel series “Dune: Prophecy” has added Jihae in a recurring guest star role, Variety has learned exclusively. The South Korean actress, musician, and multimedia artist is the latest casting to be announced for the series, after Variety exclusively reported that Indian superstar Tabu would also be appearing in the show.

Major Indian distribution platform Tata Play will collaborate with Amazon Prime to offer Tata Play Direct-to-Home (DTH) and Tata Play Binge customers access to Prime Video’s content.

Naman Ramachandran Animation studio Toonz Media Group has unveiled an eclectic slate for the Cannes Film Market. Drawing stories from popular Indian ancient fables and retelling them with a contemporary flavor, “Return of the Jungle” is set in present-day India and revolves around a group of classmates from junior school who must outwit the biggest, meanest bully in the school. A cool and loveable grandpa by their side peps the fourth graders with inspiring stories from the jungle.

EXCLUSIVE: RJ Malishka, Rajesh Kumar and KC Shankar are the latest Indian stars to board SonyLIV‘s political drama series Freedom at Midnight.

Whether playing DI Kate Fleming in Line of Duty or a back-against-the-wall bomb disposal expert in ITV’s Trigger Point, Vicky McClure has mastered the art of procedurals over the years.

Coronation Street's Dev Alahan, played by Jimmi Harkishin, has been a familiar face on the cobbles since 1999. His character has had quite the journey, from discovering he had a secret daughter to his short-lived marriage to Sunita and the arrival of his twins. In recent scenes, Bernie Winter (played by Jane Hazlegrove) tells Dev about the son she gave up for adoption.

The Simpsons star Harry Shearer has suggested that the recasting of Dr Hibbert has “affected” his former character.The actor was replaced in the role by Kevin Richardson in 2021, after the long-running animated sitcom decided the year before that white actors would no longer voice non-white roles in the series.Shearer previously voiced Hibbert, who is Black, from the show’s inception, and in a new interview with The Times reflected on the change.“Folk say the show has become woke in recent years and one of my characters has been affected,” he said. “I voiced the Black physician, Dr Hibbert, who I based on Bill Cosby.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “The Substance,” Coralie Fargeat’s buzzy horror movie starring Margaret Qualley and Demi Moore, has sold to one of France’s biggest distributors, Metropolitan FilmExport, ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The Match Factory is handling international sales on the female-powered movie, and MUBI just acquired the rights in North America, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America and Benelux, where they will release the film theatrically this year. MUBI has also acquired the movie for Turkey and India.