India Showbiz Latest News and Updates

EXCLUSIVE: Israeli format Power Couple has been picked up by Banijay in the Nordics and been awarded a slew of recommissions.

Naman Ramachandran Indian cinema A-list actor-producer-director Prithviraj Sukumaran is extremely busy, with a hit film in theaters, another due this week and several more in the works. Malayalam-language “Aadujeevitham” (“The Goat Life“), directed by Blessy (“Thanmatra”) is based on Benyamin’s bestselling 2008 novel of the same name and tells the true story of Najeeb, an immigrant laborer from Kerala forced into slavery on a remote goat farm in a Middle Eastern country. Sukumaran plays Najeeb.

Annika Pham On the heels of its successful world launch at IDFA, the critically-acclaimed anti-colonial pic “Our Land, Our Freedom,” sold by First Hand Films, has landed a deal with BBC Africa Eye. “Our Land, Our Freedom,” a Kenyan/U.S./Portuguese co-production, and the upcoming India-set “Kalari,” to be pitched in Visions du Réel docu festival’s Swiss Preview showcase, epitomize what First Hand Films stands for.

Freddy Knatchbull was reportedly the target of a terrifying kidnap plot last year.The Made In Chelsea star, who is distantly related to King Charles III, was filming in Corsica when he was allegedly locked in a 4x4 by the plotters. Freddy, who is the great-grandson of Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s uncle, was filming for Made In Chelsea: Corsica at the time of the horrifying kidnapping attempt. And it's believed that while the cast were left terrified following this, show bosses were not made aware of the ordeal at the time.

Jack Dunn David Barrington Holt, longtime manager of the Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop in L.A., died March 13 of complications from cancer, his son, Chris Holt, announced. He was 78. After receiving a BA in industry design with honors from London’s University of the Arts in 1963, Holt began his illustrious 30-year career as a creator, quickly building his reputation as a skilled photographer, designer, engineer and model maker.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Cole Brings Plenty, the actor who played Pete Plenty Clouds on “Yellowstone” spinoff series “1923,” was found dead in Kansas a week after he was reported missing. He was 27. Plenty was a suspect in a domestic violence case.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Legendary/Warner Bros’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is leading as planned at the weekend B.O. with a $7.5M second Friday, -80% for a what’s shaping up to be a $25M-$28M second frame at 3,948 theaters, -65% on the high end. Hopefully, there’s more of a bounce.

Rafael Nadal announced he’s dropping out of the Monte Carlo Masters. It’s the third tournament this year where he’s been unable to compete due to his injuries. Pau Gasol praises Nadal and Alcaraz Netflix matchRafael Nadal calls himself a fan of Carlos Alcaraz after exhibition defeatA post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal)Nadal shared the statement on social media, alongside a video of him training in a clay court.

An earthquake has shaken the densely populated New York City metropolitan area and much of the Northeast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A preliminary magnitude of 4.8 was recorded as locals reported feeling the quake.

Monkey Man has hit cinema screens this week, and its soundtrack has proven popular with viewers.Produced by Get Out and Nope’s Jordan Peele, the action thriller stars Patel in the lead role, exploring a man seeking to avenge a loved one, and detailing the topics of discrimination and corruption in Indian society.Also starring in the film are Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala and Pitobash. So far it has received generally positive reviews, with 87% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian awarding it four stars out of five, describing Patel’s work as “a very exciting and stylish movie.”However, for some viewers it was the film’s soundtrack which had the most impact.

India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises is planning to cut its workforce by 15%. At the same time, MD and CEO Punit Goenka is proposing a “lean and streamlined” board structure.

Naman Ramachandran Punit Goenka, MD and CEO of Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, is trimming the organization’s workforce by 15%. “In line with his overall strategic approach, the MD and CEO has initiated the process of rationalization of the workforce by 15%, that will prune the staff strength across the company to arrive at a streamlined team that is sharply focused on the set goals for the future,” Zee said in a statement on Friday.

Naman Ramachandran For veteran Bollywood filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, his latest film “12th Fail” is the gift that keeps on giving. Based on the 2019 book of the same name by Anurag Pathak, the film tells the true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma who conquered extreme familial poverty to pass one of the world’s toughest examination processes and become an Indian Police Service officer. Distributed by Zee Studios, the modestly budgeted “12th Fail” released theatrically in October 2023 in a Bollywood market where only big-budget action spectacles were working and many smaller films were taking the easier route to bowing directly on a streamer.

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate Play has landed another carriage deal in the Philippines.

Monkey Man was originally expected to stream on Netflix — but Jordan Peele gave Dev Patel‘s feature directorial debut a different fate, and sent it to the big screen.

Jeff Bezos continues making colossal investments, and his latest acquisition in Miami is no exception. Reports have emerged that Bezos, with an alleged net worth of $203.7 billion, has splurged a staggering $90 million on a third mansion on the exclusive Indian Creek Island, further solidifying his status as one of the area’s most prominent residents.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Kurt Sutter‘s upcoming western series “The Abandons” is rounding out its cast. Variety has learned exclusively that Ryan Hurst, Michael Greyeyes, Michiel Huisman, and Toby Hemingway have all joined the Netflix series in recurring roles. Exact character details are being kept under wraps.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Dev Patel refused to let the slew of injuries he suffered while filming his elaborate fight scenes in “Monkey Man” get in the way of him completing the movie. Patel not only directed and co-wrote the action movie, but he also stars as Kid, a young man who seeks to avenge his mother’s death at the hands of India’s corrupt law enforcement officials, political figures and spiritual leaders. He earns money by competing in a brutally violent underground fight club.

A former Scots businessman who masterminded an armed robbery that ended in a police officer being shot dead has been found guilty of her murder.

Film at Lincoln Center and African Film Festival Inc. have revealed the slate for the 31stNew York African Film Festival, a lineup that includes more than 50 films hailing from over 25 countries.

Naman Ramachandran Bollywood A-list actor and musician Ayushmann Khurrana has signed a global recording deal with Warner Music India. Hit songs sung by Khurrana over the past decade include “Mitti Di Khushboo,” “Paani Da Rang” and “Mere Liye Tum Kaafi Ho.” Signing with Warner Music India will enable Khurrana to access the label’s global ecosystem, helping him connect with audiences and artists beyond India’s borders, Khurrana and the label said.

Naman Ramachandran Jio Studios, the content arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is on a roll with several box office hits in a row. Almost exactly a year ago, Jio Studios had launched a slate of 100 new films and TV shows. Those efforts have now come to fruition.

Naman Ramachandran Honors were even atop the U.K. and Ireland box office as Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” and Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” battled for top spot during the Easter holiday weekend. While “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” won the three-day weekend, “Kung Fu Panda 4” had the higher gross including previews.

Police Scotland will not take further action against JK Rowling after the force received complaints over her blistering attack on Scotland's new hate crime laws.

EXCLUSIVE: Melbar Entertainment Group and Purple Pebble Pictures announced that award winning actor and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her production company Purple Pebble Pictures banner have joined the production team of Barry Avrich’s new feature documentary Born Hungry.

Ellise Shafer U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has backed J.K. Rowling after the “Harry Potter” author spoke out against Scotland’s new hate crime act, daring the police to arrest her for misgendering trans women.

BBC Studios Launches First Kids Streamer In Korea

Naman Ramachandran Steffi Niederzoll’s Berlin, CPH: DOX and El Gouna-winning documentary “Seven Winters in Tehran” added another award to its collection with the best international film honor at India’s inaugural Cinevesture International Festival (CIFF). Anmol Sidhu’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards nominee “Jaggi” won best Indian film and Elham Ehsas’ BAFTA and Clermont-Ferrand nominee “Yellow” was named as best short.

J.K. Rowling has dared police to arrest her as she expressed her opposition to new hate crime legislation that has just come into force in Scotland.The new laws came into force today (April 1), making it a crime to “stir up hatred” on the basis of age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.

Monkey Man.The British actor’s new film premiered to a strong reaction at SXSW last month, but he has since spoken about how difficult it was to get the film made.During a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) ahead of the film’s cinema release this week (April 5), the actor said that directing, producing and acting in the film was “the most demanding thing I’ve ever done in my life”, per Variety.He added that “everyday we faced absolute catastrophe” throughout the process.“I begged our financier not to shut us down a few weeks before principal photography,” he said. “We were meant to shoot in India then COVID hit.