Hindi

Desi Boyz is a feel good romcom

Published

14 years ago

November 25, 2011

MUMBAI: Desi Boyz is the directorial debut film of a chip of the old block, Rohit Dhawan, son of David Dhawan, who regaled the audience with many an entertainer .

Producer: Krishika Lulla,Vijay Ahuja, Jyoti Deshpande.
Director: Rohit Dhawan.
Cast: Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Chitrangda Singh, Omi Vaidya, Sanjay Dutt (cameo), Anupam Kher, Mohnish Bahl.

Wisely, Rohit Dhawan chooses a romantic comedy as his launch vehicle and proceeds to add all that such a film would need, including a dash of emotions – just enough to moisten your eyes but not so much as to flood them.

Akshay Kumar and John Abraham share a friendship going back 15 years; while John finishes his graduation in economics, landing a cushy job as an investment banker, and has Deepika Padukone as his fiancée, Akshay has done nothing worthwhile since he arrived in London except for changing his name from Jignesh Patel to Jerry. He is a college dropout, has no fixed job and mostly survives by scrounging off John Abraham. To add to that, he is the guardian of his seven-year-old nephew, who has been orphaned.

All is hunky dory until the recession takes its toll and establishments sack staff left, right and centre. The signboards read: ‘we fire, don‘t hire‘. As Akshay Kumar loses his job as a security guard at a mall, John Abraham too loses his banking job. Their search for work is futile. John is overqualified and unaffordable while Akshay has no qualifications worthy of a job. Akshay Kumar stands to lose custody of his nephew and they are soon to lose their apartment as well. There is just one option available to them, join Sanjay Dutt‘s escort service, Desi Boyz, with the job profile being to gratify bored rich women. Reluctantly, both turn gigolos and money is no problem anymore; the bubble bursts when Deepika finds out what her fiancé is up to and walks out on him. For his part, Akshay loses custody of his nephew.

With this debut, Rohit Dhawan sure shows a lot of promise as a writer as well as director; his handling of the film is mature and shows his flair for feel-good cinema. However, choosing a younger star cast-oriented film would have given him a better start.

Music is on the good side with Subah hone nade…..giving a touch of melody while the title song and other numbers are foot tapping. Photography is good. Choreography is away from the routine and offers no loo breaks. Dialogues are appropriately witty.

Akshay Kumar looks a little fresher than his recent films but is his usual self in the acting department. John Abraham is restrained and good. Deepika Padukone is so-so. Chitrangda Singh, in a brief role, does the needful – look sexy as well as perform ably. Anupam Kher, Mohnish Behl and Omi Vaidya provide good support. Sanjay Dutt fits his character.

With the lead stars of Desi Boyz being out of favour with the audience, Desi Boyz has lost out on the required and expected opening draw; since it has appeal for both, multiplexes as well as single screens, its collections should improve over the weekend but not enough to justify its price tag.

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Hindi

Boney Kapoor acquires remake rights of Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Strong word-of-mouth turns Pongal satire into remake pick

Published

6 days ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A Pongal release, a village satire and a theatre visit in Coimbatore have turned into Boney Kapoor’s latest acquisition. The producer has secured the remake rights to the Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT), a film that has been enjoying a strong theatrical run powered by word-of-mouth and praise for its sharp, rooted writing.

Set in a rural milieu, the story follows a panchayat leader thrown into disarray when a wedding and a funeral land on the same day. What unfolds is a swirl of satire and humour that skewers local politics, power games, bruised egos and family tensions, all anchored in the textures of everyday village life.

Kapoor first encountered the film earlier this year while in Coimbatore for the Celebrity Cricket League. With time to spare, he caught a screening at a local theatre. That viewing proved decisive. According to sources, the narrative style, performances and the film’s balance of political commentary and comedy caught his attention.

Interest quickly turned into intent. Kapoor reached out to the producers soon after to explore a remake. Talks gathered pace over the following weeks and came to a head last Friday at the film’s success party in Chennai, where Kapoor joined the celebrations and continued negotiations with the makers.

By the end of the evening, the deal was sealed, with Kapoor formally acquiring the remake rights.

For an industry constantly mining regional cinema for the next crossover story, the move is telling. A small-town satire with local flavour has found a national backer. And if Kapoor’s instincts hold, a tale born in one village may soon echo far beyond it.

Hindi

Fans take centre stage as Zee Cine awards turns the spotlight around

Published

1 week ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the applause gets louder than the dialogue, you know the fans have taken over. That was the unmistakable mood as Zee formally announced the Zee Cine Awards 2026, flipping the script to celebrate not just cinema’s stars, but the people who cheer them on the loudest.

The 24th edition of the awards marks a fresh chapter in Zee’s long-standing relationship with Hindi cinema, anchored in its fan-first philosophy, Fantertainment. This year’s theme, ‘Yeh Pal Hai Fans Ka’, reinforces a simple idea: cinema’s most powerful moments are shaped as much by audiences as by actors on screen. Presented by Maruti Suzuki, the awards aim to turn fandom into the main event.

The announcement, held in Mumbai, was anything but a routine press conference. Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, composer Mithoon and singer Palak Muchhal joined fans to kick off the celebrations, turning the launch into a high-voltage, participative spectacle.

Staying true to the theme, fans didn’t just watch the announcement, they drove it. Akshay Kumar took the lead, pulling fellow stars on stage and energising the room, before the unveiling of a live LED Fan Meter. Powered purely by audience cheers, the rising meter culminated in the reveal of the Zee Cine Awards 2026 ground event date, announced in unison with fans, blurring the line between performer and spectator.

The momentum continued as Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa and Aparshakti Khurana recreated iconic hook steps, joined by Mithoon and Palak Muchhal for music-led interactions. Games, spontaneous performances and playful banter kept the focus firmly on shared moments, underscoring the evolving bond between cinema and its audience.

Beyond the launch, the awards will roll out as a multi-platform journey across television, digital, print and fan-led experiences. The aim is sustained engagement from the first announcement to awards night cementing fandom as a cultural force rather than a footnote.

Commenting on the milestone edition Zee head of advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty said the 24th Zee Cine Awards continue to draw strength from the network’s omni-channel ecosystem, reflecting how audiences consume content today across TV, digital and social platforms. She noted that long-standing brand associations, including Maruti Suzuki’s three-year partnership and support from brands such as Hell Energy, underline the platform’s scale, trust and cultural relevance.

As Zee Cine Awards 2026 gathers pace, one thing is clear: this year, the loudest cheers won’t just echo in the auditorium, they’ll shape the show itself.

Hindi

Prime Video to stream Don’t Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Prime Video has found its next feel-good original, and it comes with a healthy dose of heart, humour and youthful chaos. The streaming platform has announced Don’t Be Shy, a coming-of-age romantic comedy produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under their banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film follows Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old who believes her life is neatly mapped out until it suddenly is not. What follows is a relatable tumble through friendship, love and the awkward art of growing up, when plans unravel and certainty gives way to self-discovery.

The project is co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani, with music composed by Ram Sampath, adding to the film’s promise of warmth and energy. Prime Video describes the story as light-hearted yet emotionally grounded, with a strong female-led narrative at its core.

Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the platform was delighted to collaborate with Eternal Sunshine on a story that blends sincerity with humour. He noted that the film’s fresh writing, earnest characters and infectious music make it an easy, engaging watch for audiences well beyond its young adult setting.

For Alia Bhatt, Don’t Be Shy reflects the kind of storytelling Eternal Sunshine set out to champion. She said the film stood out for its honesty, its coming-of-age perspective and Mukerji’s passion, which she felt was deeply woven into the narrative. Bhatt also praised Prime Video for supporting distinctive voices and bold creative choices.

With its breezy tone and familiar emotional beats, Don’t Be Shy aims to charm viewers whether they are rom-com regulars or simply in the mood for a warm, unpretentious story about life refusing to stick to the plan.