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Tag: Reliance Entertainment

  • Jio Studios wraps ‘Paan Parda Zarda’, promises to spice up streaming wars

    Jio Studios wraps ‘Paan Parda Zarda’, promises to spice up streaming wars

    MUMBAI: If you thought digital dramas were starting to taste bland, Jio Studios is here to shove a mouthful of Paan Parda Zarda down your streaming queue. Imagine mixing action, drama, and intrigue, sprinkling it with gritty central Indian flavours, and serving it hot with an ensemble cast that’s spicier than your grandma’s masala chai. Hungry yet?

    Jio Studios, alongside Reliance Entertainment and Dreamers and Doers Co., has officially wrapped filming its ambitious new web series, Paan Parda Zarda. And, boy, does this sound like a blockbuster recipe.

    Starring an array of talent including Mona Singh, Tanvi Azmi, Tanya Maniktala, Priyanshu Painyuli, Sushant Singh, Rajesh Tailang, and Manu Rishi, this series isn’t just packed—it’s stuffed to the gills with acting chops. Set against the vivid and raw backdrop of central India, the series promises to be a high-voltage narrative filled with compelling characters and edge-of-the-seat drama.

    Directing the chaos (and hopefully keeping actors in line) are industry veterans Gurmmeet Singh, famed for gritty dramas like Mirzapur and Inside Edge, and Shilpi Dasgupta. Supporting this powerful duo are filmmakers Mrighdeep Singh Lamba (Fukrey franchise) and Suparn S Varma (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hain, Family Man, Rana Naidu). The writing team is equally stacked with talent, featuring the Dalal brothers, Hussain and Abbas (Bambai Meri Jaan, Farzi, Brahmastra), alongside Radhika Anand and Vibha Singh.

    “With its grand scale, gripping screenplay, and a stellar team at its helm, Paan Parda Zarda is poised to be a game-changer in the digital entertainment space,” says Jio Studios. No biggie, just casually promising a digital spectacle.

    Produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Namit Sharma, Paan Parda Zarda is readying itself to invade screens globally. And let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a good cinematic takeover?

    This one promises to leave viewers more hooked than the cliffhanger at the end of your last binge-session.

  • Jio Studios & Reliance Entertainment brings epic web series ‘Paan Parda Zarda’

    Jio Studios & Reliance Entertainment brings epic web series ‘Paan Parda Zarda’

    Mumbai: Jio Studios unites exceptional creative minds with the launch of their high-octane gangster drama Paan Parda Zarda which went on the floor on 27 September. Conceptualised and produced in association with Reliance Entertainment and Dreamer and Doers Co, the web series will see a powerhouse of creative forces coming together including ace directors Gurmmeet Singh (Mirzapur and Inside Edge) & Shilpi Dasgupta along with Mrighdeep Singh Lamba (Fukrey franchise), Suparn S Varma (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hain, Family Man and Rana Naidu) and talented writer duo Hussain Dalal & Abbas Dalal (Bambai Meri Jaan, Farzi, Brahmastra), Radhika Anand & Vibha Singh.

    The ensemble for Paan Panda Zarda boasts an impressive lineup of talent featuring Mona Singh, Tanvi Azmi, Tanya Maniktala, Priyanshu Painyuli, Sushant Singh, Rajesh Tailang and Manu Rishi. The grand-scale series will unfold against the backdrop of illustrious locations in Central India.

    Showrunner and co-director of the series Gurmmeet Singh said “We are excited about starting a brand-new journey with Paan Parda Zarda in collaboration with Jio Studios. The series has a unique colour and texture, it is page-turning entertainment with elements of love story, action, and family drama set against the backdrop of illegal opium smuggling in Central India. Developed from an original story created by Showrunner and Co-Director Shilpi Dasgupta, the interwoven relationships are the key to this series, nuanced by a fantastic writing room. We cannot wait to start filming with our phenomenally talented cast and crew”

    Showrunner Mrighdeep Singh Lamba said, “Paan Parda Zarda is a labour of love that has been created after years of research and writing prep. The audience will relish watching the story unfold in a previously unexplored milieu. This is a beautiful moment for Gurmmeet Singh, Shilpi Dasgupta and myself as it has been a long-standing dream to take this story to the audience”

    Writer, Suparn S Varma said, “Creating the romantic and violent world of Paan Parda Zarda was liberating. Our imagination gave wings to characters and situations which break the usual cinematic norm. The series also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with old friends and new which was an added advantage,  making the process deeply satisfying.”

    Paan Parda Zarda is a thrilling gangster drama series set against the backdrop of illegal opium smuggling in Central India. A compelling story where battle lines are drawn between family and loved ones and allegiances are switched, the series promises to be a powerful entertainer.

  • Mouni Roy’s glamorous look revealed from Disney+ Hotstar’s, Sultan Of Delhi

    Mouni Roy’s glamorous look revealed from Disney+ Hotstar’s, Sultan Of Delhi

    Mumbai: The road to power, a heart-warming friendship and the charm of the 60s, Disney+ Hostar’s upcoming power-packed series, Sultan Of Delhi has it all. Based on the book, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension by Arnab Ray, the series is produced by Reliance Entertainment and directed by visionary director, Milan Luthria and co-directed and Co-written by Suparn Verma. Reimagining the charm of old India and creating a visual spectacle on-screen, Milan Luthria marks his OTT directorial debut with this series. A larger-than-life mass entertainer, Sultan Of Delhi is all set to release on 13 October 2023. The series stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anjum Sharma, veteran actor Vinay Pathak and Nishant Dahiya in pivotal roles, alongside the ladies Anupriya Goenka, Mouni Roy, Harleen Sethi and Mehreen Pirzada, making for a perfect ensemble cast.

    Widely appreciated and loved for her acting prowess and glam, Mouni Roy has time and again captivated our hearts with everything she does. The gorgeous actor makes her web series debut with director Milan Luthria’s Sultan of Delhi and we can’t get enough of her! She will be seen embracing the retro vibe with classic, elegant dresses, hair-do’s and much more! This little sneak peak into Mouni’s voguish style for the series is sure to leave you stunned.

    Talking about her look and character, Mouni Roy said, “Which girl doesn’t enjoy dressing up and looking strikingly different. Sultan Of Delhi gave me the opportunity to explore my own style and  color schemes across each episode, as Nayantara. It was a tedious process to find the perfect look for the character and I went through over 200 outfits and experimented a lot with my hair as well. After trying over 10 test looks, we finally got what we wanted. Nayantara brings a lot of glamor and glitter to the storyline in her own way. This is the first time I am donning a look from the 60s era and am very excited for the audiences to see this side of me”

    Sultan of Delhi will stream from 13 October, only on Disney+ Hotstar!

     

  • Milan Luthria revives 60s charm in Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Sultan Of Delhi’ series

    Milan Luthria revives 60s charm in Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Sultan Of Delhi’ series

    Mumbai: The road to power, a heart-warming friendship, and the charm of the 60s, Disney+ Hostar’s upcoming power-packed series, Sultan Of Delhi has it all. Based on the book, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension by Arnab Ray, the series is produced by Reliance Entertainment and directed by Milan Luthria and co-directed and co-written by Suparn Verma. Reimagining the charm of old India and creating a visual spectacle on-screen, Milan Luthria marks his OTT directorial debut with this larger-than-life mass entertainer, ‘Sultan Of Delhi” which is all set to release on 13 October 2023. The series stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anjum Sharma, and veteran actor Vinay Pathak alongside Nishant Dahiya and the ladies Anupriya Goenka, Mouni Roy, Harleen Sethi and Mehreen Pirzada, making for a perfect ensemble cast.

    Disney+ Hotstar & HSM entertainment network, Disney Star head – content Gaurav Banerjee said, “We are very excited to associate with ace director Milan Luthria as we aim to bring this larger-than-life cinematic experience to our platform with a series like Sultan of Delhi. The brilliance of Milan Luthria, his magic in bringing the 60’s era live on screens has been incredible and we are hoping to bring this up, up close and personal for Disney+Hotstar audiences through this show.”

    Director Milan Luthria said, “Sultan of Delhi is my first web series. Set in the sexy 60’s, it has a timeless, pacy approach filled with elements of glamor, action, music, punchy one liners and entertainment. This multi-starrer traces the journey of Arjun Bhatia, (Tahir Raj Bhasin) and explores a tale of greed, betrayal, courage and the ultimate fight for power. I always strive to give audiences an entertaining experience through my stories and Sultan of Delhi is one such beautiful journey and I’m so delighted to partner with Disney+ Hotstar to bring this to life”

    Producer of the series Namit Sharma expressed, “We’re thrilled to bring to life this book to screen adaptation of Sultan of Delhi. Working with a maestro like  Milan Luthria has been an honor and pleasure. He has crafted a unique series which is colorful, exhilarating and full of larger-than-life characters. His ability to transport viewers to the exciting 60s is simply astounding, and we can’t wait for them to witness the visual extravaganza that is ‘Sultan of Delhi’ on the prestigious Disney+ Hotstar platform.”

    Sultan of Delhi will stream from October 13th, only on Disney+ Hotstar!

  • Producers Guild of India elects Shibasish Sarkar as president

    Producers Guild of India elects Shibasish Sarkar as president

    Mumbai: Shibasish Sarkar was unanimously elected as president of the Producers Guild of India at the first meeting of its newly constituted Guild Council of Management, which was held immediately after the 68th annual general meeting on 21 September.

    Shibasish is currently the chairman and CEO of International Media Acquisition. His most recent position was as group CEO of Reliance Entertainment, which is part of the Reliance ADA group.

    President-elect Shibasish Sarkar said, “In his six years as guild president, Siddharth has been a tireless, passionate, and committed champion for our industry at a time of unprecedented challenges. I look forward to building on what he has accomplished and working alongside my colleagues to help address the challenges and build on the opportunities we have before us as an industry.”

    Shibasish Sarkar is a media and entertainment industry professional with over 29 years of corporate experience in multiple verticals such as films, television, animation, gaming content, and digital & new media platform operations.

    Welcoming the president-elect, the incumbent president Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve the production fraternity and I am delighted to pass the baton on to the able hands of Shibasish. I am sure he will do a stellar job and add further lustre to the Guild’s reputation for spearheading the industry’s interests.”

    Shibasish was a member of the senior leadership team and served as a director and member of the board of several group companies.

    He has held senior positions at Viacom 18, UTV Disney, and Godrej Sara Lee prior to joining Reliance, with a focus on establishing a new business, scaling up operations, and driving sustainable growth through key alliances, managing stakeholders, talent partners, and cross-functional teams.

    His academic credentials include being a certified chartered accountant, a cost accountant, a company secretary, and an MBA with a marketing specialisation.

  • Reliance Entertainment, Rohit Shetty announce a biopic on Mumbai cop Rakesh Maria

    Reliance Entertainment, Rohit Shetty announce a biopic on Mumbai cop Rakesh Maria

    Mumbai: Reliance Entertainment and Rohit Shetty collaborate to produce a biopic on one of Mumbai’s most revered top cops and former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Rakesh Maria. The biopic will be based on the experiences of his accomplished career and will be mentored by the ace filmmaker, Rohit Shetty himself.

    Talking about the announcement, Rohit Shetty producer & director said, “Rakesh Maria: The man who stared terror in the face for 36 years!! His incredible journey spans all the way from the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, the underworld menace, to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Feel truly honoured to be bringing this real-life super cop’s brave & fearless journey to the screen!!”

    Rakesh Maria, an IPS officer, cleared his civil service examination from the 1981 batch. As Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) in 1993, he cracked the Bombay serial blasts case, and later moved to DCP (Crime) and then joint commissioner of police (Crime) of the Mumbai Police.

    Maria solved the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case. He was also given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 and interrogated Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, and successfully investigated the case.

    Rakesh Maria commented, “It is exciting to relive the journey, especially when piloted by a brilliant director like Rohit Shetty. More than the nostalgia, it’s also a valuable opportunity to place before the people the extraordinary work of the Mumbai Police when facing tough challenges and working against all odds.”

  • Siddharth Roy Kapur re-elected as president of Producers Guild of India

    Siddharth Roy Kapur re-elected as president of Producers Guild of India

    Mumbai: Roy Kapur Films founder and MD Siddharth Roy Kapur has been re-elected as president of Producers Guild of India at the 67th annual general meeting (AGM) of the association held virtually on 29 September. Reliance Entertainment’s Shibasish Sarkar was named as vice president of the industry body.

    Another key development was the expansion in ranks of women producers in leadership roles. Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures LLP’s Madhu Bhojwani and Netflix India’s Ambika Khurana joined incumbents Apoorva Mehta, Manish Goswami and Sunjoy Waddhwa as vice presidents of the guild while Sol Productions’ Fazila Allana joined incumbent Ashim Samanta as treasurer.

    Kapur, who has been serving for six consecutive years as the president of the guild, announced that he would not be making himself available for re-election next year. With Kapur at the helm, the guild has spearheaded multiple industry initiatives to increase the market size and reach of Indian content and include advocacy of producers interests on matters like legislation, taxation and ease of doing business.

    The ongoing pandemic has thrown unprecedented challenges at the production industry. At the AGM, members were apprised of the key activities and developments during the year, including formulating rigorous SOPs for safe shooting, advocating for shooting resumption, organising vaccination camps for members and facilitating financial assistance to daily wage workers through donations by guild members.

  • T-Series, Reliance Entertainment ink a 10-film deal at Rs 1K cr investment

    T-Series, Reliance Entertainment ink a 10-film deal at Rs 1K cr investment

    Mumbai: Film production houses T-Series and Reliance Entertainment have joined forces to produce more than 10 films together across varied genres with an investment of approximately Rs 1000 crore.

    The production houses together will produce big-budget tentpole projects as well as mid-small budget content-rich films ranging through different genres, production scales, talent and music, according to a statement from the studios.

    The slate includes Hindi remakes of Tamil blockbuster drama and action thrillers, a mega historic biopic, espionage thriller, courtroom drama, satire comedy, romance drama, and a film based on shocking true events, amongst others, it added.

    The upcoming films will be produced over the course of the next 24 to 36 months, with filmmakers Pushkar and Gayatri, Vikramjit Singh, Mangesh Hadawale, Srijit Mukherji and Sankalp Reddy on board to helm the projects.

    T-Series and Reliance Entertainment have previously worked together on the music marketing front for more than 100 films.

    “After working on music marketing together, this collaboration has happened on the right time and this will just strengthen our ties,” said T-Series chairman and MD Bhushan Kumar. “Shibasish and I hope to give our Hindi film audiences new and unconventional films.”

    “This partnership with Bhushan will surely mark the beginning of a great feat in Indian film industry as we move on to offer a bouquet of path-breaking and momentous films to our audience,” stated Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibasish Sarkar.

    As per the release, there are confirmed alignments with some of India’s biggest stars and four to five films will have a comfortable big-screen release worldwide, starting next year-2022.

  • Jio Studios onboards Saurabh Varma as chief marketing officer

    Jio Studios onboards Saurabh Varma as chief marketing officer

    Mumbai: Jio Studios on Monday announced the appointment of Saurabh Varma as its chief marketing officer.

    Noted business analyst and film critic Taran Adarsh shared this news on his Twitter handle, stating, “Saurabh will be handling Content Marketing Strategy for Films, OTT and Regional content.”

    Prior to joining Jio Studios, Varma has worked as a chief marketing officer at Inox Leisure, where he was a part of more than 700 films and launched more than 500 cinema screens. Varma worked at Inox from 2005 to 2007 as vice president, film distribution and programming and later joined Inox again in 2018 to work as the CMO.

    Varma also served as the CMO at Reliance Entertainment, from 2007 to 2009, where he was responsible for film marketing, film distribution, content acquisition, and more related segments. He has also worked at PVR Cinemas as vice president, marketing and corporate communications, and was a film director and film marketing consultant at Saurabh Varma Pictures where he has provided marketing expertise to top studios of India.

  • Reliance Big Synergy’s Rajiv Bakshi awarded ‘CEO Of The Year’ by World Brand Congress

    Reliance Big Synergy’s Rajiv Bakshi awarded ‘CEO Of The Year’ by World Brand Congress

    MUMBAI: Reliance Entertainment’s Reliance Big Synergy CEO Rajiv Bakshi has been conferred the ‘CEO Of the Year’ 2020 award by the jury of World Brand Congress, World Marketing Congress and CMO Global.

    The award was given in recognition of Bakshi’s differentiated strategy to establish Reliance Big Synergy as a leading content development and production powerhouse in India. As the CEO of Reliance Big Synergy, he leads a team of creative visionaries committed to create high-impact web series, direct to OTT movies, TV fiction and unscripted/factual content across OTT and broadcast platforms in Hindi and regional languages.

    The jury included, IIM Ahmedabad ex. dean Prof Indira Parikh, Onward Technologies chairman & Nasscom founding member Dr Harish Mehta, Edvance Schools executive chairman and The Economic Times former CEO Dr Arun Arora, and World CSR Day founder Dr R L Bhatia.

    Reliance Entertainment group CEO Shibasish Sarkar said, “Rajiv, time and again, has proved himself to be a brilliant leader. His knowledge, wisdom and vision have been the driving forces behind his exemplary career. It’s a proud moment for all of us at Reliance Entertainment.”

    “I am grateful to my team, our esteemed partners, talent and crew and the viewers of our shows who have contributed to this recognition. I humbly accept this honour on behalf of my entire team. I am passionate about transformative disruptions that change consumer and societal behaviours and create long-term competitive advantage. This award is a vindication of the success of our business and content strategy to cater to the rapid transformation and diversity of the Indian media sector,” said Bakshi.

     An alumnus of Harvard Business School, Bakshi has 20 years of multi-functional experience of working with global and Indian consumer product and services companies. He has a deep understanding of broadcast media, OTT streaming platforms, smartphones, consumer durables and electronics industries.

    Earlier in his career, Bakshi turned around Discovery Networks’ India and South Asia business as the head of products and marketing, and is credited for building its 11-channel portfolio, as well as ten year leadership of Discovery Channel; pioneering lifestyle category with TLC; launching kids' business – Discovery Kids and introducing HD experience to viewers in India.

    Prior to Reliance Entertainment, Bakshi was the CMO of a homegrown Indian disruptor in smartphones and consumer durables where he envisioned the brand transformation and go-to-market strategy across product verticals – mobile phones, LED TV’s, ACs, washing machines and accessories.