The digital landscape is set to be graced by the formidable presence of Bhumi Pednekar as she makes her anticipated entry into the world of web series. The accomplished actor is joining forces with Ishaan Khatter in Pritish Nandy Communications’ latest project, ‘Royals’. Pednekar, who has shown immense versatility in her film repertoire, is venturing into the realm of long-format storytelling with enthusiasm. Close sources reveal that ‘Royals’ presents a unique and engaging narrative, ticking all the boxes for commercial success as anticipated by the actor. “This subject fulfills all the criteria she was looking for to foray into the web series space. Moreover, her novel pairing with Ishaan will also add a different freshness to the project,” an industry insider reports. With pre-production already underway, the series is primed for filming to begin later this summer.
Drawing from ancient texts, the makers of the upcoming Ramayana trilogy are pulling no punches in their efforts to redefine the epic for modern times. The word in cinematic circles is that director Nitesh Tiwari is eager to bring Vijay Sethupathi on board to portray Vibhishan, with Yash confirmed as the formidable Raavan. While the official confirmation awaits, it’s indicated that Vijay’s participation will be sealed once all aspects of the deal, including financials, are settled. The project, which is set to initiate production this March, features an impressive lineup with Ranbir Kapoor donning Lord Ram’s persona and Sai Pallavi assuming the role of Sita. In a turn of events, Bobby Deol has passed on the role of Raavan’s sibling Kumbhkarna, hinting that his brother Sunny Deol may instead take up the mantle of Hanuman.
In international festival news, the dynamic duo of Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal has hit a jackpot at the Sundance Film Festival 2024. Their debut production ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ not only stood out among the crowd but also clinched two coveted awards. Hailing from the creative vision of first-time director Shuchi Talati, the film garnered the Special Jury Award for lead actor Preeti Panigrahi and triumphed with the Audience Award in the World Dramatic Entry category. Richa Chadha expressed her excitement and gratification: “We embarked on this journey with courage, and the overwhelming response at Sundance has been stuff of dreams! This experience reinforces our belief in the power of storytelling and the need to champion diverse narratives that resonate globally.” Ali Fazal’s elation matched that of his partner, underlining the global recognition as motivation for continuing their pursuit of boundary-pushing, impactful narratives.
The superstar magnate of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth, has voiced disappointment over the misreading of a speech he delivered at the audio launch of ‘Jailer’, which some misinterpreted as a slight against colleague Thalapathy Vijay. At his daughter Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth’s recent ‘Laal Salaam’ audio launch, Rajinikanth clarified his position, stressing respect and admiration for Vijay’s journey and success. “Vijay grew up in front of my eyes. During the shoot of Dharmathin Thalaivan, SA Chandrasekar introduced him to me, saying he was interested in acting. He asked me to tell Vijay, who was just 13 then, to concentrate on his studies first.” Rajinikanth’s speech highlighted Vijay’s admirable dedication and heralded mutual respect rather than rivalry. He concluded by advocating for the celebration of each actor’s individual journey and success, rather than pitting one against the other.
Celebrations were in order for Bobby Deol, who received an outpouring of love and well-wishes from family and friends upon turning 55. His metamorphosis into ‘Udhiran’ for the Tamil fantasy action film ‘Kanguva’ was revealed by lead actor Suriya, who took to social media to praise Deol’s transformation and to herald his entry into Tamil cinema. The versatile actor’s role as a formidable adversary in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Animal’ has sparked interest across the film industry, marking a new chapter in his already distinguished career.
Boman Irani recently enjoyed a week rich with accolades, including his keynote speaker roles at Oxford University and the London School of Economics. The actor also reveled in the honor bestowed upon him by the British Parliament for his significant contributions to Indian cinema. A visibly moved Irani shared his thoughts: “It’s truly humbling to represent India on such esteemed global platforms and receive this recognition.” The consummate artist is now poised to don the director’s cap for a project he has scripted himself, adding yet another feather to his multicolored cap.
Bhumi Pednekar’s ‘Royals’, ready for a summer rollout, heralds a fresh intersection of talent and digital storytelling prowess. As audiences eagerly await the unveiling of these diverse ventures, it’s clear that Indian cinema and its artists are not just crossing regional borders, but truly making a global impact.
