<p>As Pakistani actress Beo Raana Zafar gears for the release of her murder-mystery show 'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam', she spoke to WION about the&nbsp;intense love and friendship between India and Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A popular and famous name in Pakistani entertainment industry, Beo Raana Zafar will be seen with Sanam Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Samiya Mumtaz, Faiza Gillani, Eman Suleman, Saleem Mairaj, Ahsan Khan, Osman Khalid Butt, and Sheheryar Munawar on the show.&nbsp;The&nbsp;six-part anthology from Zindagi is directed by highly renowned British-Indian director Meenu Gaur. All the stories will depict what are the consequences when a woman’s boundaries are tested. While we've seen women as archetypes of patience, forgiving the betrayal they've endured, this show exposes their brazen and furious side.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Qatil Haseenayen killing behind the scenes as well 😉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QatilHaseenaonKeNaamOnZee5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QatilHaseenaonKeNaamOnZee5</a>, premieres on 10th December<a href="https://twitter.com/sarwatgilani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sarwatgilani</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/meharbano10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@meharbano10</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sanammodysaeed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sanammodysaeed</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FyzaFaiza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FyzaFaiza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BeoZafar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeoZafar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aClockworkObi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aClockworkObi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ItsSheheryar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ItsSheheryar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/samyarif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samyarif</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/farjadnabi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@farjadnabi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZEE5Global?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zee5global</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Zindagi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Zindagi</a> <a href="https://t.co/UfCX9ni3ip">pic.twitter.com/UfCX9ni3ip</a></p>
— ZEE5 (@ZEE5India) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZEE5India/status/1468810996974243840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Talking about the Zindagi show releasing on ZEE5, Beo Raana Zafar told WION, "'So close, so familiar, this land is so different yet the same as long lost siblings with another name'.&nbsp;These are the first lines of my poem and I feel that we are long lost siblings with different names and it's interesting when you collaborate you see very sharp differences and you see very sharply the things that are the same. I think nothing teaches two countries more about each other than the moving pictures of characters interacting at the backdrop of their own countries and you learn that they are not very different."</p>

<p>She went on to add, "It's a feeling of wonder because it's the same and yet different. This is one of the fascinations of when I talk to the PR team across the border. Very soon we are giggling and laughing and getting to know each other. The music, food, and language very often is the same and yet it is different. I think the collaboration is going to give us a lot of sugar and spice and all that's nice and lend a lot of mirch masala as well.”</p>

<p>Watch WION's Exclusive interview with the cast of Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam:</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-exclusive-in-conversation-with-cast-of-qatil-haseenaon-ke-naam-435562/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam'&nbsp;will stream on Zee5&nbsp;from December 10.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-this-is-the-top-most-trending-film-of-2021-according-to-google-not-a-salman-or-akshay-starrer-435416">Suriya's 'Jai Bhim' is top most trending movie of 2021 according to Google</a></p>

<h5><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-katrina-kaif-and-vicky-kaushal-are-finally-married-check-pics-inside-435542" hreflang="en">Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are finally married! Check pics inside</a></h5>


As Pakistani actress Beo Raana Zafar gears for the release of her murder-mystery show 'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam', she spoke to WION about the intense love and friendship between India and Pakistan.

As Pakistani actress Beo Raana Zafar gears for the release of her murder-mystery show 'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam', she spoke to WION about the intense love and friendship between India and Pakistan. A popular and famous name in Pakistani entertainment industry, Beo Raana Zafar will be seen with Sanam Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Samiya Mumtaz, Faiza Gillani, Eman Suleman, Saleem Mairaj, Ahsan Khan, Osman Khalid Butt, and Sheheryar Munawar on the show. The six-part anthology from Zindagi is directed by highly renowned British-Indian director Meenu Gaur. All the stories will depict what are the consequences when a woman’s boundaries are tested. While we've seen women as archetypes of patience, forgiving the betrayal they've endured, this show exposes their brazen and furious side. Qatil Haseenayen killing behind the scenes as well 😉#QatilHaseenaonKeNaamOnZee5, premieres on 10th December@sarwatgilani @meharbano10 @sanammodysaeed @FyzaFaiza @BeoZafar @aClockworkObi @ItsSheheryar @samyarif @farjadnabi @zee5global @Zindagi pic.twitter.com/UfCX9ni3ip — ZEE5 (@ZEE5India) December 9, 2021 × Talking about the Zindagi show releasing on ZEE5, Beo Raana Zafar told WION, "'So close, so familiar, this land is so different yet the same as long lost siblings with another name'. These are the first lines of my poem and I feel that we are long lost siblings with different names and it's interesting when you collaborate you see very sharp differences and you see very sharply the things that are the same. I think nothing teaches two countries more about each other than the moving pictures of characters interacting at the backdrop of their own countries and you learn that they are not very different." She went on to add, "It's a feeling of wonder because it's the same and yet different. This is one of the fascinations of when I talk to the PR team across the border. Very soon we are giggling and laughing and getting to know each other. The music, food, and language very often is the same and yet it is different. I think the collaboration is going to give us a lot of sugar and spice and all that's nice and lend a lot of mirch masala as well.” Watch WION's Exclusive interview with the cast of Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam: 'Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam' will stream on Zee5 from December 10. Also read: Suriya's 'Jai Bhim' is top most trending movie of 2021 according to Google Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are finally married! Check pics inside

Pakistani actor Beo Raana Zafar to WION: India and Pakistan are long lost siblings

<p>In 2012, filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh and writer Advaita Kala created the iconic character Bob Biswas in the unforgettable film 'Kahaani'. Played by the versatile Saswata Chatterjee, the film was not centred around him but on Vidya Balan but despite limited screen presence, Chatterjee made his character- a deadly assassin one of the most iconic characters of Hindi cinema.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In 2021, as Ghosh's daughter Diya Annapurna Ghosh makes her debut as a film director with a spin-off story on the iconic character in ZEE5's 'Bob Biswas', she makes him mellow, humanizing the killer complete with a wife and two kids.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Featuring Abhishek Bachchan as Bob Biswas, who once killed mercilessly, the new film delves more into Bob's personal life and how he wants to change himself for his family. The film opens with Bob getting discharged from the hospital after being in a comatose state for 8 years. His wife Mary (Chitrangada Singh) and young song Benny (Ronith Arora) take him home which he has no recollection of. Bob also has a daughter Mini (Samara Tijori) who is preparing for a medical entrance. A deadly assassin at one point in time, Bob, we are told, met with an accident and now has lost his memory. Even as he and his family want to start afresh, Bob is unwittingly embroiled in a nexus of drug mafia, corrupt policemen, and shady henchmen. While his memory is sketchy, he still has the skills to kill his target in point-blank range and walk out nonchalantly.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
After a spate of killings which includes the murder of a drug dealer (Purab Kohli), investigative office Indira Verma (Tina Desai) takes on the case- trying to put together the missing pieces.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Bachchan's Bob Biswas is rather subtle and very confused. He isn't as cold-blooded or eerie as Chatterjee's Bob Biswas. Neither is he an intriguing character anymore. A lot of time is spent on Bob the family man- which may or may not is needed to define a character who became iconic for his unusual demeanour and a rather surprising career choice. The 2021 version of Bob Biswas is surprisingly dull, and mellowed and the story is less exhilarating than the 2012 film.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJYlfSNH3as" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br />
Comparisons are inevitable considering both 'Kahaani' and Bob Biswas is remembered to date. For a debutante, Diya Annapurna Ghosh delivers a decent film that is slick and well made. But she also takes on a big gamble by narrating the story of a popular character.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Perhaps the success of Bob Biswas in 'Kahaani' was due to the fact it was a mysterious character who would emerge out of nowhere, kill with an evil smile plastered on his face and nonchalantly disappear.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
While making a standalone film, humanising him makes him normal, and naturally rather unexciting.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Abhishek Bachchan plays the role well. As Bob Biswas he is convincing but it's a huge burden to be playing a character that Chatterjee already has made so popular. If one can look past Chatterjee's performance (which is difficult, naturally) Bachchan delivers a solid performance of a man confused, conflicted and rather menacing. It's unlike any other character he has played on screen and Bachchan delivers. So does Chitrangada Singh who plays his wife, completely in awe with the mysterious man.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Other actors who stand out are the veteran Paran Bandopadhyay who plays Kali Da- Bob's supplier of guns and overall secret keeper and debutant Samara Tijori as the conflicted, hassled Mini.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
'Bob Biswas' as a stand-alone film is good- provided one doesn't compare it to the hugely successful 'Kahaani'. It tries hard to create an impression with a fresh story but the burden of the hugely successful hit is hard to shrug off and that's where it crumbles.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
'Bob Biswas' is streaming on ZEE5.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In 2012, filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh and writer Advaita Kala created the iconic character Bob Biswas in the unforgettable film 'Kahaani'. Played by the versatile Saswata Chatterjee, the film was not centred around him but on Vidya Balan but despite limited screen presence, Chatterjee made his character- a deadly assassin one of the most iconic characters of Hindi cinema.

In 2012, filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh and writer Advaita Kala created the iconic character Bob Biswas in the unforgettable film 'Kahaani'. Played by the versatile Saswata Chatterjee, the film was not centred around him but on Vidya Balan but despite limited screen presence, Chatterjee made his character- a deadly assassin one of the most iconic characters of Hindi cinema. In 2021, as Ghosh's daughter Diya Annapurna Ghosh makes her debut as a film director with a spin-off story on the iconic character in ZEE5's 'Bob Biswas', she makes him mellow, humanizing the killer complete with a wife and two kids. Featuring Abhishek Bachchan as Bob Biswas, who once killed mercilessly, the new film delves more into Bob's personal life and how he wants to change himself for his family. The film opens with Bob getting discharged from the hospital after being in a comatose state for 8 years. His wife Mary (Chitrangada Singh) and young song Benny (Ronith Arora) take him home which he has no recollection of. Bob also has a daughter Mini (Samara Tijori) who is preparing for a medical entrance. A deadly assassin at one point in time, Bob, we are told, met with an accident and now has lost his memory. Even as he and his family want to start afresh, Bob is unwittingly embroiled in a nexus of drug mafia, corrupt policemen, and shady henchmen. While his memory is sketchy, he still has the skills to kill his target in point-blank range and walk out nonchalantly. After a spate of killings which includes the murder of a drug dealer (Purab Kohli), investigative office Indira Verma (Tina Desai) takes on the case- trying to put together the missing pieces. Bachchan's Bob Biswas is rather subtle and very confused. He isn't as cold-blooded or eerie as Chatterjee's Bob Biswas. Neither is he an intriguing character anymore. A lot of time is spent on Bob the family man- which may or may not is needed to define a character who became iconic for his unusual demeanour and a rather surprising career choice. The 2021 version of Bob Biswas is surprisingly dull, and mellowed and the story is less exhilarating than the 2012 film. Comparisons are inevitable considering both 'Kahaani' and Bob Biswas is remembered to date. For a debutante, Diya Annapurna Ghosh delivers a decent film that is slick and well made. But she also takes on a big gamble by narrating the story of a popular character. Perhaps the success of Bob Biswas in 'Kahaani' was due to the fact it was a mysterious character who would emerge out of nowhere, kill with an evil smile plastered on his face and nonchalantly disappear. While making a standalone film, humanising him makes him normal, and naturally rather unexciting. Abhishek Bachchan plays the role well. As Bob Biswas he is convincing but it's a huge burden to be playing a character that Chatterjee already has made so popular. If one can look past Chatterjee's performance (which is difficult, naturally) Bachchan delivers a solid performance of a man confused, conflicted and rather menacing. It's unlike any other character he has played on screen and Bachchan delivers. So does Chitrangada Singh who plays his wife, completely in awe with the mysterious man. Other actors who stand out are the veteran Paran Bandopadhyay who plays Kali Da- Bob's supplier of guns and overall secret keeper and debutant Samara Tijori as the conflicted, hassled Mini. 'Bob Biswas' as a stand-alone film is good- provided one doesn't compare it to the hugely successful 'Kahaani'. It tries hard to create an impression with a fresh story but the burden of the hugely successful hit is hard to shrug off and that's where it crumbles. 'Bob Biswas' is streaming on ZEE5.

'Bob Biswas' review: Abhishek Bachchan turns the deadly assassin into a family man

<p>ZEE5 and Zindagi launched the trailer of their upcoming suspenseful desi noir series ‘Qatil Haseenaon ke Naam’. The series is all set to premiere on 10th December globally on ZEE5. Directed by critically acclaimed British-Indian director Meenu Gaur, ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ is a six-part anthology series featuring seven women. The stories showcase what happens when a woman’s limit is pushed. While we have seen women as archetypes of patience often forgiving the treachery they have suffered, this show unearths their unapologetic and unforgiving side.</p>

<p>Written by Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur, the show is set in a neighborhood rife with secrets and gives a glimpse into what happens when women decide to take charge of their own destiny and not kneel before situations and society.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The series boasts of an eclectic ensemble cast including Sanam Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Samiya Mumtaz, Faiza Gillani, Beo Raana Zafar, Eman Suleman, Saleem Mairaj, Ahsan Khan, Osman Khalid Butt and Sheheryar Munawar.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-preity-zinta-and-husband-gene-goodenough-are-now-parents-to-twins-430174" hreflang="en">Preity Zinta and husband Gene Goodenough are now parents to twins</a></p>

<p>Speaking about the show, Shailja Kejriwal, Chief Creative Officer, Special Projects, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd said, “Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is an ode to women who dare to reclaim their powers despite all odds. The series explores reasons that can lead women to a point where they can go to any extent to avenge oppression. This is one of our most unconventional offerings, poetic and deadly at the same time. We are excited to share a glimpse of it with our audience!”.</p>

<p>Watch the trailer here:</p>

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<p>Commenting on the series, Creator and Director, Meenu Gaur said, “I am excited that I got the chance to create a show which delivers on suspense, mystery, and entertainment while leaving the indelible stamp of a woman’s point of view all over it. Giving film noir a South-Asian/desi and feminist twist was definitely on my filmmaking bucket list. With this show the femme fatales shake off several decades of the male gaze and play on their own terms”.</p>

<h5><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-aamir-khans-laal-singh-chaddha-to-get-postponed-yet-again-430179" hreflang="en">Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' to get postponed yet again?</a></h5>

<p>Sarwat Gilani who plays Mehak said, “This series showcases the essence of life through different people and characters. The series is empowering, and it highlights the issues women face in a very honest way instead of sugar coating them. Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is an important show for everyone as it portrays the consequences of trying to exploit and undermine women”.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-sidharth-malhotra-disha-patani-to-star-in-karan-johars-action-franchise-yodha-430266" hreflang="en">Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani to star in Karan Johar's action film 'Yodha'</a><br />
&nbsp;<br />
Sanam Saeed who plays Zuvi added, “I am extremely happy to collaborate with Zindagi in this very different and mazaydaar role compared to what I have done in the past. Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is a show full of courage, sassiness and power. It was a delight to work on this show which tells the stories of strong and fearless women who go to any extent to get what they desire”.</p>

<p>‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ will stream on Zee5 from 10&nbsp;December.</p>


ZEE5 and Zindagi launched the trailer of their upcoming suspenseful desi noir series ‘Qatil Haseenaon ke Naam’. The series is all set to premiere on 10th December globally on ZEE5.

ZEE5 and Zindagi launched the trailer of their upcoming suspenseful desi noir series ‘Qatil Haseenaon ke Naam’. The series is all set to premiere on 10th December globally on ZEE5. Directed by critically acclaimed British-Indian director Meenu Gaur, ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ is a six-part anthology series featuring seven women. The stories showcase what happens when a woman’s limit is pushed. While we have seen women as archetypes of patience often forgiving the treachery they have suffered, this show unearths their unapologetic and unforgiving side. Written by Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur, the show is set in a neighborhood rife with secrets and gives a glimpse into what happens when women decide to take charge of their own destiny and not kneel before situations and society. The series boasts of an eclectic ensemble cast including Sanam Saeed, Sarwat Gilani, Samiya Mumtaz, Faiza Gillani, Beo Raana Zafar, Eman Suleman, Saleem Mairaj, Ahsan Khan, Osman Khalid Butt and Sheheryar Munawar. Preity Zinta and husband Gene Goodenough are now parents to twins Speaking about the show, Shailja Kejriwal, Chief Creative Officer, Special Projects, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd said, “Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is an ode to women who dare to reclaim their powers despite all odds. The series explores reasons that can lead women to a point where they can go to any extent to avenge oppression. This is one of our most unconventional offerings, poetic and deadly at the same time. We are excited to share a glimpse of it with our audience!”. Watch the trailer here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZEE5 (@zee5) × Commenting on the series, Creator and Director, Meenu Gaur said, “I am excited that I got the chance to create a show which delivers on suspense, mystery, and entertainment while leaving the indelible stamp of a woman’s point of view all over it. Giving film noir a South-Asian/desi and feminist twist was definitely on my filmmaking bucket list. With this show the femme fatales shake off several decades of the male gaze and play on their own terms”. Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' to get postponed yet again? Sarwat Gilani who plays Mehak said, “This series showcases the essence of life through different people and characters. The series is empowering, and it highlights the issues women face in a very honest way instead of sugar coating them. Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is an important show for everyone as it portrays the consequences of trying to exploit and undermine women”. Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani to star in Karan Johar's action film 'Yodha' Sanam Saeed who plays Zuvi added, “I am extremely happy to collaborate with Zindagi in this very different and mazaydaar role compared to what I have done in the past. Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam is a show full of courage, sassiness and power. It was a delight to work on this show which tells the stories of strong and fearless women who go to any extent to get what they desire”. ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ will stream on Zee5 from 10 December.

Watch: Zee5 drops trailer of desi noir series ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’

<p>The first trailer of Zee5 film ‘Squad’ is out.</p>

<p>The trailer features some crazy action sequences and the film marks the debut of Danny Denzongpa’s son Rinzing Denzongpa and Malvika Raaj, who is best known for playing the younger version of Kareena Kapoor’s Poo in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’.</p>

<p>The movie revolves around a young girl who has seemingly lost everyone in her life. Rinzing Denzongpa, who plays an STF commando, is tasked to save the child and deliver her to safety.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The official synopsis of Squad reads, “Bhim Rana, an STF commando, is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the granddaughter of a renowned scientist who holds the blueprint of a lethal cyborg programme. Premieres 12th November 2021.” Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/not-marvel-or-james-bond-this-is-the-highest-grossing-film-of-2021-426000" hreflang="en">Not Marvel or James Bond, this is the highest-grossing film of 2021</a></p>

<p>Watch the trailer here:</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_k5IuPp8QcI" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></p>

<p>Apart from Mavika Raaj, Rinzing Denzongpa and Pooja Batra, the film also features Mohan Kapur, Amit Gaur, Tanisha Dhillon and Dishita Jain among others.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-got-actor-richard-madden-has-this-to-say-about-his-citadel-co-star-priyanka-chopra-425989" hreflang="en">'GoT' actor Richard Madden has this to say about his Citadel co-star Priyanka Chopra</a></p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-man-who-handed-alec-baldwin-loaded-gun-breaks-silence-425981" hreflang="en">Man who handed Alec Baldwin loaded gun breaks silence</a></h2>


The first trailer of Zee5 film ‘Squad’ is out. The trailer features some crazy action sequences and the film marks the debut of Danny Denzongpa’s son Rinzing Denzongpa and Malvika Raaj, who is best known for playing the younger version of Kareena Kapoor’s Poo in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’.

The first trailer of Zee5 film ‘Squad’ is out. The trailer features some crazy action sequences and the film marks the debut of Danny Denzongpa’s son Rinzing Denzongpa and Malvika Raaj, who is best known for playing the younger version of Kareena Kapoor’s Poo in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’. The movie revolves around a young girl who has seemingly lost everyone in her life. Rinzing Denzongpa, who plays an STF commando, is tasked to save the child and deliver her to safety. The official synopsis of Squad reads, “Bhim Rana, an STF commando, is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the granddaughter of a renowned scientist who holds the blueprint of a lethal cyborg programme. Premieres 12th November 2021.” Also read: Not Marvel or James Bond, this is the highest-grossing film of 2021 Watch the trailer here: Apart from Mavika Raaj, Rinzing Denzongpa and Pooja Batra, the film also features Mohan Kapur, Amit Gaur, Tanisha Dhillon and Dishita Jain among others. Also read: 'GoT' actor Richard Madden has this to say about his Citadel co-star Priyanka Chopra Man who handed Alec Baldwin loaded gun breaks silence

Watch 'Squad' trailer: Danny Denzongpa’s son Rinzing makes his debut

<p>Bollywood actor Aparshakti Khurana is of the opinion that movies can bring about change, especially of the social kind.</p>

<p>"My take on films like 'Helmet' is that primarily these films are made for entertainment purpose. A certain kind of social message woven into the script makes the content a little more relevant, but it's up to you if you take it home or not or if you are able to inculcate these values in you or not.," he was quoted as saying.</p>

<p>"It's a plus to have a social message in a film as the script becomes more logical. There are films which leave an impact and make people ponder. For example: Dangal did change a lot of people, encouraging kids, especially daughters to play a sport. So yes, a film with a social message does change the mindset," added Aparshakti.</p>

<p>For those of you who are not in the know, the actor will soon be seen in Zee5 Original film 'Helmet' opposite Pranutan Bahl.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Check out the trailer here:</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rf_snzTOkPA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bollywood actor Aparshakti Khurana is of the opinion that movies can bring about change, especially of the social kind. "My take on films like 'Helmet' is that primarily these films are made for entertainment purpose.

Bollywood actor Aparshakti Khurana is of the opinion that movies can bring about change, especially of the social kind. "My take on films like 'Helmet' is that primarily these films are made for entertainment purpose. A certain kind of social message woven into the script makes the content a little more relevant, but it's up to you if you take it home or not or if you are able to inculcate these values in you or not.," he was quoted as saying. "It's a plus to have a social message in a film as the script becomes more logical. There are films which leave an impact and make people ponder. For example: Dangal did change a lot of people, encouraging kids, especially daughters to play a sport. So yes, a film with a social message does change the mindset," added Aparshakti. For those of you who are not in the know, the actor will soon be seen in Zee5 Original film 'Helmet' opposite Pranutan Bahl. Check out the trailer here:

Aparshakti Khurana talks about how films with social messages create difference in society

<p>Veteran Bollywood actor-director&nbsp;Amol Palekar, who portrays the role of a retired Dalit Judge in 'Hallo Ho' that released recently on Zee5, is not afraid to call a spade a spade. And so it comes as no surprise that when asked about depiction of women in Bollywood, he went for a no-holds-barred approach.</p>

<p><br />
"Unfortunately, if we look at the majority of our mainstream films, ‘Tum gagan ke Chandramaa ho, Mai dharaa ki dhool hun’ continues to be the typical portrayal of our heroines. She is either a Santoshi Maa or a Mother India. She is a commercial item to be added through her dance number," he said.</p>

<p>"Female-centric films were a rarity, but with the emergence of OTT platforms, wonderful female characters are scripted. This is a commendable change. I, as a director, have always tried to project the inner strength of women. Even in ‘Paheli’, Lachchi owns up to her decision to be with a man who loved her knowing that he was not her husband. People fighting the proliferated antagonism despite their marginalisation inspire me. Their struggle comes alive through the characters in my films," Palekar told a news website.</p>

<p><br />
Upon enquiry about the thought process behind taking on the role of Arjun Dangle in 'Hallo Ho', the National Award-winning actor said that it is the character's integrity that prompted him to take on the role.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
"I play Arjun Dangle, a retired Dalit judge. He heads the fact-finding committee appointed by the National Women’s group as he is known for his integrity and swears by the Constitution. The original script had some rough edges. In fact, I posed two pertinent questions to the makers – were they ready to refine the script? Why did they not opt for an actor from Bahujan samaj? We have great talent who is not given due exposure. I had warned them that casting an outsider for a Dalit’s role would be criticized. But they insisted on having me and were ready to alter certain not-so-progressive scenes. I have not seen the film so cannot opine on how it has been treated. But Saarthak is a sensitive man so I am sure he must have taken due precautions. Once we got clarity on various shades of the character before the shooting, I surrendered to the director. As an old-timer, I do not even look at the footage on the monitor," said the actor, who is also known for his contribution towards Marathi cinema, other than his work in mainstream Bollywood.&nbsp;</p>


Veteran Bollywood actor-director Amol Palekar, who portrays the role of a retired Dalit Judge in 'Hallo Ho' that released recently on Zee5, is not afraid to call a spade a spade.

Veteran Bollywood actor-director Amol Palekar, who portrays the role of a retired Dalit Judge in 'Hallo Ho' that released recently on Zee5, is not afraid to call a spade a spade. And so it comes as no surprise that when asked about depiction of women in Bollywood, he went for a no-holds-barred approach. "Unfortunately, if we look at the majority of our mainstream films, ‘Tum gagan ke Chandramaa ho, Mai dharaa ki dhool hun’ continues to be the typical portrayal of our heroines. She is either a Santoshi Maa or a Mother India. She is a commercial item to be added through her dance number," he said. "Female-centric films were a rarity, but with the emergence of OTT platforms, wonderful female characters are scripted. This is a commendable change. I, as a director, have always tried to project the inner strength of women. Even in ‘Paheli’, Lachchi owns up to her decision to be with a man who loved her knowing that he was not her husband. People fighting the proliferated antagonism despite their marginalisation inspire me. Their struggle comes alive through the characters in my films," Palekar told a news website. Upon enquiry about the thought process behind taking on the role of Arjun Dangle in 'Hallo Ho', the National Award-winning actor said that it is the character's integrity that prompted him to take on the role. "I play Arjun Dangle, a retired Dalit judge. He heads the fact-finding committee appointed by the National Women’s group as he is known for his integrity and swears by the Constitution. The original script had some rough edges. In fact, I posed two pertinent questions to the makers – were they ready to refine the script? Why did they not opt for an actor from Bahujan samaj? We have great talent who is not given due exposure. I had warned them that casting an outsider for a Dalit’s role would be criticized. But they insisted on having me and were ready to alter certain not-so-progressive scenes. I have not seen the film so cannot opine on how it has been treated. But Saarthak is a sensitive man so I am sure he must have taken due precautions. Once we got clarity on various shades of the character before the shooting, I surrendered to the director. As an old-timer, I do not even look at the footage on the monitor," said the actor, who is also known for his contribution towards Marathi cinema, other than his work in mainstream Bollywood.

Amol Palekar: Women were a commercial item added through dance number before OTT

<p>Inter caste marriages in India are common but equally frowned upon. Filmmaker Devnashu Singh's film '14 Phere' attempts to look at the complications of such a relationship by giving it a comic twist. Starring Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda, '14 Phere' doesn't delve deeper into the problems and grave consequences that most inter-caste couples have to see but offer naive and slightly impractical solutions to deal with conservative families.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Massey and Kharbanda play Sanjay and Aditi who meet in college, fall in love and end up working in the same office. They are young bright professionals, living a good life in Delhi in a plush home together. Sanjay though is a Rajput from Bihar while Aditi is a Jat from Jaipur. Both their families, even though affluent, are completely against inter-caste marriage. When Sanjay's elder sister elopes with someone outside her community, she is considered dead in the family with Shyam's father urging the local police to hunt the couple down and kill them as they have defied the family.</p>

<p>Knowing that his relationship too would see the same outcome, Sanjay plans to lie to his parents about Aditi's lineage. An elaborate plan is hatched where Sanjay, involves his theatre friends to play fake parents in from of his and Aditi's respective families.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Singh's film as AIB's Tanmay Bhatt as the creative producer while the other members of the erstwhile group- Gursimran Khamba, Rohan Joshi and Asish Shakya- are thanked in the beginning. Despite the presence of such popular comics, the film's screenplay- by Singh and Manoj Kalwani doesn't provide that many laughs. The film also has Jameel Khan and Gauahar Khan playing the couple's fake parents. Both are known to be good actors with great screen presence, but their characters are underwritten and they have very little scope in the film.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lead pair of Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda is refreshing. Kharbanda plays a glamorous big city girl who knows what she wants in life. She has great screen presence and fits the role well. Massey, a gifted actor, holds the film together. He is genuine as Shyam, a man who knows his family well, loves his mother too much to forego a job in the US (because she will get lonely) and is the kind of man who everyone likes to be around.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N7leKlYUVqQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>There are some beautiful moments in the film. When Yamini Das (Shyam's mother) gives a traditional welcome to Aditi's character post-wedding in beautifully written and executed. Gauahar Khan too manages to bring in a smile or two with her exuberance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The film, though, shines in parts. There are only a few scenes that bring in genuine laughs, but overall the lack of clever writing hinders the film's narrative majorly. There is scope really, the portions when the couple initially meets in college and how their story progresses is enjoyable and relatable, but the film's brightest moments are restricted in the first half-hour of the film. It is also slightly unsettling to see the makers make jokes out of something as grave as honour killing.</p>

<p>'14 Phere' though still makes for a good watch. It has a cute pair, a sweet love story and a good set of actors. If you can overlook the fact that they oversimplify honour killing and the problems of inter-caste marriage with a slightly impractical plot, '14 Phere' can be enjoyed this weekend. A love story, two weddings sans the drama.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'14 Phere' is streaming on Zee5.</p>


Inter caste marriages in India are common but equally frowned upon. Filmmaker Devnashu Singh's film '14 Phere' attempts to look at the complications of such a relationship by giving it a comic twist.

Inter caste marriages in India are common but equally frowned upon. Filmmaker Devnashu Singh's film '14 Phere' attempts to look at the complications of such a relationship by giving it a comic twist. Starring Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda, '14 Phere' doesn't delve deeper into the problems and grave consequences that most inter-caste couples have to see but offer naive and slightly impractical solutions to deal with conservative families. Massey and Kharbanda play Sanjay and Aditi who meet in college, fall in love and end up working in the same office. They are young bright professionals, living a good life in Delhi in a plush home together. Sanjay though is a Rajput from Bihar while Aditi is a Jat from Jaipur. Both their families, even though affluent, are completely against inter-caste marriage. When Sanjay's elder sister elopes with someone outside her community, she is considered dead in the family with Shyam's father urging the local police to hunt the couple down and kill them as they have defied the family. Knowing that his relationship too would see the same outcome, Sanjay plans to lie to his parents about Aditi's lineage. An elaborate plan is hatched where Sanjay, involves his theatre friends to play fake parents in from of his and Aditi's respective families. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vikrant Massey (@vikrantmassey) × Singh's film as AIB's Tanmay Bhatt as the creative producer while the other members of the erstwhile group- Gursimran Khamba, Rohan Joshi and Asish Shakya- are thanked in the beginning. Despite the presence of such popular comics, the film's screenplay- by Singh and Manoj Kalwani doesn't provide that many laughs. The film also has Jameel Khan and Gauahar Khan playing the couple's fake parents. Both are known to be good actors with great screen presence, but their characters are underwritten and they have very little scope in the film. The lead pair of Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda is refreshing. Kharbanda plays a glamorous big city girl who knows what she wants in life. She has great screen presence and fits the role well. Massey, a gifted actor, holds the film together. He is genuine as Shyam, a man who knows his family well, loves his mother too much to forego a job in the US (because she will get lonely) and is the kind of man who everyone likes to be around. There are some beautiful moments in the film. When Yamini Das (Shyam's mother) gives a traditional welcome to Aditi's character post-wedding in beautifully written and executed. Gauahar Khan too manages to bring in a smile or two with her exuberance. The film, though, shines in parts. There are only a few scenes that bring in genuine laughs, but overall the lack of clever writing hinders the film's narrative majorly. There is scope really, the portions when the couple initially meets in college and how their story progresses is enjoyable and relatable, but the film's brightest moments are restricted in the first half-hour of the film. It is also slightly unsettling to see the makers make jokes out of something as grave as honour killing. '14 Phere' though still makes for a good watch. It has a cute pair, a sweet love story and a good set of actors. If you can overlook the fact that they oversimplify honour killing and the problems of inter-caste marriage with a slightly impractical plot, '14 Phere' can be enjoyed this weekend. A love story, two weddings sans the drama. '14 Phere' is streaming on Zee5.

'14 Phere' review: Vikrant Massey, Kriti Kharbanda's film oversimplifies honour killing

<p><strong>‘Sunflower’, a crime-thriller comedy premiered on Zee5 on June 11 </strong>as it follows the story a residential complex and its people that promise to be modern and liberal in their approach but are far from that. Things get topsy turvy when one morning a member of the complex gets murdered and police suspect neighbours to have a hand at this. A cat and mouse chase and nervous laughs on the way, the show is led by standup comic/actor Sunil Grover with important roles played by Ranvir Shorey, Girish Kulkarni,<strong> Mukul Chadda,</strong> Shonali Nagrani, Sonal Jha and Ashish Vidyarthi.</p>

<p>With the show getting appreciated by critics and fans alike, we had a sit-down with <strong>actor Mukul Chadda </strong>of the show.&nbsp;<strong>In conversation with WION, Mukul</strong> spoke about ‘Sunflower’ and his <strong>upcoming projects.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Playing the role of a teacher in the show, Mukul happens to be the immediate neighbour to the murdered victim that police are probing. He also thus turns out to be a prime suspect for the murder. “I think the phrase crime comedy fits the description of the show. It’s set in a housing society in Mumbai and there’s been a murder. Then you have all these quirky characters in the housing society which normally is the case and how they react to one another, how they react to the fact that there has been a murder in their presence and how they react to the investigation."</p>

<p>“My character’s name is Dr. Ahuja and he is one of the residents of the society. He is a short tempered guy which is great for me because I have never played such a character before. It's&nbsp;very different from what I am&nbsp;in real life. He&nbsp;picks fights with his neighbours over petty issues and that was&nbsp;hilarious to play.”</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="386" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/76uCJC8R7cE" title="YouTube video player" width="686"></iframe></p>

<p>On balancing seriousness and playfulness while dealing with such a tense subject as murder, Mukul said, “It is a fantastic balance to get it right where the audience is at the edge of their seat and they are laughing away to glory. It's great to have tension built up in a moment and to break it&nbsp;with laughter."</p>

<p>Sunil is the lead of the show. The show revolves a lot around his character Sonu but the show has an ensemble cast. Ranvir Shorey plays an inspector, Girish Kulkarni plays a sub-inspector&nbsp;and then there’s Ashish Vidyarthi. On his equation with the co-stars, Mukul said, “I met Sunil the first time when we went for the first set of readings and rehearsals and I got along with him very well. He is an extremely sweet person. In fact I remember I went for rehearsal one day and he and Ranvir were leading a scene and then I was to do some scenes with Ranvir after that so I was there early and I joined the rehearsal. Because the script is so good and I think they needed a 3rd character so I jumped into their scene and I thought I'll play that part. It was not my character. I think it was Girish’s character but I jumped in because it was just so much fun. I regret not having many scenes with him though. Maybe that happens in season 2 that I get more scenes to do with Sunil and Girish Kulkarni.”</p>

<p>M<strong>ukul has&nbsp;no knowledge of season 2 of ‘Sunflower’</strong>. When asked he&nbsp;quickly replied, “I have no idea. I have absolutely no information. It's just me being greedy and hoping for Season 2.”</p>

<p><strong>Mukul Chadda</strong> also has a film in the lineup, ‘Sherni’ with Vidya Balan. “I can’t reveal much but Vidya plays a forest officer and the film revolves around her character. I think it explores a lot of issues but that's how Amit’s films are at some level. He takes an issue and he looks at all the surrounding issues around it. So, it explores the issues of wildlife, wildlife conservation, man-beast relationship like how the combination of wildlife affects the lives of people around it and all those related issues in a very real story of how a forest officer is going through an issue. It's a very interesting film. It's a very different kind of story telling I would say in the sense that it's a very odd thing to say without giving you more meat but I don't know how to even describe it to be honest,” divulged Mukul.</p>

<p>Trying to be elusive about the film’s details yet explaining, Mukul added, “There are usually some standard story tropes like the 7 story types but I dont think this fits into one of them. It's a very different storytelling style. Everyone said that Newton fits into that zone of being a different storytelling type because it didn't fit into the generic storytelling type. So, that's probably Amit’s style and I am not saying this is like Newton but I am just saying they both are similar in terms of they both don’t confine to a standard storytelling trope and that's refreshing about his work. Amit also is a great guy to work with. I do recall when I met him first, I straightaway felt that I wanted to do that role because I’ve seen his other work and then on meeting him he was just so calming in the way he was describing and honest about it that I felt drawn to the project.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="386" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o2wg-11MWFU" title="YouTube video player" width="686"></iframe></p>

<p>Talking about Vidya Balan, Mukul said, “She’s wonderful to work with. She’s professional and very committed to her work. When you are working on a scene with her I would forget that she’s a big star and just&nbsp;co-actors in the scene trying to help the scene get better.”</p>

<p>‘Sherni’ was shot on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. “It was a place called Balaghat which is where I shot my scenes. I am sure the other scenes must have been shot in the adjoining areas or other places as well.”</p>

<p><strong>Mukul Chadda</strong> was an investment banker in New York before he left it all and returned to India to pursue his passion for acting. Now many projects later, Mukul doesn’t regret moving back to India. “There are many regrets of how I would have done something differently but not for a moment do I regret the decision to quit my job and move back to India. That sometimes is relieving because you know at least this decision is the right one,” said the actor who came from a non-filmy background and has sunk his teeth deep within Indian entertainment industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mukul likes all kinds of genres of films and TV and wants to experiment with it all. “When I get a new script to read or a new part to play, I am always looking at how this is different from what I have done before and if I can extend my range and do something I haven't done before."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


‘Sunflower’, a crime-thriller comedy premiered on Zee5 on June 11 as it follows the story a residential complex and its people that promise to be modern and liberal in their approach but are far from that.

‘Sunflower’, a crime-thriller comedy premiered on Zee5 on June 11 as it follows the story a residential complex and its people that promise to be modern and liberal in their approach but are far from that. Things get topsy turvy when one morning a member of the complex gets murdered and police suspect neighbours to have a hand at this. A cat and mouse chase and nervous laughs on the way, the show is led by standup comic/actor Sunil Grover with important roles played by Ranvir Shorey, Girish Kulkarni, Mukul Chadda, Shonali Nagrani, Sonal Jha and Ashish Vidyarthi. With the show getting appreciated by critics and fans alike, we had a sit-down with actor Mukul Chadda of the show. In conversation with WION, Mukul spoke about ‘Sunflower’ and his upcoming projects. Playing the role of a teacher in the show, Mukul happens to be the immediate neighbour to the murdered victim that police are probing. He also thus turns out to be a prime suspect for the murder. “I think the phrase crime comedy fits the description of the show. It’s set in a housing society in Mumbai and there’s been a murder. Then you have all these quirky characters in the housing society which normally is the case and how they react to one another, how they react to the fact that there has been a murder in their presence and how they react to the investigation." “My character’s name is Dr. Ahuja and he is one of the residents of the society. He is a short tempered guy which is great for me because I have never played such a character before. It's very different from what I am in real life. He picks fights with his neighbours over petty issues and that was hilarious to play.” On balancing seriousness and playfulness while dealing with such a tense subject as murder, Mukul said, “It is a fantastic balance to get it right where the audience is at the edge of their seat and they are laughing away to glory. It's great to have tension built up in a moment and to break it with laughter." Sunil is the lead of the show. The show revolves a lot around his character Sonu but the show has an ensemble cast. Ranvir Shorey plays an inspector, Girish Kulkarni plays a sub-inspector and then there’s Ashish Vidyarthi. On his equation with the co-stars, Mukul said, “I met Sunil the first time when we went for the first set of readings and rehearsals and I got along with him very well. He is an extremely sweet person. In fact I remember I went for rehearsal one day and he and Ranvir were leading a scene and then I was to do some scenes with Ranvir after that so I was there early and I joined the rehearsal. Because the script is so good and I think they needed a 3rd character so I jumped into their scene and I thought I'll play that part. It was not my character. I think it was Girish’s character but I jumped in because it was just so much fun. I regret not having many scenes with him though. Maybe that happens in season 2 that I get more scenes to do with Sunil and Girish Kulkarni.” Mukul has no knowledge of season 2 of ‘Sunflower’. When asked he quickly replied, “I have no idea. I have absolutely no information. It's just me being greedy and hoping for Season 2.” Mukul Chadda also has a film in the lineup, ‘Sherni’ with Vidya Balan. “I can’t reveal much but Vidya plays a forest officer and the film revolves around her character. I think it explores a lot of issues but that's how Amit’s films are at some level. He takes an issue and he looks at all the surrounding issues around it. So, it explores the issues of wildlife, wildlife conservation, man-beast relationship like how the combination of wildlife affects the lives of people around it and all those related issues in a very real story of how a forest officer is going through an issue. It's a very interesting film. It's a very different kind of story telling I would say in the sense that it's a very odd thing to say without giving you more meat but I don't know how to even describe it to be honest,” divulged Mukul. Trying to be elusive about the film’s details yet explaining, Mukul added, “There are usually some standard story tropes like the 7 story types but I dont think this fits into one of them. It's a very different storytelling style. Everyone said that Newton fits into that zone of being a different storytelling type because it didn't fit into the generic storytelling type. So, that's probably Amit’s style and I am not saying this is like Newton but I am just saying they both are similar in terms of they both don’t confine to a standard storytelling trope and that's refreshing about his work. Amit also is a great guy to work with. I do recall when I met him first, I straightaway felt that I wanted to do that role because I’ve seen his other work and then on meeting him he was just so calming in the way he was describing and honest about it that I felt drawn to the project.” Talking about Vidya Balan, Mukul said, “She’s wonderful to work with. She’s professional and very committed to her work. When you are working on a scene with her I would forget that she’s a big star and just co-actors in the scene trying to help the scene get better.” ‘Sherni’ was shot on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. “It was a place called Balaghat which is where I shot my scenes. I am sure the other scenes must have been shot in the adjoining areas or other places as well.” Mukul Chadda was an investment banker in New York before he left it all and returned to India to pursue his passion for acting. Now many projects later, Mukul doesn’t regret moving back to India. “There are many regrets of how I would have done something differently but not for a moment do I regret the decision to quit my job and move back to India. That sometimes is relieving because you know at least this decision is the right one,” said the actor who came from a non-filmy background and has sunk his teeth deep within Indian entertainment industry. Mukul likes all kinds of genres of films and TV and wants to experiment with it all. “When I get a new script to read or a new part to play, I am always looking at how this is different from what I have done before and if I can extend my range and do something I haven't done before."

Mukul Chadda to WION on Zee5 show 'Sunflower' and next with Vidya Balan 'Sherni'

<p>SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’ will stream on not one but two competitive streaming channels -- Zee5 and Netflix. The two streaming channels have bought the rights to different languages. While the film’s Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions will be made available on ZEE5, Netflix will stream Hindi, Portuguese, Korean, Turkish and Spanish versions of RRR.</p>

<p>This will happen post ‘RRR’ gets its theatrical release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Zee Network holds the satellite rights of the Hindi version of ‘RRR’, the Star India network owns the television rights of the film’s Telugu Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions.</p>

<p>RRR is currently in the post-production stage. The producers of RRR are hoping to release the film worldwide on October 13 but it all depends on how soon the pandemic can be controlled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>‘RRR’ is a fictional story based on the struggles of Telugu tribal leaders Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. While Ram Charan will be seen in the role of Sitarama, Jr NTR essays Komaram in RRR. The film also has an interesting cast from Bollywood with Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn also a part of the huge project.&nbsp;</p>


SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’ will stream on not one but two competitive streaming channels -- Zee5 and Netflix. The two streaming channels have bought the rights to different languages.

SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’ will stream on not one but two competitive streaming channels -- Zee5 and Netflix. The two streaming channels have bought the rights to different languages. While the film’s Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions will be made available on ZEE5, Netflix will stream Hindi, Portuguese, Korean, Turkish and Spanish versions of RRR. This will happen post ‘RRR’ gets its theatrical release. While the Zee Network holds the satellite rights of the Hindi version of ‘RRR’, the Star India network owns the television rights of the film’s Telugu Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions. RRR is currently in the post-production stage. The producers of RRR are hoping to release the film worldwide on October 13 but it all depends on how soon the pandemic can be controlled. ‘RRR’ is a fictional story based on the struggles of Telugu tribal leaders Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. While Ram Charan will be seen in the role of Sitarama, Jr NTR essays Komaram in RRR. The film also has an interesting cast from Bollywood with Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn also a part of the huge project.

SS Rajamouli’s 'RRR' will stream on Zee5, Netflix

<p>Zee Studios’ to release Gurmeet Chaudhary and Sayani Datta starrer horror film 'The Wife' on March 19.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The film is helmed by debutant writer-director Sarmad Khan. The horror film stars Gurmeet Choudhary and debutante Sayani Datta as a married couple who soon after moving into their new apartment find their idyllic life unraveling in the most horrific ways due to the presence of a malevolent spirit. When their relationship crumbles, they realize that they must stick together to not only save their marriage but also their lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shariq Patel from Zee Studios said, “What makes The Wife unique is its urban setting and its matter-of-fact approach in presenting supernatural events as never seen before on screen. Horror as a genre is fairly untapped and I am sure this film will deliver the thrills it promises”</p>

<p>Actor Gurmeet Chaudhary said, "This is my first solo lead and you'll get to see me in a whole new and different avatar in this film. The script is so fresh, you'll find the movie to be a perfect amalgamation of spine-chilling horror, action, romance, drama, and everything that you'd expect and more. I am happy to be associated with Zee Team and extremely excited for the film to launch for our audience to see for themselves that it's one of a kind."</p>

<p>Making her debut in ‘The Wife’, Sayani Datta said, “I am a huge fan of the horror genre and to be able to make my debut in one is the most exciting feeling ever. The entire experience of being a part of such a wonderful film has been a very fulfilling one indeed.”</p>

<p>The film is produced by Zee Studios and will release on Zee5.</p>


Zee Studios’ to release Gurmeet Chaudhary and Sayani Datta starrer horror film 'The Wife' on March 19. The film is helmed by debutant writer-director Sarmad Khan.

Zee Studios’ to release Gurmeet Chaudhary and Sayani Datta starrer horror film 'The Wife' on March 19. The film is helmed by debutant writer-director Sarmad Khan. The horror film stars Gurmeet Choudhary and debutante Sayani Datta as a married couple who soon after moving into their new apartment find their idyllic life unraveling in the most horrific ways due to the presence of a malevolent spirit. When their relationship crumbles, they realize that they must stick together to not only save their marriage but also their lives. Shariq Patel from Zee Studios said, “What makes The Wife unique is its urban setting and its matter-of-fact approach in presenting supernatural events as never seen before on screen. Horror as a genre is fairly untapped and I am sure this film will deliver the thrills it promises” Actor Gurmeet Chaudhary said, "This is my first solo lead and you'll get to see me in a whole new and different avatar in this film. The script is so fresh, you'll find the movie to be a perfect amalgamation of spine-chilling horror, action, romance, drama, and everything that you'd expect and more. I am happy to be associated with Zee Team and extremely excited for the film to launch for our audience to see for themselves that it's one of a kind." Making her debut in ‘The Wife’, Sayani Datta said, “I am a huge fan of the horror genre and to be able to make my debut in one is the most exciting feeling ever. The entire experience of being a part of such a wonderful film has been a very fulfilling one indeed.” The film is produced by Zee Studios and will release on Zee5.

Zee Studios’ to release horror film 'The Wife' on March 19

<p>Makers of the upcoming Pankaj Tripathi-starrer 'Kaagaz' will hold a special screening of the film on January 8 using the mobile movie theatre technology in Sitapur village of Uttar Pradesh, where the story is based. The film has been directed by Satish Kaushik and produced by Salman Khan.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"Nothing makes me happier to know that `Kaagaz`, our labour of love, would reach a wider audience, especially in the interiors where watching cinema is still a far fetched dream," said &nbsp;Kaushik.<br />
<br />
"This mobile theatre format reaches viewers instead of viewers going to the theatre. I am so glad that `Kaagaz` will reach so many people through this release," Kaushik added.<br />
<br />
The story of the film is based in a real-life incident that happened to a farmer and social activist named Lal Bihari. In the film, Tripathi plays a bandmaster who discovers he is officially dead in government records and decides to fight to set things right.<br />
<br />
The film also features Amar Upadhyay and Monal Gajjar, and will stream on Zee5.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Makers of the upcoming Pankaj Tripathi-starrer 'Kaagaz' will hold a special screening of the film on January 8 using the mobile movie theatre technology in Sitapur village of Uttar Pradesh, where the story is based.

Makers of the upcoming Pankaj Tripathi-starrer 'Kaagaz' will hold a special screening of the film on January 8 using the mobile movie theatre technology in Sitapur village of Uttar Pradesh, where the story is based. The film has been directed by Satish Kaushik and produced by Salman Khan. "Nothing makes me happier to know that `Kaagaz`, our labour of love, would reach a wider audience, especially in the interiors where watching cinema is still a far fetched dream," said Kaushik. "This mobile theatre format reaches viewers instead of viewers going to the theatre. I am so glad that `Kaagaz` will reach so many people through this release," Kaushik added. The story of the film is based in a real-life incident that happened to a farmer and social activist named Lal Bihari. In the film, Tripathi plays a bandmaster who discovers he is officially dead in government records and decides to fight to set things right. The film also features Amar Upadhyay and Monal Gajjar, and will stream on Zee5.

Pankaj Tripathi's 'Kaagaz' to be screened in UP village using mobile movie theatre technology

<p>Teasing his fans with yet another film, Pankaj Tripathi is back to woo us as a dead man, atleast that’s what land revenue records show him. Makers have released the trailer of his upcoming film ‘Kaagaz’.</p>

<p>Satish Kaushik’s film, ‘Kaagaz’ tells the story of a Bharat Lal, who has been marked as ‘dead’ in the official government papers and is waging a war for reclaiming his identity.</p>

<p>Bharat is desperate to prove that he is alive. He has a family and lots of plans for future but they cant come to fruition unless he can prove that he’s alive. He asks the village sarpanch to sign the required documents, files a case in court and even renames himself as Bharat Lal Mritak (deceased) to get the country and the media’s attention. He even forms an alliance with all those who have been wrongly termed dead due to silly clerical errors.</p>

<p>Satish Kaushik will also be seen in the film as an actor. He will play Bharat’s lawyer.</p>

<p>Watch 'Kaagaz' trailer here:</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="704" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6DqSLijSY9I" width="1252"></iframe></p>

<p>On the film. Pankaj had earlier said, “Kaagaz is a brilliantly written true story. It is quirky, black comedy and depicts common man’s humorous journey on identity crisis. My character will be quite different from some of my recent ventures and I am excited to be a part of such an inspiring story. This story needs to be heard and I am definite that ZEE5 will give it the reach that it deserves.”</p>


Teasing his fans with yet another film, Pankaj Tripathi is back to woo us as a dead man, atleast that’s what land revenue records show him. Makers have released the trailer of his upcoming film ‘Kaagaz’.

Teasing his fans with yet another film, Pankaj Tripathi is back to woo us as a dead man, atleast that’s what land revenue records show him. Makers have released the trailer of his upcoming film ‘Kaagaz’. Satish Kaushik’s film, ‘Kaagaz’ tells the story of a Bharat Lal, who has been marked as ‘dead’ in the official government papers and is waging a war for reclaiming his identity. Bharat is desperate to prove that he is alive. He has a family and lots of plans for future but they cant come to fruition unless he can prove that he’s alive. He asks the village sarpanch to sign the required documents, files a case in court and even renames himself as Bharat Lal Mritak (deceased) to get the country and the media’s attention. He even forms an alliance with all those who have been wrongly termed dead due to silly clerical errors. Satish Kaushik will also be seen in the film as an actor. He will play Bharat’s lawyer. Watch 'Kaagaz' trailer here: On the film. Pankaj had earlier said, “Kaagaz is a brilliantly written true story. It is quirky, black comedy and depicts common man’s humorous journey on identity crisis. My character will be quite different from some of my recent ventures and I am excited to be a part of such an inspiring story. This story needs to be heard and I am definite that ZEE5 will give it the reach that it deserves.”

'Kaagaz' trailer: Pankaj Tripathi plays a dead man in this Satish Kaushik film

'Chintu Ka Birthday', 'Atkan Chatkan': Five Zee5 films of 2020 that are a must watch

<p>In Kunal Kohli's new film 'Lahore Confidential', Richa Chadha plays an Indian Spy who is sent to Pakistan to bust a terror plot. The film which is a ZEE5 original is a thrilling love story and created by India's most prolific crime writer S Hussain Zaidi.<br />
<br />
The atmospheric and eerie trailer which was released on Thursday revolves around a humble, divorced Indian woman named Ananya and amidst her mundane-routine life, she finds herself on a secret intelligence duty in Pakistan. But her love for Urdu literature will have her falling in love that will eventually put them in a tug of war with each other. A contemporary, elegant and thrilling love story that is based in Pakistan and has a strong sense of patriotism and thrill entangled with old school romance. But the question is, will she do whatever it takes for the love of her country?</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t6jsJaTJbvc" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Commenting on his film, director Kunal Kohli said, "In an OTT space, we hardly see spy thrillers with a romantic backdrop, hence Lahore Confidential will definitely be a refreshing watch for the viewers and I hope the element of classic romance will sweep everyone off their feet. We have shot the film during the lockdown and it’s exciting to have the trailer dropped too. The trailer introduces the audience to the characters and sets forth its dramatic premise. The film builds intrigue throughout its narrative and the background score establishes the spy-thriller tonality (you will see this in the trailer too)."<br />
<br />
Richa Chadda shares, “The film is a romantic spy thriller with a classic romantic backdrop. It has lot of high octane scenes and settles the dust at various intervals as well. Working with Kunal was extremely refreshing, he defiantly brings the characters to life and with its contemporary style, he makes us look like characters right out of a classic novel. I hope audience enjoy the trailer and the film which premieres on 11th December on ZEE5.”<br />
<br />
'Lahore Confidential' stars Richa Chadda, Karishma Tanna and Arunoday Singh in pivotal roles.&nbsp;The film premieres 11th December on ZEE5.</p>


In Kunal Kohli's new film 'Lahore Confidential', Richa Chadha plays an Indian Spy who is sent to Pakistan to bust a terror plot. The film which is a ZEE5 original is a thrilling love story and created by India's most prolific crime writer S Hussain Zaidi.

In Kunal Kohli's new film 'Lahore Confidential', Richa Chadha plays an Indian Spy who is sent to Pakistan to bust a terror plot. The film which is a ZEE5 original is a thrilling love story and created by India's most prolific crime writer S Hussain Zaidi. The atmospheric and eerie trailer which was released on Thursday revolves around a humble, divorced Indian woman named Ananya and amidst her mundane-routine life, she finds herself on a secret intelligence duty in Pakistan. But her love for Urdu literature will have her falling in love that will eventually put them in a tug of war with each other. A contemporary, elegant and thrilling love story that is based in Pakistan and has a strong sense of patriotism and thrill entangled with old school romance. But the question is, will she do whatever it takes for the love of her country? Commenting on his film, director Kunal Kohli said, "In an OTT space, we hardly see spy thrillers with a romantic backdrop, hence Lahore Confidential will definitely be a refreshing watch for the viewers and I hope the element of classic romance will sweep everyone off their feet. We have shot the film during the lockdown and it’s exciting to have the trailer dropped too. The trailer introduces the audience to the characters and sets forth its dramatic premise. The film builds intrigue throughout its narrative and the background score establishes the spy-thriller tonality (you will see this in the trailer too)." Richa Chadda shares, “The film is a romantic spy thriller with a classic romantic backdrop. It has lot of high octane scenes and settles the dust at various intervals as well. Working with Kunal was extremely refreshing, he defiantly brings the characters to life and with its contemporary style, he makes us look like characters right out of a classic novel. I hope audience enjoy the trailer and the film which premieres on 11th December on ZEE5.” 'Lahore Confidential' stars Richa Chadda, Karishma Tanna and Arunoday Singh in pivotal roles. The film premieres 11th December on ZEE5.

'Lahore Confidential' trailer: Richa Chadha turns Indian spy for ZEE5's new film

<p>Riding high on the success of the recently released web series 'Paatal Lok', actor Abhishek Banerjee is back on the web space in a new show. This time it’s a bilingual series called 'Kali 2' on ZEE5.<br />
<br />
Banerjee's performance as Hathoda Tyagi in 'Paatal Log' struck a chord with one and all. He played a silent, cold murderer in the series and barely had dialogues. In 'Kaali 2' though, Abhishek says his character Jin Liang is completely opposite of Tyagi.<br />
<br />
"If Tyagi doesn't speak a word, this guy is all talks. So they are different for sure," said Banerjee while speaking to WION.<br />
'Kaali 2' features Paoli Dam in the lead role, with Chandan Roy Sanyal and Banerjee playing key supporting roles.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLJFPcNPqKQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Much like 'Paatal Lok', here in 'Kaali 2', Banerjee plays the antagonist. Wouldn't there be a comparison between the two characters, we ask. "I want them(the viewers) to compare. The audience should compare and tell me if I have been able to pull it off differently or they feel the two look the same. Whatever the audience tells me- I am going to make a note of it. I don't know how the character has come out on screen. I go with the flow. So when people watch it and talk about it- ill get to know. I really would want them to compare," Banerjee said.<br />
<br />
While the actor was okay with the comparison, he admitted it was a challenge to shoot for a bilingual show. The crew shot the series in Bengali and Hindi simultaneously and the actor admitted that itself was challenging. "You have to say the same lines in Bengali and Hindi and then on top of it you also have to match the character, the emotions. When the language changes, even the rhythm changes- everything changes, so how do you maintain that? That was the tricky part."<br />
<br />
The actor admitted that he was nervous speaking the Bengali lines. "It was my first project in Bengali language so of course I was nervous. I have been out of Bengal for a long time so I don't know if I have spoken the lines properly. I am more nervous about how my family would take it.Whether they will it or disown me completely," Banerjee laughed and added.<br />
<br />
The actor has been a casting director for many years and has been instrumental in casting for several popular films like ‘Toilet:Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Secret Superstar’ and web series like ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘TVF Pitchers’. In the ongoing debate about cinema halls vs OTT platforms, Banerjee states that while digital has given a platform to scores of actors and makers to experiment and evolve, the magic of cinema halls will never fade away.<br />
<br />
"You don't go to watch a film just to watch the story or the dance or the music, you go for the cinematic experiences always. You can never take the magic of the cinema hall lightly," the actor said and added that digital has its own space. "Its a great medium. The medium has always been there for people to experiment, to explore, to evolve. We have seen so many brilliant actors all over the world and we have seen them in shows," he said.<br />
<br />
Banerjee is also remembered for his performances in films like 'Stree', 'Bala' and ‘Dream Girl’. Considering he has played the antagonist in two web series back to back- does he feel he'll get stereotyped? "No- because they are very different characters. I think that's what I've been trying to do. I have done roles and characters very different from each other. I don’t have a range man. I have been trying to mix up the characters, I have not stuck to any range so far. I don't have a game plan. My game plan is blank," Banerjee said and is hopeful that this will not make him stick to any particular genre.<br />
<br />
Post 'Kali 2', Banerjee has a mixed bag of drama and comedy. He is part of Umesh Shukla's next with Paresh Rawal and Sharman Joshi, a film with Ayushmann Khurrana and 'Dostana 2. "It's a good mix of comedy and drama so I am happy," he adds.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xn6qTJiR1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">दिवाली 2020 mein hone jaa rahi iss #AankhMicholi mein aap invited hai सपरिवार। #Diwali2020 🥳🥳 @sonypicturesin @mgr_studios @abhimanyud @mrunalofficial2016 @sharmanjoshi @divyadutta25 @nowitsabhi @grushkapoor24 @vivekkrishnani @ashishwagh7 #UmeshShukla #PareshRawal #VijayRaaz #darshanjariwala</a></p>

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<p>Considering he has a long experience as a casting director, does he ever feel his co-actors are miscast in certain roles. "Yes, many a times. Certain takes go wrong, or the dialogue delivery is not right and I feel someone else could have been a better choice for the same role. But that happens to me too. There are days when I don't get my lines right. So it's normal. Criticism is a part of our job," says Banerjee as he signs off.<br />
<br />
‘Kaali 2’ is available for streaming on ZEE5.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Riding high on the success of the recently released web series 'Paatal Lok', actor Abhishek Banerjee is back on the web space in a new show. This time it’s a bilingual series called 'Kali 2' on ZEE5.

Riding high on the success of the recently released web series 'Paatal Lok', actor Abhishek Banerjee is back on the web space in a new show. This time it’s a bilingual series called 'Kali 2' on ZEE5. Banerjee's performance as Hathoda Tyagi in 'Paatal Log' struck a chord with one and all. He played a silent, cold murderer in the series and barely had dialogues. In 'Kaali 2' though, Abhishek says his character Jin Liang is completely opposite of Tyagi. "If Tyagi doesn't speak a word, this guy is all talks. So they are different for sure," said Banerjee while speaking to WION. 'Kaali 2' features Paoli Dam in the lead role, with Chandan Roy Sanyal and Banerjee playing key supporting roles. Much like 'Paatal Lok', here in 'Kaali 2', Banerjee plays the antagonist. Wouldn't there be a comparison between the two characters, we ask. "I want them(the viewers) to compare. The audience should compare and tell me if I have been able to pull it off differently or they feel the two look the same. Whatever the audience tells me- I am going to make a note of it. I don't know how the character has come out on screen. I go with the flow. So when people watch it and talk about it- ill get to know. I really would want them to compare," Banerjee said. While the actor was okay with the comparison, he admitted it was a challenge to shoot for a bilingual show. The crew shot the series in Bengali and Hindi simultaneously and the actor admitted that itself was challenging. "You have to say the same lines in Bengali and Hindi and then on top of it you also have to match the character, the emotions. When the language changes, even the rhythm changes- everything changes, so how do you maintain that? That was the tricky part." The actor admitted that he was nervous speaking the Bengali lines. "It was my first project in Bengali language so of course I was nervous. I have been out of Bengal for a long time so I don't know if I have spoken the lines properly. I am more nervous about how my family would take it.Whether they will it or disown me completely," Banerjee laughed and added. The actor has been a casting director for many years and has been instrumental in casting for several popular films like ‘Toilet:Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Secret Superstar’ and web series like ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘TVF Pitchers’. In the ongoing debate about cinema halls vs OTT platforms, Banerjee states that while digital has given a platform to scores of actors and makers to experiment and evolve, the magic of cinema halls will never fade away. "You don't go to watch a film just to watch the story or the dance or the music, you go for the cinematic experiences always. You can never take the magic of the cinema hall lightly," the actor said and added that digital has its own space. "Its a great medium. The medium has always been there for people to experiment, to explore, to evolve. We have seen so many brilliant actors all over the world and we have seen them in shows," he said. Banerjee is also remembered for his performances in films like 'Stree', 'Bala' and ‘Dream Girl’. Considering he has played the antagonist in two web series back to back- does he feel he'll get stereotyped? "No- because they are very different characters. I think that's what I've been trying to do. I have done roles and characters very different from each other. I don’t have a range man. I have been trying to mix up the characters, I have not stuck to any range so far. I don't have a game plan. My game plan is blank," Banerjee said and is hopeful that this will not make him stick to any particular genre. Post 'Kali 2', Banerjee has a mixed bag of drama and comedy. He is part of Umesh Shukla's next with Paresh Rawal and Sharman Joshi, a film with Ayushmann Khurrana and 'Dostana 2. "It's a good mix of comedy and drama so I am happy," he adds. View this post on Instagram दिवाली 2020 mein hone jaa rahi iss #AankhMicholi mein aap invited hai सपरिवार। #Diwali2020 🥳🥳 @sonypicturesin @mgr_studios @abhimanyud @mrunalofficial2016 @sharmanjoshi @divyadutta25 @nowitsabhi @grushkapoor24 @vivekkrishnani @ashishwagh7 #UmeshShukla #PareshRawal #VijayRaaz #darshanjariwala A post shared by abhishek Banerjee (@nowitsabhi) on Feb 19, 2020 at 8:31pm PST × Considering he has a long experience as a casting director, does he ever feel his co-actors are miscast in certain roles. "Yes, many a times. Certain takes go wrong, or the dialogue delivery is not right and I feel someone else could have been a better choice for the same role. But that happens to me too. There are days when I don't get my lines right. So it's normal. Criticism is a part of our job," says Banerjee as he signs off. ‘Kaali 2’ is available for streaming on ZEE5.

Abhishek Banerjee on his roles in 'Paatal Lok' and 'Kaali 2': I would want people to compare the two characters

<p>After earning critical praise at last year's Jagran Film festival, director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh's new film ‘Chintu Ka Birthday' is all set to premiere digitally on ZEE5 on 5th June.<br />
<br />
The film has been on everyone's list for a long time. When ZEE5 announced the premiere on 5th June via a poster release recently, a sea of congratulatory messages came in on social media for the directors, producers, actors and the entire crew. Now the OTT platform has unveiled the trailer of the film which is a story of an Indian family trying to celebrate the youngest member Chintu's 6th birthday in a war-torn country like Iraq.<br />
<br />
The trailer captures the crux of the film in a very subtle way while giving away the most honest and real emotions. It gives a glimpse into the family aspiring to bake a cake for Chintu and celebrate his birthday despite the lockdown. As seen in the trailer, the film revolves around the narrative of an endearing middle-class family trying to celebrate a 6-year-old's birthday whilst tackling the extraordinary situation in a war-torn country of Iraq.</p>

<p>Watch the trailer here:</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aF5RJ4e9hdk" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Award winning director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh of ‘Chintu Ka Birthday’ said, “The two and a half minute film trailer sums up the spirit of the film - a family stuck in war-torn Iraq. We really hope that the audience will enjoy the surprise and the innocence of Chintu (and his family) will melt your hearts. Although the film is set in Iraq in 2004, the present situation, where we are locked down in our houses with our families is no different. We have to live in the moment, love each other and keep faith that this too shall pass.’’<br />
<br />
Directed by National Award-winning filmmakers Satyanshu &amp; Devanshu Singh and produced by First Draft Ent, Tulsea and Cinemese Twins. The film stars Vedant Raj Chibber as Chintu, Vinay Pathak as Chintu's father, Tillotama Shome as Chintu's Mother, Bisha Chaturvedi as Laxmi (Chintu's Sister), Seema Pahwa as Chintu's grandmother, Khalid Massou and Mir Mehroos.<br />
<br />
The film was screened in 18 cities during the Jagran Film Festival in 2019 and met with overwhelming response everywhere, eventually winning the Best Film (Viewer’s Choice Award).</p>


After earning critical praise at last year's Jagran Film festival, director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh's new film ‘Chintu Ka Birthday' is all set to premiere digitally on ZEE5 on 5th June.

After earning critical praise at last year's Jagran Film festival, director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh's new film ‘Chintu Ka Birthday' is all set to premiere digitally on ZEE5 on 5th June. The film has been on everyone's list for a long time. When ZEE5 announced the premiere on 5th June via a poster release recently, a sea of congratulatory messages came in on social media for the directors, producers, actors and the entire crew. Now the OTT platform has unveiled the trailer of the film which is a story of an Indian family trying to celebrate the youngest member Chintu's 6th birthday in a war-torn country like Iraq. The trailer captures the crux of the film in a very subtle way while giving away the most honest and real emotions. It gives a glimpse into the family aspiring to bake a cake for Chintu and celebrate his birthday despite the lockdown. As seen in the trailer, the film revolves around the narrative of an endearing middle-class family trying to celebrate a 6-year-old's birthday whilst tackling the extraordinary situation in a war-torn country of Iraq. Watch the trailer here: Award winning director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh of ‘Chintu Ka Birthday’ said, “The two and a half minute film trailer sums up the spirit of the film - a family stuck in war-torn Iraq. We really hope that the audience will enjoy the surprise and the innocence of Chintu (and his family) will melt your hearts. Although the film is set in Iraq in 2004, the present situation, where we are locked down in our houses with our families is no different. We have to live in the moment, love each other and keep faith that this too shall pass.’’ Directed by National Award-winning filmmakers Satyanshu & Devanshu Singh and produced by First Draft Ent, Tulsea and Cinemese Twins. The film stars Vedant Raj Chibber as Chintu, Vinay Pathak as Chintu's father, Tillotama Shome as Chintu's Mother, Bisha Chaturvedi as Laxmi (Chintu's Sister), Seema Pahwa as Chintu's grandmother, Khalid Massou and Mir Mehroos. The film was screened in 18 cities during the Jagran Film Festival in 2019 and met with overwhelming response everywhere, eventually winning the Best Film (Viewer’s Choice Award).

'Chintu Ka Birthday' trailer: A family struggles to celebrate a 6-year-old's birthday in war-torn Iraq

<p>Vinay Pathak and Tillotama Shome's 'Chintu Ka Birthday' is finally getting a release. The film was to premiere in 2018 at MAMI film festival but was dropped from the festival as it was backed by comedy collective AIB. Some of its members got embroiled in Me Too controversy and festival organisers decided to drop the film.<br />
<br />
Now, two years on, the film is all set to premiere on streaming platform ZEE5. This will be the OTT platform's fourth original film after the release of Bamfaad’, ‘Ghoomketu’ and ‘Ateet’.<br />
<br />
This family drama revolves around a 6-year-old named Chintu, stuck in Iraq with his family in the times of Saddam’s fall. A simple, innocent aspiration to celebrate a child’s birthday is beautifully compared to worldly problems in this unique narrative of an endearing middle-class family tackling the extraordinary situation of the war. Will the world come together to cut the cake or rob Chintu his moment of joy? ‘Chintu Ka Birthday’ is a complete family entertainer with several thrilling moments interspersed between humor, fun, and joy, in a heartwarming drama.<br />
<br />
The film was screened in 18 cities during the Jagran Film Festival in 2019 and met with overwhelming response everywhere, eventually winning the Best Film (Viewer’s Choice Award). Actors from India, the US, and the Middle-East play key roles in the film. It is backed by a brilliant and acclaimed crew: DOP Siddharth Diwan (‘Queen’, ‘Trapped’), Editor Charu Shree Roy (‘Chhichhore’, ‘Sui-Dhaaga’), Sound Designer Bishwadeep Chatterjee (‘3 Idiots’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, ‘Madras Cafe’), Production Designer Sukant Panigrahy (‘Dev D’, ‘Drishyam’), and Background Music Naran-Benedict (‘Newton’, ‘Udta Punjab’).<br />
<br />
Vinay Pathak portraying the role of Chintu's father says, “ 'Chintu Ka Birthday’ is the most important film of my career, as well as my association with the new immensely talented director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh. They’ve written an amazingly crafty and sensitive film with gentle humor and huge hearts. It’s surprising to learn that it’s their first full length feature film. ZEE5’s decision to release it on their platform is visionary and praiseworthy. It’s a film any platform would be proud to have in their kitty.<br />
<br />
Once you’ve watched it, you’d know how true and worth every praise is for the film. It’s an ensemble film, about a family, about being a family in dire circumstances, even if it means being stuck in a place for an indefinite time. I take immense pride and great pleasure to invite you all to attend ‘Chintu ka Birthday’ on the 5th of June, on ZEE5, a humane celebration of life you’d savior forever.”<br />
<br />
Directed by National Award-winning filmmakers Satyanshu &amp; Devanshu Singh and produced by First Draft Ent, this film will be exclusively released on ZEE5 on 5 th June.<br />
<br />
“We have grown up watching how our parents put our needs above theirs, sacrificing for us in ways big and small,” Devanshu recalls. “The grandparents narrating stories to their grandchildren, the love of the elder sibling for the younger one, how a neighbour is also a part of the family.”<br />
<br />
“The film for us is a beautiful confluence of two realities – the family life we have lived back home in Bihar and the influence of world cinema,” Satyanshu says. “We were also deeply inspired by Sooraj Barjatya when we were growing up. He showed the commonplace details of weddings. We did that with a birthday. Singing an impromptu song, blowing balloons, fighting and cajoling among loved ones – this is all Sooraj ji.”<br />
<br />
Tillotama Shome, essaying the character of Chintu' s mother says, “As Chintu's mother, I invite you, to Chintu ka Birthday. A film about a birthday in the midst of a lockdown. A film about a family that manages to choose hope amidst chaos. <em>Zaroor aaiyega, humaare saath birthday manaane</em>.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Vinay Pathak and Tillotama Shome's 'Chintu Ka Birthday' is finally getting a release. The film was to premiere in 2018 at MAMI film festival but was dropped from the festival as it was backed by comedy collective AIB.

Vinay Pathak and Tillotama Shome's 'Chintu Ka Birthday' is finally getting a release. The film was to premiere in 2018 at MAMI film festival but was dropped from the festival as it was backed by comedy collective AIB. Some of its members got embroiled in Me Too controversy and festival organisers decided to drop the film. Now, two years on, the film is all set to premiere on streaming platform ZEE5. This will be the OTT platform's fourth original film after the release of Bamfaad’, ‘Ghoomketu’ and ‘Ateet’. This family drama revolves around a 6-year-old named Chintu, stuck in Iraq with his family in the times of Saddam’s fall. A simple, innocent aspiration to celebrate a child’s birthday is beautifully compared to worldly problems in this unique narrative of an endearing middle-class family tackling the extraordinary situation of the war. Will the world come together to cut the cake or rob Chintu his moment of joy? ‘Chintu Ka Birthday’ is a complete family entertainer with several thrilling moments interspersed between humor, fun, and joy, in a heartwarming drama. The film was screened in 18 cities during the Jagran Film Festival in 2019 and met with overwhelming response everywhere, eventually winning the Best Film (Viewer’s Choice Award). Actors from India, the US, and the Middle-East play key roles in the film. It is backed by a brilliant and acclaimed crew: DOP Siddharth Diwan (‘Queen’, ‘Trapped’), Editor Charu Shree Roy (‘Chhichhore’, ‘Sui-Dhaaga’), Sound Designer Bishwadeep Chatterjee (‘3 Idiots’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, ‘Madras Cafe’), Production Designer Sukant Panigrahy (‘Dev D’, ‘Drishyam’), and Background Music Naran-Benedict (‘Newton’, ‘Udta Punjab’). Vinay Pathak portraying the role of Chintu's father says, “ 'Chintu Ka Birthday’ is the most important film of my career, as well as my association with the new immensely talented director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh. They’ve written an amazingly crafty and sensitive film with gentle humor and huge hearts. It’s surprising to learn that it’s their first full length feature film. ZEE5’s decision to release it on their platform is visionary and praiseworthy. It’s a film any platform would be proud to have in their kitty. Once you’ve watched it, you’d know how true and worth every praise is for the film. It’s an ensemble film, about a family, about being a family in dire circumstances, even if it means being stuck in a place for an indefinite time. I take immense pride and great pleasure to invite you all to attend ‘Chintu ka Birthday’ on the 5th of June, on ZEE5, a humane celebration of life you’d savior forever.” Directed by National Award-winning filmmakers Satyanshu & Devanshu Singh and produced by First Draft Ent, this film will be exclusively released on ZEE5 on 5 th June. “We have grown up watching how our parents put our needs above theirs, sacrificing for us in ways big and small,” Devanshu recalls. “The grandparents narrating stories to their grandchildren, the love of the elder sibling for the younger one, how a neighbour is also a part of the family.” “The film for us is a beautiful confluence of two realities – the family life we have lived back home in Bihar and the influence of world cinema,” Satyanshu says. “We were also deeply inspired by Sooraj Barjatya when we were growing up. He showed the commonplace details of weddings. We did that with a birthday. Singing an impromptu song, blowing balloons, fighting and cajoling among loved ones – this is all Sooraj ji.” Tillotama Shome, essaying the character of Chintu' s mother says, “As Chintu's mother, I invite you, to Chintu ka Birthday. A film about a birthday in the midst of a lockdown. A film about a family that manages to choose hope amidst chaos. Zaroor aaiyega, humaare saath birthday manaane.”

Vinay Pathak, Tillotama Shome's 'Chintu Ka Birthday' to release on ZEE5

<p>Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's next film 'Ghoomketu' will release on OTT&nbsp;platform Zee5.<br />
<br />
Helmed by Pushpendra Nath Misra and produced by Phantom Films and Sony Pictures Network, the comedy-drama will start streaming from May 22.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/aamir-khan-wants-scriptwriters-to-continue-writing-with-more-enthusiasm-amid-lockdown-297601" hreflang="en">Aamir Khan wants scriptwriters to continue writing with more enthusiasm amid lockdown</a><br />
<br />
The film follows the story of a struggling writer portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.</p>

<p>'Manto' actor&nbsp;had never-seen-before a &nbsp;character like Ghoomketu and enjoyed playing it. “Ghoomketu has a phenomenal storyline which will definitely entertain the audience. During this time of the lockdown, I am glad that a humorous film that the entire family can watch is being streamed on ZEE5,” the actor.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>In pics:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/here-is-your-go-to-guide-of-everything-new-you-can-stream-this-may-296441" hreflang="en">Here is your go-to guide of everything new you can stream this May</a><br />
<br />
Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh made an announcement about the release of the film on social media on Saturday.<br />
<br />
It will also feature&nbsp;filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and actors Ila Arun, Raghubir Yadav, Swanand Kirkire and Ragini Khanna.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rishi-kapoors-last-film-sharmaji-namkeen-will-get-a-theatrical-release-producer-confirms-297489" hreflang="en">Rishi Kapoor’s last film 'Sharmaji Namkeen' will get a theatrical release, producer confirms</a></p>

<p>Besides Siddiqui, Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Chitrangada Singh,&nbsp;Lauren Gottlieb and filmmaker Nikhil Advani have made special appearances.&nbsp;</p>


Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's next film 'Ghoomketu' will release on OTT platform Zee5. Helmed by Pushpendra Nath Misra and produced by Phantom Films and Sony Pictures Network, the comedy-drama will start streaming from May 22.

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's next film 'Ghoomketu' will release on OTT platform Zee5. Helmed by Pushpendra Nath Misra and produced by Phantom Films and Sony Pictures Network, the comedy-drama will start streaming from May 22. Also read: Aamir Khan wants scriptwriters to continue writing with more enthusiasm amid lockdown The film follows the story of a struggling writer portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. 'Manto' actor had never-seen-before a character like Ghoomketu and enjoyed playing it. “Ghoomketu has a phenomenal storyline which will definitely entertain the audience. During this time of the lockdown, I am glad that a humorous film that the entire family can watch is being streamed on ZEE5,” the actor. In pics: Here is your go-to guide of everything new you can stream this May Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh made an announcement about the release of the film on social media on Saturday. It will also feature filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and actors Ila Arun, Raghubir Yadav, Swanand Kirkire and Ragini Khanna. Also read: Rishi Kapoor’s last film 'Sharmaji Namkeen' will get a theatrical release, producer confirms Besides Siddiqui, Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Chitrangada Singh, Lauren Gottlieb and filmmaker Nikhil Advani have made special appearances.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer 'Ghoomketu' to get online release on Zee5

<p>Art transcends boundaries.&nbsp;In its endeavour to bring relatable stories, Zee Theatre, a segment of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., has added two critically acclaimed plays from Pakistan, to their repository - 'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' and 'Mushk'. The plays are now available on ZEE5 Global.</p>

<p>With these new&nbsp;stories, Zee Theatre has made quality content accessible to&nbsp;audiences across the world.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Since 2015, Zee Theatre has offered more than 80 famous teleplays across genres and languages - from suspense and drama to musicals, social issues, classics and satire.</p>

<p>On adding two international plays to their list of&nbsp;teleplays, Shailja Kejriwal, Chief Creative Officer – Special Projects, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said,&nbsp;"Zee Theatre has meticulously worked to showcase the finest of theatre to its audiences, telling innately Indian stories and skilfully adapting international content. By going beyond borders with our teleplays, we realised the potential that comes with creating content for global audiences and working with international talent. Our goal of showcasing the best of theatre is now further magnified given its larger spectrum."</p>

<p>'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' is based on a youthful, visually impaired man who chooses to live away from his over-protective mother. He forms a close friendship with his neighbour (an actor) who is set to essay an unusual role in a film. The play addresses how society responds to individuals with disabilities, be it physical or emotional, and regards them as pariahs. The play stars Sarmad Khoosat (also the co-director), Samiya Mumtaz, Zain Afzal, Iman Shahid and is directed by Kanwal Khoosat.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"It was an enriching experience to collaborate with Zee Theatre on this play because of the strong message it packs. Being involved in dual roles allowed me to explore the sensitive story and its characters. " said&nbsp;Sarmad Khoosat. The actor, filmmaker and screenwriter is best known for directing TV shows such as 'Humsafar', 'Pani Jaisa Piyar', 'Baaghi', 'Manto' and 'Shehr-e-Zaat'.</p>

<p><strong>In pics:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/photos/here-is-your-go-to-guide-of-everything-new-you-can-stream-this-may-296441" hreflang="en">Here is your go-to guide of everything new you can stream this May</a><br />
&nbsp;<br />
Zee Theatre’s second offering 'Mushk', is directed by Kanwal Khoosat and stars two of the most versatile actors from Pakistan’s film and TV industry – Sania Saeed and Nimra Bucha. It&nbsp;is the story of a reclusive genius writer and a journalist who visits her house to conduct an interview. Paring away each other’s lies and evasions, their interaction reveals an increasingly complex pattern in an apparently simple melody. Through the story, the characters realize the meaning of love and that things are not really as they seem.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
“The allure of Mushk lies in its complex and delicately woven plot along with strong performances by Nimra and Sania. Their portrayal of Sophiya and Zoay’s individualistic feelings is honest and relatable. To see Mushk go beyond the boundaries of where it was first conceptualised is lovely. By collaborating with Zee Theatre, we are happy to showcase our creative vision to the rest of the world,” said Kanwal Khoosat.</p>

<p>'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' and 'Mushk' are now streaming&nbsp;on ZEE5.</p>


Art transcends boundaries. In its endeavour to bring relatable stories, Zee Theatre, a segment of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., has added two critically acclaimed plays from Pakistan, to their repository - 'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' and 'Mushk'.

Art transcends boundaries. In its endeavour to bring relatable stories, Zee Theatre, a segment of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., has added two critically acclaimed plays from Pakistan, to their repository - 'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' and 'Mushk'. The plays are now available on ZEE5 Global. With these new stories, Zee Theatre has made quality content accessible to audiences across the world. Since 2015, Zee Theatre has offered more than 80 famous teleplays across genres and languages - from suspense and drama to musicals, social issues, classics and satire. On adding two international plays to their list of teleplays, Shailja Kejriwal, Chief Creative Officer – Special Projects, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said, "Zee Theatre has meticulously worked to showcase the finest of theatre to its audiences, telling innately Indian stories and skilfully adapting international content. By going beyond borders with our teleplays, we realised the potential that comes with creating content for global audiences and working with international talent. Our goal of showcasing the best of theatre is now further magnified given its larger spectrum." 'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' is based on a youthful, visually impaired man who chooses to live away from his over-protective mother. He forms a close friendship with his neighbour (an actor) who is set to essay an unusual role in a film. The play addresses how society responds to individuals with disabilities, be it physical or emotional, and regards them as pariahs. The play stars Sarmad Khoosat (also the co-director), Samiya Mumtaz, Zain Afzal, Iman Shahid and is directed by Kanwal Khoosat. "It was an enriching experience to collaborate with Zee Theatre on this play because of the strong message it packs. Being involved in dual roles allowed me to explore the sensitive story and its characters. " said Sarmad Khoosat. The actor, filmmaker and screenwriter is best known for directing TV shows such as 'Humsafar', 'Pani Jaisa Piyar', 'Baaghi', 'Manto' and 'Shehr-e-Zaat'. In pics: Here is your go-to guide of everything new you can stream this May Zee Theatre’s second offering 'Mushk', is directed by Kanwal Khoosat and stars two of the most versatile actors from Pakistan’s film and TV industry – Sania Saeed and Nimra Bucha. It is the story of a reclusive genius writer and a journalist who visits her house to conduct an interview. Paring away each other’s lies and evasions, their interaction reveals an increasingly complex pattern in an apparently simple melody. Through the story, the characters realize the meaning of love and that things are not really as they seem. “The allure of Mushk lies in its complex and delicately woven plot along with strong performances by Nimra and Sania. Their portrayal of Sophiya and Zoay’s individualistic feelings is honest and relatable. To see Mushk go beyond the boundaries of where it was first conceptualised is lovely. By collaborating with Zee Theatre, we are happy to showcase our creative vision to the rest of the world,” said Kanwal Khoosat. 'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' and 'Mushk' are now streaming on ZEE5.

Two acclaimed Pakistani plays 'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar' & 'Mushk' are now streaming on Zee5

<p>All OTT platforms that stream in India have now decided that they will restrict streaming on cellular networks in India to only SD (Standard definition) content until April 14 in lieu of complete lockdown in the country for 21 days after PM Modi’s address.</p>

<p>High definition (HD) as well as ultra-HD shall both be suspended effective immediately, and the bitrates shall also be lowered to 480p. This measure has been taken to counter the unprecedented surge in mobile internet consumption as India prepares to spend three weeks at home in self-isolation, to battle the coronavirus spread.</p>

<p>However, this move by the digital players is only for cellular networks and not for broadband.</p>

<p>According to a press release, the decision was taken during a virtual meeting organised by Uday Shankar, chairman, Star &amp; Disney India, which was attended by top industry leaders including Sanjay Gupta (Google India), Ajit Mohan (Facebook India), Punit Goenka (Zee Entertainment Enterprises), NP Singh (Sony Pictures Networks), Sudhanshu Vats (Viacom18), Gaurav Gandhi (Amazon Prime Video), Nikhil Gandhi (Tiktok), Ambika Khurana (Netflix), Karan Bedi (MX Player) and Varun Narang (Hotstar).</p>

<p>“The government and the telecom operators are concerned about the total lockdown’s potential impact on the cellular network infrastructure. The digital industry is acutely aware of this challenge, and is committed to ensuring that all citizens are able to access mobile networks whenever and wherever they want,” read the statement.</p>

<p>Earlier last week, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), that represents Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, had reached out to 12 video streaming platforms to implement measures such as reducing video quality.</p>

<p>A lot of the streaming service providers, including YouTube, Netflix, MX Player, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Voot and ZEE5 have already announced that they have started taking steps to reduce strain on the internet.</p>

<p>Google-owned YouTube had also said in a statement earlier, that it is reducing its default video quality to standard definition across the world. A Google spokesperson said in a statement, “We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation. Last week, we announced that we were temporarily defaulting all videos on YouTube to standard definition in the EU. Given the global nature of this crisis, we will expand that change globally starting today.”<br />
&nbsp;</p>


All OTT platforms that stream in India have now decided that they will restrict streaming on cellular networks in India to only SD (Standard definition) content until April 14 in lieu of complete lockdown in the country for 21 days after PM Modi’s address.

All OTT platforms that stream in India have now decided that they will restrict streaming on cellular networks in India to only SD (Standard definition) content until April 14 in lieu of complete lockdown in the country for 21 days after PM Modi’s address. High definition (HD) as well as ultra-HD shall both be suspended effective immediately, and the bitrates shall also be lowered to 480p. This measure has been taken to counter the unprecedented surge in mobile internet consumption as India prepares to spend three weeks at home in self-isolation, to battle the coronavirus spread. However, this move by the digital players is only for cellular networks and not for broadband. According to a press release, the decision was taken during a virtual meeting organised by Uday Shankar, chairman, Star & Disney India, which was attended by top industry leaders including Sanjay Gupta (Google India), Ajit Mohan (Facebook India), Punit Goenka (Zee Entertainment Enterprises), NP Singh (Sony Pictures Networks), Sudhanshu Vats (Viacom18), Gaurav Gandhi (Amazon Prime Video), Nikhil Gandhi (Tiktok), Ambika Khurana (Netflix), Karan Bedi (MX Player) and Varun Narang (Hotstar). “The government and the telecom operators are concerned about the total lockdown’s potential impact on the cellular network infrastructure. The digital industry is acutely aware of this challenge, and is committed to ensuring that all citizens are able to access mobile networks whenever and wherever they want,” read the statement. Earlier last week, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), that represents Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, had reached out to 12 video streaming platforms to implement measures such as reducing video quality. A lot of the streaming service providers, including YouTube, Netflix, MX Player, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Voot and ZEE5 have already announced that they have started taking steps to reduce strain on the internet. Google-owned YouTube had also said in a statement earlier, that it is reducing its default video quality to standard definition across the world. A Google spokesperson said in a statement, “We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation. Last week, we announced that we were temporarily defaulting all videos on YouTube to standard definition in the EU. Given the global nature of this crisis, we will expand that change globally starting today.”

Netflix, Amazon, Zee5 and all OTT platforms to suspend HD streaming on cellular networks in India

<p>You should probably say&nbsp;goodbye to uncensored entertainment content on OTT&nbsp;platforms in India after recent news reports suggest that leading platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5 among many others have been holding discussions with the Indian government to employ a self-regulation code for the content they show.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India currently has no official guidelines for OTT platforms while the film and television space is regulated by official bodies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The issue first came to news when last year a streaming platform was hit with a lawsuit over one of its original series that was said to have hurt a political party’s sentiment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Then in January, the OTT platforms came together to sign and follow an industry code of conduct and self-regulation for online content. Taking it forward, at a Film Bazaar event in Goa, a session titled ‘The New Matrix of OTT Business,’ which included representatives from Netflix, Zee5 and a senior government official, gave further insights on how the self-regulation code is now being discussed with the government before it is finalised.</p>

<p>"We have had consultations with platforms like Netflix and Zee5 on this issue and the common consensus is that it [streaming] is an emerging area which is taking place on the Internet and hence the old frameworks for print, film and TV should not be applied here and that there should be a different treatment," said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting additional secretary Atul Tiwari.</p>

<p>He also pointed out that "there is a need for some amount of regulation. Ultimately, it is about self-restraint which is going to be very important, and there is also talk of who will [implement] that, whether all OTT platforms should come together so that there is some form of enforcement and respect for these guidelines and some deterrent action for those who violate the guidelines."</p>

<p>It is still inconclusive whether the OTT platforms will implement the same standards of self-regulation in its international content versus its Indian content.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Netflix India's director of original film Aashish Singh said, "I don't have a clear-cut answer yet because the code is still being evolved between all the platforms. But currently, the stand is that we will continue to support the creative producers so that they have the choice and freedom to make what they want and give consumers the option to choose what they want to see."</p>

<p>Zee5 program head Aparna Acharekar added that talks with the government "have been very encouraging and unlike what we feared how they would be...they don't want to be regressive at all." She said that the government "just want us to respect the law of the land, which all of us as OTT platforms are happy about. We have had a lot of sessions and hopefully, something positive will come out for the industry."</p>

<p>Among various proposed guidelines, the OTT platforms have prohibited content that "represents a child engaged in real or simulated sexual activities, or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes" or that "deliberately and maliciously disrespects the national emblem or national flag." They will also avoid content that "deliberately and maliciously intends to outrage religious sentiments of any class, section or community" or programming that "deliberately and maliciously promotes or encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state (of India) or its institutions."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the five-day Film Bazaar, organised by the government's National Film Development Corporation&nbsp;concluded Sunday.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


You should probably say goodbye to uncensored entertainment content on OTT platforms in India after recent news reports suggest that leading platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5 among many others have been holding discussions with the Indian government to employ a self-regulation code for the content they show.

You should probably say goodbye to uncensored entertainment content on OTT platforms in India after recent news reports suggest that leading platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5 among many others have been holding discussions with the Indian government to employ a self-regulation code for the content they show. India currently has no official guidelines for OTT platforms while the film and television space is regulated by official bodies. The issue first came to news when last year a streaming platform was hit with a lawsuit over one of its original series that was said to have hurt a political party’s sentiment. Then in January, the OTT platforms came together to sign and follow an industry code of conduct and self-regulation for online content. Taking it forward, at a Film Bazaar event in Goa, a session titled ‘The New Matrix of OTT Business,’ which included representatives from Netflix, Zee5 and a senior government official, gave further insights on how the self-regulation code is now being discussed with the government before it is finalised. "We have had consultations with platforms like Netflix and Zee5 on this issue and the common consensus is that it [streaming] is an emerging area which is taking place on the Internet and hence the old frameworks for print, film and TV should not be applied here and that there should be a different treatment," said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting additional secretary Atul Tiwari. He also pointed out that "there is a need for some amount of regulation. Ultimately, it is about self-restraint which is going to be very important, and there is also talk of who will [implement] that, whether all OTT platforms should come together so that there is some form of enforcement and respect for these guidelines and some deterrent action for those who violate the guidelines." It is still inconclusive whether the OTT platforms will implement the same standards of self-regulation in its international content versus its Indian content. Netflix India's director of original film Aashish Singh said, "I don't have a clear-cut answer yet because the code is still being evolved between all the platforms. But currently, the stand is that we will continue to support the creative producers so that they have the choice and freedom to make what they want and give consumers the option to choose what they want to see." Zee5 program head Aparna Acharekar added that talks with the government "have been very encouraging and unlike what we feared how they would be...they don't want to be regressive at all." She said that the government "just want us to respect the law of the land, which all of us as OTT platforms are happy about. We have had a lot of sessions and hopefully, something positive will come out for the industry." Among various proposed guidelines, the OTT platforms have prohibited content that "represents a child engaged in real or simulated sexual activities, or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes" or that "deliberately and maliciously disrespects the national emblem or national flag." They will also avoid content that "deliberately and maliciously intends to outrage religious sentiments of any class, section or community" or programming that "deliberately and maliciously promotes or encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state (of India) or its institutions." Meanwhile, the five-day Film Bazaar, organised by the government's National Film Development Corporation concluded Sunday.

OTT platforms like Zee5, Netflix in talks with Indian government for self regulation

<p>Over The Top platforms, Zee5 has joined hands with Ekta Kapoor's ALTBalaji to create and co-produce 60 plus unique shows that will be available for streaming in both the apps. The trailer of the first two shows was launched recently. Both 'Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala' and 'Mission Over Mars (M-O-M)' will be available on both platforms, further bolstering their content library.<br />
<br />
Starring Divyanka Tripathi and Rajeev Khandelwal, 'Coldd Lassi aur Chicken Masala' is a story of two aspiring chefs which has been directed by filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar. 'Mission Over Mars (M-O-M)', meanwhile, is a fictional adaptation of real-life heroes at ISRO who worked on Mangalyaan. The same mission inspired the story of Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan's recently released 'Mission Mangal'. The web series&nbsp;will feature Sakshi Tanwar, Mona Singh, Nidhi Singh, Palomi Ghosh in lead roles, along with veteran actors Ashish Vidyarthi and Mohan Joshi in supporting roles.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"Zee and Balaji have been collaborating for close to 25 years. With Zee's expertise in choosing the best scripts and ALTBalaji's insights into audience preferences, this is a collaboration based on mutual trust and faith in each other. Having two of the biggest homegrown OTT platforms collaborating to co-create content, we are sure to cover the A to Z(ee) of entertainment genres and cater to all preferences," Ekta Kapoor, joint managing director, Balaji Telefilms, said in a statement.<br />
<br />
Aparna Acharekar, programming head, ZEE5 said the two new shows represent the first step taken by ZEE5 towards strengthening its association with ALTBalaji.<br />
<br />
“We are seeing a huge uptake among youth for movies and shows that instill pride for the country, and M-O-M. will be the perfect show for them. Romantic stories told beautifully have always been a winner for Indians and that assures us that Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala will be a winner. Through this association with ALTBalaji, we believe we will be able to bring a robust portfolio of engaging content to our subscribers the world-over," Acharekar said.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fA5foLCnFBE" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6qWsmv3Y3rk" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
While 'Coldd Lassi aur Chicken Masala' will be available from September 3, ' 'Mission Over Mars' will be streaming from September 15.&nbsp;</p>


Over The Top platforms, Zee5 has joined hands with Ekta Kapoor's ALTBalaji to create and co-produce 60 plus unique shows that will be available for streaming in both the apps.

Over The Top platforms, Zee5 has joined hands with Ekta Kapoor's ALTBalaji to create and co-produce 60 plus unique shows that will be available for streaming in both the apps. The trailer of the first two shows was launched recently. Both 'Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala' and 'Mission Over Mars (M-O-M)' will be available on both platforms, further bolstering their content library. Starring Divyanka Tripathi and Rajeev Khandelwal, 'Coldd Lassi aur Chicken Masala' is a story of two aspiring chefs which has been directed by filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar. 'Mission Over Mars (M-O-M)', meanwhile, is a fictional adaptation of real-life heroes at ISRO who worked on Mangalyaan. The same mission inspired the story of Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan's recently released 'Mission Mangal'. The web series will feature Sakshi Tanwar, Mona Singh, Nidhi Singh, Palomi Ghosh in lead roles, along with veteran actors Ashish Vidyarthi and Mohan Joshi in supporting roles. "Zee and Balaji have been collaborating for close to 25 years. With Zee's expertise in choosing the best scripts and ALTBalaji's insights into audience preferences, this is a collaboration based on mutual trust and faith in each other. Having two of the biggest homegrown OTT platforms collaborating to co-create content, we are sure to cover the A to Z(ee) of entertainment genres and cater to all preferences," Ekta Kapoor, joint managing director, Balaji Telefilms, said in a statement. Aparna Acharekar, programming head, ZEE5 said the two new shows represent the first step taken by ZEE5 towards strengthening its association with ALTBalaji. “We are seeing a huge uptake among youth for movies and shows that instill pride for the country, and M-O-M. will be the perfect show for them. Romantic stories told beautifully have always been a winner for Indians and that assures us that Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala will be a winner. Through this association with ALTBalaji, we believe we will be able to bring a robust portfolio of engaging content to our subscribers the world-over," Acharekar said. While 'Coldd Lassi aur Chicken Masala' will be available from September 3, ' 'Mission Over Mars' will be streaming from September 15.

ZEE5, ALTBalaji join hands for 'Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala' and 'Mission Over Mars'; watch the trailers

<p>ZEE5, a multi-lingual digital entertainment platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Apigate, which is a new-breed Application Programming Interface (API) platform, to deliver the largest bouquet of content across languages and genres to audiences globally, said a company statement. The collaboration brings the plethora of ZEE5’s exciting content, including top TV Shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Jodhaa Akbar and Sembaruthi, blockbusters like Kedarnath, Veere Di Wedding and Mersal, and Originals like Abhay (Kunal Kemmu), Final Call (Arjun Rampal), Rangbaaz (Saqib Saleem) and Sharate Aaj (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) to audiences in 11 countries globally, said the statement, adding that it will leverage on Apigate’s next-generation API ecosystem to create innovative value propositions for customers.</p>

<p>Through this partnership, ZEE5 will leverage not only Direct Carrier Billing which offers consumers a secure and convenient payment solution but will also go beyond that to offer bundling, wallets and application to person messaging for all subscribers, the statement added.</p>

<p>Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global, said, “As content creators, we’re creating rich and engaging content across multiple languages for our viewers across the globe. We have an ambitious growth agenda to expand ZEE5’s reach to a wider audience segment across global markets, and we’re very happy to announce our partnership with Apigate which will enable us to do that."&nbsp;</p>

<p>On this partnership, Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer- ZEE5 Global, said “We’ve set out to establish ZEE5 as the clear go-to-market destination for language content for South Asians and beyond, in the shortest possible time. We’re thrilled to partner with Apigate for this, given their ability to remove the complexities of multiple contracts which enables us to scale quickly. We look forward to jointly taking our fabulous bouquet of content to markets around the globe.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zoran Vasiljev, Chief Executive Officer, Apigate said, “We are excited to partner with a well-known brand like ZEE5 as this is a testament to the relevance of Apigate’s platform in empowering digital transformation for businesses.”</p>

<p>Raja Mansukhani, Senior Vice President APAC, Apigate added, “Having built a world-class ecosystem of Mobile Network Operators, we are able to give ZEE5 access to customers all around the world by enabling expansion through one connection.”</p>

<p>A part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) - a global Media and Entertainment powerhouse, ZEE5 offers 100,000 hours of Indian Movies, TV Shows, News, Music, Videos and exclusive Originals, across 12 languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. It also offers 60+ popular Live TV channels, including ZEE’s best-loved channels.</p>


ZEE5, a multi-lingual digital entertainment platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Apigate, which is a new-breed Application Programming Interface (API) platform, to deliver the largest bouquet of content across languages and genres to audiences globally, said a company statement.

ZEE5, a multi-lingual digital entertainment platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Apigate, which is a new-breed Application Programming Interface (API) platform, to deliver the largest bouquet of content across languages and genres to audiences globally, said a company statement. The collaboration brings the plethora of ZEE5’s exciting content, including top TV Shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Jodhaa Akbar and Sembaruthi, blockbusters like Kedarnath, Veere Di Wedding and Mersal, and Originals like Abhay (Kunal Kemmu), Final Call (Arjun Rampal), Rangbaaz (Saqib Saleem) and Sharate Aaj (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) to audiences in 11 countries globally, said the statement, adding that it will leverage on Apigate’s next-generation API ecosystem to create innovative value propositions for customers. Through this partnership, ZEE5 will leverage not only Direct Carrier Billing which offers consumers a secure and convenient payment solution but will also go beyond that to offer bundling, wallets and application to person messaging for all subscribers, the statement added. Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global, said, “As content creators, we’re creating rich and engaging content across multiple languages for our viewers across the globe. We have an ambitious growth agenda to expand ZEE5’s reach to a wider audience segment across global markets, and we’re very happy to announce our partnership with Apigate which will enable us to do that." On this partnership, Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer- ZEE5 Global, said “We’ve set out to establish ZEE5 as the clear go-to-market destination for language content for South Asians and beyond, in the shortest possible time. We’re thrilled to partner with Apigate for this, given their ability to remove the complexities of multiple contracts which enables us to scale quickly. We look forward to jointly taking our fabulous bouquet of content to markets around the globe.” Zoran Vasiljev, Chief Executive Officer, Apigate said, “We are excited to partner with a well-known brand like ZEE5 as this is a testament to the relevance of Apigate’s platform in empowering digital transformation for businesses.” Raja Mansukhani, Senior Vice President APAC, Apigate added, “Having built a world-class ecosystem of Mobile Network Operators, we are able to give ZEE5 access to customers all around the world by enabling expansion through one connection.” A part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) - a global Media and Entertainment powerhouse, ZEE5 offers 100,000 hours of Indian Movies, TV Shows, News, Music, Videos and exclusive Originals, across 12 languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. It also offers 60+ popular Live TV channels, including ZEE’s best-loved channels.

ZEE5 and Apigate announce a landmark partnership at Mobile World Congress

<p>Arjun Rampal is ready to make his digital debut with a web series titled ‘The Final Call’. The series is based on author Priya Kumar’s book ‘I Will Go With You.’</p>

<p>Arjun, in a statement, said: “I am thrilled about my digital debut with ZEE5 for ‘The Final Call’. This story is special and you will see me in a very different avatar. We just wrapped up our first shoot schedule in Kashmir and I cannot wait to present the final product to the viewers.”</p>

<p>He also tweeted: “So excited to announce my new project #TheFinalCall – a story that will change the way you see your own life – forever. My debut web series with @ZEE5India based on @kumarpriya’s book ‘I Will Go With You’. Stay tuned! @tarunkatial #vijaylalwani.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So excited to announce my new project <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheFinalCall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheFinalCall</a> - a story that will change the way you see your own life – forever. My debut web series with <a href="https://twitter.com/ZEE5India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZEE5India</a> based on <a href="https://twitter.com/kumarpriya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kumarpriya</a>’s book ‘I Will Go With You’. Stay tuned! <a href="https://twitter.com/tarunkatial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tarunkatial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vijaylalwani?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vijaylalwani</a> <a href="https://t.co/LAbHU0TMmd">pic.twitter.com/LAbHU0TMmd</a></p>
— arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) <a href="https://twitter.com/rampalarjun/status/1072747109475147777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The series will stream on Zee5 and will release in early 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mahesh Aggarwal, Business Head, ZEE5 India, said: “‘The Final Call’ is our maiden foray into the genre of web series based on book adaptations. Arjun Rampal fit the character of the protagonist perfectly.”</p>


Arjun Rampal is ready to make his digital debut with a web series titled ‘The Final Call’. The series is based on author Priya Kumar’s book ‘I Will Go With You.’ Arjun, in a statement, said: “I am thrilled about my digital debut with ZEE5 for ‘The Final Call’.

Arjun Rampal is ready to make his digital debut with a web series titled ‘The Final Call’. The series is based on author Priya Kumar’s book ‘I Will Go With You.’ Arjun, in a statement, said: “I am thrilled about my digital debut with ZEE5 for ‘The Final Call’. This story is special and you will see me in a very different avatar. We just wrapped up our first shoot schedule in Kashmir and I cannot wait to present the final product to the viewers.” He also tweeted: “So excited to announce my new project #TheFinalCall – a story that will change the way you see your own life – forever. My debut web series with @ZEE5India based on @kumarpriya’s book ‘I Will Go With You’. Stay tuned! @tarunkatial #vijaylalwani.” So excited to announce my new project #TheFinalCall - a story that will change the way you see your own life – forever. My debut web series with @ZEE5India based on @kumarpriya’s book ‘I Will Go With You’. Stay tuned! @tarunkatial #vijaylalwani pic.twitter.com/LAbHU0TMmd — arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) December 12, 2018 × The series will stream on Zee5 and will release in early 2019. Mahesh Aggarwal, Business Head, ZEE5 India, said: “‘The Final Call’ is our maiden foray into the genre of web series based on book adaptations. Arjun Rampal fit the character of the protagonist perfectly.”

Arjun Rampal to make digital debut with web series ‘The Final Call’

<p>The newly-launched over-the-top (OTT) offering from the global media conglomerate Zee Group is expected to make significant contributions to its overall revenues. Amit Goenka, chief executive officer, Zee International and Z5 Global, is of the view that in the next 25 years, a majority of growth will come from digital. And with BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) doing digital ratings as well, it will help the ecosystem grow and substantially explode going forward. In conversation with&nbsp;<strong>Ashish K Tiwari</strong>, Goenka shares more details about ZEE5, its content offering, pricing and more.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Could you take us through the company&#39;s journey in the OTT space?</strong></p>

<p>A. Basically, we took insights and conducted research with the user base across our two existing platforms (dittoTV and OZEE). Using the feedback, we have put together the right experience and content to be able to cater to today&#39;s market. We entered OTT in 2012 and a lot has changed since, more so in the last few years like cost of bandwidth and reach, availability, affordability and penetration of smartphones, etc. The new OTT platform ZEE5 is a culmination of all of that and has been built basis all of the research and data we had to cater to the drastically changed consumer environment across urban and rural areas.</p>

<p><strong>Q. How is ZEE5 different from the earlier platforms?</strong></p>

<p>A. ZEE5 offers content across 12 languages, browsing capability across 11 languages, features like voice search that&#39;s more relevant for tier-II and -III towns where consumers are just getting on to the smartphone and OTT platform bandwagon. Being new to the phenomenon, search and discovery is fairly new to people in these markets and voice search helps in getting over that hurdle. Another very important feature is &#39;download to you&#39;, without which any offering in the Indian market is incomplete. This apart, there are various other small features, like consumers can continue to browse (the app for more content) while simultaneously watching the content. At the back-end, we have adopted a multi-CDN (content distribution network) strategy, based on a real-time performance-based selection that ensures a high quality, superbly optimised video viewing experience for viewers across all devices. Apart from enhancing the user experience, the content offering is far more enhanced compared to the earlier platforms.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Tell us about the content offering of ZEE5?</strong></p>

<p>A. We are putting a whole lot of international and original content on the platform. Bringing in original content, I would say, is the need of the hour today. The digital audience is always looking for something new/different and not necessarily the same content that&#39;s on television. And if you want them to pay for it, then you need to give them compelling content that they are willing to pay for. New movies across languages is another offering on the content side. Dubbed international content is being made available across six languages - Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, and of course, Hindi. We will also have all the Zee Theatre shows produced and made available on ZEE5.</p>

<p><strong>Q. You are offering a combination of free and premium content on ZEE5. Is that correct?</strong></p>

<p>A. Majority of it will be free. The premium content will include international shows, original shows, acquisitions, redirected (fast-pacing of our existing shows and dubbing for a different experience to audiences who may not have seen it in the long form) and so on. We are experimenting with a lot of original and premium content, and depending on what works, we will do more and more of that in the future.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Will it be only Zee content or you will also have content from other channels?</strong></p>

<p>A. Since all other players have their own OTT services, we will not have their content on the ZEE5 platform. Our linear TV offering will continue so we will have third-party content, especially in the news genre and some of the southern language content.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Will the new OTT platform be made available globally?</strong></p>

<p>A. Yes. We are launching it in India for now, and over the next three months, we will roll it out in the global markets.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Is ZEE5 an app-only offering or will you make it available on the website as well?</strong></p>

<p>A. It&#39;s both, responsive web as well as app on the iOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and both iOS and Android are capable of casting to a large screen if you want to. ZEE5 also supports Chromecast. The progressive web app has been built with Google, which gives you an app experience without downloading the app, which is also a very good feature. That&#39;s because people with lower-end smartphones generally do not have large storage on their devices and this helps in giving them the app experience without having to use up storage on their devices.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Is content consumption more on the app or the web?</strong></p>

<p>A. Our experience with OZEE shows it is 50:50 between app and web. With ZEE5, since we are spreading the content to tier-II and -III cities. I would think the web may be higher to start with.</p>

<p><strong>Q. How are you pricing the ZEE5 offering?</strong></p>

<p>A. The actual pricing is Rs 150 (per month) but we are doing a launch offer at Rs 99 (a month) for the first 12 months. Depending on the traction and feedback from the market, we will take a call on whether to stay at Rs 99 or go to Rs 150.</p>

<p><strong>Q. Will ZEE5 be available on JioTV as well considering the huge customer base there?</strong></p>

<p>A. Our live offering is already there on JioTV. As far as our premium offering is concerned, we are still in talks with Jio&nbsp;and will partner most telcos going forward. We haven&#39;t concluded any deals yet so wouldn&#39;t want to talk much about it.&nbsp;</p>


Amit Goenka shares more details about ZEE5, its content offering, pricing and more

The newly-launched over-the-top (OTT) offering from the global media conglomerate Zee Group is expected to make significant contributions to its overall revenues. Amit Goenka, chief executive officer, Zee International and Z5 Global, is of the view that in the next 25 years, a majority of growth will come from digital. And with BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) doing digital ratings as well, it will help the ecosystem grow and substantially explode going forward. In conversation with Ashish K Tiwari, Goenka shares more details about ZEE5, its content offering, pricing and more. Q. Could you take us through the company's journey in the OTT space? A. Basically, we took insights and conducted research with the user base across our two existing platforms (dittoTV and OZEE). Using the feedback, we have put together the right experience and content to be able to cater to today's market. We entered OTT in 2012 and a lot has changed since, more so in the last few years like cost of bandwidth and reach, availability, affordability and penetration of smartphones, etc. The new OTT platform ZEE5 is a culmination of all of that and has been built basis all of the research and data we had to cater to the drastically changed consumer environment across urban and rural areas. Q. How is ZEE5 different from the earlier platforms? A. ZEE5 offers content across 12 languages, browsing capability across 11 languages, features like voice search that's more relevant for tier-II and -III towns where consumers are just getting on to the smartphone and OTT platform bandwagon. Being new to the phenomenon, search and discovery is fairly new to people in these markets and voice search helps in getting over that hurdle. Another very important feature is 'download to you', without which any offering in the Indian market is incomplete. This apart, there are various other small features, like consumers can continue to browse (the app for more content) while simultaneously watching the content. At the back-end, we have adopted a multi-CDN (content distribution network) strategy, based on a real-time performance-based selection that ensures a high quality, superbly optimised video viewing experience for viewers across all devices. Apart from enhancing the user experience, the content offering is far more enhanced compared to the earlier platforms. Q. Tell us about the content offering of ZEE5? A. We are putting a whole lot of international and original content on the platform. Bringing in original content, I would say, is the need of the hour today. The digital audience is always looking for something new/different and not necessarily the same content that's on television. And if you want them to pay for it, then you need to give them compelling content that they are willing to pay for. New movies across languages is another offering on the content side. Dubbed international content is being made available across six languages - Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, and of course, Hindi. We will also have all the Zee Theatre shows produced and made available on ZEE5. Q. You are offering a combination of free and premium content on ZEE5. Is that correct? A. Majority of it will be free. The premium content will include international shows, original shows, acquisitions, redirected (fast-pacing of our existing shows and dubbing for a different experience to audiences who may not have seen it in the long form) and so on. We are experimenting with a lot of original and premium content, and depending on what works, we will do more and more of that in the future. Q. Will it be only Zee content or you will also have content from other channels? A. Since all other players have their own OTT services, we will not have their content on the ZEE5 platform. Our linear TV offering will continue so we will have third-party content, especially in the news genre and some of the southern language content. Q. Will the new OTT platform be made available globally? A. Yes. We are launching it in India for now, and over the next three months, we will roll it out in the global markets. Q. Is ZEE5 an app-only offering or will you make it available on the website as well? A. It's both, responsive web as well as app on the iOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and both iOS and Android are capable of casting to a large screen if you want to. ZEE5 also supports Chromecast. The progressive web app has been built with Google, which gives you an app experience without downloading the app, which is also a very good feature. That's because people with lower-end smartphones generally do not have large storage on their devices and this helps in giving them the app experience without having to use up storage on their devices. Q. Is content consumption more on the app or the web? A. Our experience with OZEE shows it is 50:50 between app and web. With ZEE5, since we are spreading the content to tier-II and -III cities. I would think the web may be higher to start with. Q. How are you pricing the ZEE5 offering? A. The actual pricing is Rs 150 (per month) but we are doing a launch offer at Rs 99 (a month) for the first 12 months. Depending on the traction and feedback from the market, we will take a call on whether to stay at Rs 99 or go to Rs 150. Q. Will ZEE5 be available on JioTV as well considering the huge customer base there? A. Our live offering is already there on JioTV. As far as our premium offering is concerned, we are still in talks with Jio and will partner most telcos going forward. We haven't concluded any deals yet so wouldn't want to talk much about it.

"ZEE5 caters to the drastically changed consumer environment across urban and rural areas," says Amit Goenka

<p>In a first, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has launched an app called Zee5 which will be a one-stop digital destination for all the entertainment galore. The Zee5 app addresses the entertainment demands of a new India that is increasingly digital savvy and globally connected, yet fundamentally rooted in its culture. With &#39;language&#39; as the core proposition embodied in the entire content and user experience, Zee5 will cater to the tech savvy India without boundaries.</p>

<p>&quot;With the launch of ZEE5 we see ourselves catapulting into the next phase of growth,&quot; said Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global. &quot;Digital will play a critical role in fueling this growth and we wanted to ensure that we had a strong offering and presence in the space,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Zee5 will be available on iOS and Android phones, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast. Zee5 is also available at www.zee5.com and as a progressive Web app. For all those movie addicts out there, it contains a huge line-up of originals, Indian and international movies and TV shows, music, live TV and health and lifestyle content.</p>

<p>&quot;The launch of ZEE5 further strengthens us as a Media &amp; Entertainment powerhouse. A blend of unrivalled content offering and robust technology is the foundation of this all-new digital offering from our end. We have invested immense amount of time and energy in creating and acquiring rich and engaging content for ZEE5, which I&rsquo;m sure will be cherished by our viewers across the nation and worldwide,&quot; said Punit Goenka, MD &amp; CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.</p>

<p>The content on Zee5 is available in 12 languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Odiya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Punjabi.&nbsp; The app is equipped with voice search, so the users will be able to find movies and shows easily. It comes packed with 1,00,000 hours of on-demand content, including exclusive originals, Indian and international movies and TV shows, music, and health and lifestyle videos across languages.</p>

<p>Zee5 also has an extensive live tv offering with 90+ popular live television channels. With all this content available in one place, Zee5 truly becomes the most comprehensive entertainment platform for language content in India. Zee5 comes with a &#39;freemium&#39; pricing model with both free and paid premium content to cater to a mix of audiences. The viewers who opt for a subscription pack will get access to the entire library of content at a special launch offer price of Rs 99 per month instead of the actual monthly pack price of Rs 150.</p>

<p>Zee5 gives you additional benefits as the content download option enables the viewer to download content from the app while on Wi-Fi and save it to watch later without incurring data costs and the option to save this content on the SD/memory card enables viewers to manage their phone memory easily.</p>


Zee5 will be available on iOS and Android phones, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast.

In a first, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has launched an app called Zee5 which will be a one-stop digital destination for all the entertainment galore. The Zee5 app addresses the entertainment demands of a new India that is increasingly digital savvy and globally connected, yet fundamentally rooted in its culture. With 'language' as the core proposition embodied in the entire content and user experience, Zee5 will cater to the tech savvy India without boundaries. "With the launch of ZEE5 we see ourselves catapulting into the next phase of growth," said Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global. "Digital will play a critical role in fueling this growth and we wanted to ensure that we had a strong offering and presence in the space," he added. Zee5 will be available on iOS and Android phones, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast. Zee5 is also available at www.zee5.com and as a progressive Web app. For all those movie addicts out there, it contains a huge line-up of originals, Indian and international movies and TV shows, music, live TV and health and lifestyle content. "The launch of ZEE5 further strengthens us as a Media & Entertainment powerhouse. A blend of unrivalled content offering and robust technology is the foundation of this all-new digital offering from our end. We have invested immense amount of time and energy in creating and acquiring rich and engaging content for ZEE5, which I’m sure will be cherished by our viewers across the nation and worldwide," said Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. The content on Zee5 is available in 12 languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Odiya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Punjabi. The app is equipped with voice search, so the users will be able to find movies and shows easily. It comes packed with 1,00,000 hours of on-demand content, including exclusive originals, Indian and international movies and TV shows, music, and health and lifestyle videos across languages. Zee5 also has an extensive live tv offering with 90+ popular live television channels. With all this content available in one place, Zee5 truly becomes the most comprehensive entertainment platform for language content in India. Zee5 comes with a 'freemium' pricing model with both free and paid premium content to cater to a mix of audiences. The viewers who opt for a subscription pack will get access to the entire library of content at a special launch offer price of Rs 99 per month instead of the actual monthly pack price of Rs 150. Zee5 gives you additional benefits as the content download option enables the viewer to download content from the app while on Wi-Fi and save it to watch later without incurring data costs and the option to save this content on the SD/memory card enables viewers to manage their phone memory easily.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited announces the launch of ZEE5

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