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Priyanka Bhadani
Priyanka Bhadani

ROUNDUP

Indu Sarkar's buzz, Anushka Sharma’s next production and more

ent-indu-sarkar Indu Sarkar poster

Political play

The moment he announces a film, Madhur Bhandarkar makes sure that there is enough buzz around it. His next, Indu Sarkar – inspired by the events of the 21 months of Emergency imposed from 1975 to 1977 by the Indira Gandhi government – has already started making noise. More so because the BJP-inclined Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani has given the film’s theme a thumbs up. In a report, he is quoted as saying that a film on the period was waiting to be made.

According to Bhandarkar, he chose the subject because he wanted the younger generation to be aware of this phase in Indian history. “Nobody has made a film on the subject. Plus, it’s the 1970s. It would be good to capture this phase,” he said at the trailer launch of the film on Friday in Mumbai.

A few of weeks ago, the debut directorial project of two budding documentary filmmakers Vinay Shukla and Khusboo Ranka, An Insignificant Man, hit a roadblock because the CBFC wanted them to get NOCs from the political leaders mentioned/shown in the film. In the case of Indu Sarkar, even though the title and the characters in the trailer scream of proximity to the members Gandhi family, no such demands have been made so far. The film is slated to release on July 28.

First online series on Amazon Prime India

Amazon Prime Video launched the trailer of its first original, Inside Edge on Friday along with the Excel Entertainment team headed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. Amazon looks at it as a landmark moment for Amazon Prime Video in India as it marks its foray into creating original content for Indian audiences. The series will be launched on July 10 across 200+ countries and territories. Created by Karan Anshuman, Inside Edge, is a 10-episode series that combines the worlds of cricket and entertainment.

Akhtar said that with this show, they are creating something that is completely new. “This is going to create its own analysis of how digital shows in India are going to work. It’s going to resonate with the Indian people in a different way.”

Nitesh Kripalani, Director and Country Head, Amazon Prime Video India, said the goal of Amazon Prime Video India is to change the way Indian customers consume premium entertainment in India, and to change the way content creators create content for Indian and worldwide customers.

The fact that there have been hardly any landmark shows on the Indian digital space, other than TVF Pitchers and two seasons of Permanent Roommates, there’s a lot of anticipation around Inside Edge.

Anushka Sharma’s next production venture

Earlier this year, there was a lot of hope riding on the Anushka-starrer Phillauri when its trailer came followed by intense digital promotions. Although the film didn’t do as well as expected, it had its own fans. Recently, Clean Slate Films, owned by Sharma and her brother, Karnesh, revealed the first look of their third production venture, Pari. The team defines it as a layered and mysterious love story. The first poster is haunting and hair-raising. Anushka, in a ghost-like make-up, stares right at you as the poster announces that the film is on floors now.

Directed by debutant Prosit Roy, the film also stars Parambrata Chatterjee. According to Prernaa Arora of KriArj Entertainment that’s co-producing the film, “Pari is a fantastic story. It promises an intriguing and engaging cinematic experience for the audience.”

Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya to re-unite?

After completing the shoot of Bhoomi, actor Sanjay Dutt has teamed up with its director and producer, Omung Kumar and Sandeep Singh again. This time for a romantic thriller, Malang, which will mark the directorial debut of Aarambhh Singh. For the leading lady of the film, the makers are thinking of approaching Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. While Dutt, who has earlier worked with Bachchan in Shabd (2005), has recommended her name, Omung Kumar too has worked with her in last year’s Sarabjit.

Aarambhh Singh says the film that will be shot in two long schedules in Varanasi and Shimla, will roll in December, and they are currently in the process of completing the screenplay. “Sanjay sir is keen on Aishwarya. We want to replicate their Shabd chemistry in our romantic-thriller,” he said adding that the idea is to give the audience a fresh perspective on love as it also marks Dutt’s foray into romance after a long time.

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