The anticipated reunion of two legends won't just debut theatrically but also open a movie gala. 

2026 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). 

The Mahesh Narayanan-directed Malayalam thriller, one of the most anticipated Indian films of 2026, also stars Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, and Revathy. 

Described as a high-stakes thriller packed with combat, chases, secret missions, covert operatives, death threats and assassination attempts, 

marks Mohanlal and Mammootty’s first on-screen reunion in 18 years.

The 24th edition of IFFLA will take place from April 23 to 26 and will close with Anusha Rizvi’s Delhi-set social satire 

Mohanlal-Mammootty's 'Patriot' To Open 2026 Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles

There’s a special genre of Hindi social dramas that distinguish themselves by making a mess of perfectly sensible themes. They’re so chuffed about saying something progressive that they say it with the confidence of a 5-year-old teacher’s pet. They’re so determined to school the average viewer that they do it in the syllabus of pandering. They’re so convinced that only intent counts that the storytelling is treated like a Zoom meeting with an attendance-not-mandatory option. Did I need to use such an unnecessarily colourful analogy? No, but it would help if the film-making tried to be as creative. 

is the latest example. It brings a cartoon knife to a live-action gunfight. It’s more frustrating to watch because the ideology is sound, but instantly subdued by the demands of a deafening algorithm. The result is a performative women-written-by-men project, where the depth is more theoretical than practical, and where artificial moments are spoon-fed to convey brutal truths. 

The six-episode series is centered on the transformation of a Traditional Indian Woman when her younger sister-in-law becomes a victim of marital rape. There’s no denying that it has a bunch of interesting ideas. This middle-aged protagonist, Kamlesh (Divya Dutta), is a product of patriarchy herself. She is the only uneducated person in a forward-thinking household. Her ideals about womanhood and domesticity are regressive. Her father-in-law (Sanjay Mishra) is a celebrated author and anti-establishment man, and her husband (Faisal Rashid) is gentle and caring; they are the ones who chastise her for wanting a son and not a daughter. What’s fascinating is that she is partly responsible for the horrors inflicted on young Pooja. She pampers her brother-in-law Arun (Siddharth Shaw) and inadvertently shapes him with her worldview to a point where he becomes the problematic creep in the family; she’s blind to his faults. What’s even more fascinating is that when Kamlesh is humbled by her own complicity, the two women soon realise that patriarchy cannot be smashed in a day; revolution is not the solution, evolution is. Even if they dream of grand statements — like escaping, self-harm, rage, revenge, or abandoning the family and hiring a lawyer to get justice — they know that they have to remain within the system to challenge it. 

Kamlesh even mentions that all it takes is for them to cook a dish of their choice, not stop cooking altogether. Their dissent need not be dramatic; it doesn’t always need the cinematic flourish of feminism. It’s a leaf from the pages of 

, whose co-writer Divy Nidhi Sharma is the creator of this show. I also like that it takes the axe to the hypocrisies of self-proclaimed liberals. The head of the family writes poetry and hides his primal chauvinism behind words. The mask fades the moment the carefully calibrated image of his family is under threat; a simple apology for him is enough to undo the trauma of sexual abuse. There’s nothing worse than “badnaami” in his book. His green-flag son — Kamlesh’s husband — admits he doesn’t have a spine to defy his dad, and that “I can be the hero’s husband, if not the hero”. He knows right from wrong, but he can’t stand up for his wife because it involves standing up to the old-school values of his father and toxic masculinity of his brother. 

But there’s a thin line between mainstream self-awareness and contrived wokeness. At first, it looks like 

is being cute by delivering modern messages in the language of the dated tv-soap aesthetic. It’s like seeing a saas-bahu serial excavate the ruins of its own foundation. Arun even behaves like a 90s villain who licks his lips and offers an evil chuckle before closing the door and preying on his wife. There’s a grandmother who doesn’t speak much; you know her words will arrive when the script is in a tight spot. But then it becomes clear that 

is not that radical. It just knows no other way of putting across its packaged commentary. It’s the typical on-the-nose and patronising tone that epitomises social entertainment made by privileged classes. 

The binaries are grating. Kamlesh is staged as such a village bumpkin that you’d think she’s an infant written by adults. The series mistakes her illiteracy for intellectual diminishment. When she addresses her husband as “Pinky ke Papa,” he encourages her to call him by his real name instead; she lectures other women on the duties of “lugai” (the colloquial term for wife) in the kitchen and bedroom; she slaps a broken Pooja when she tells her about the rape; she pronounces lesbian as “libian,” and her wariness of a short-haired queer activist is mined for cheap humour. The series makes her distinctly unlikable in its pursuit of a saas-bahu caricature. The character is more of a concept than a human; you can tell that empowerment means she will go from “lugai this lugai that” to “aurat this aurat that”. It’s as if the script notes are simply slapped onto the screen as dialogue.

also makes the cardinal mistake of presenting a female saviour as a gendered version of the male saviour. Pooja and her hell exist for Kamlesh’s transformation, which is why Kamlesh often behaves like a narrow-minded man who just happens to be a conditioned woman. She is essentially the protagonist of someone else’s story. And Pooja is presented as the kind of Gen-Z stereotype who would seem implausible in this setting; she does activism in her spare time, attends LGBTQ+ protests, says “I am more than my body” in the middle of an assault, speaks in trending terms, and generally acts like an urban and chronically online social media kid (“why expect middle-class women to start a revolution?”) who’s been parachuted into this joint family out of nowhere. 

The performances are flattened by the simplistic writing. It’s nice to see Divya Dutta get a lead role playing a familiar character, but the Disney-fication of Kamlesh’s personality is difficult to see. Such women are usually relegated to the background as bitchy aunts or regressive relatives, so I get why the series chooses to spotlight her and not the victim. But her main-character energy is more acceptable on paper than on the screen; it reduces Prasanna Bisht’s Pooja to an accessory in search of a senior ally. Bisht was impressive in 

, therefore it’s all the more perplexing to see the woman culturally appropriated by a show that operates in the broadest of broad strokes. The finale paints itself into a corner and wraps things up with a poorly crafted and hurried climax. A slate with statistics at the end of six episodes is never a good sign, nor is a random slow-mo walk after an unconvincing speech. In short, 

thinks it’s a bird that can fly by virtue of looking like a bird, only to reveal that it has wings of clay. 

Not the gender empowerment story we deserve

Chiraiya

'Chiraiya’ Series Review: A Liberal Mind Undone By A Conservative Body

Actor Shruti Haasan has joined the cast of 

2, the makers announced on Thursday at the Prime Video Presents: India launch event in Mumbai. The series, headlined by Ananya Panday in its first season, returns with an expanded ensemble later this year. 

 followed a privileged young woman, Bae, navigating a fall from grace, forcing her to rebuild her life independently in Mumbai. The show combined elements of comedy and drama, tracking Bae's journey to forge a new identity and career.

Season 2 continues Bae’s arc with a sharper focus on ambition and personal conflict. The official description reads: 'With her own news show finally on air, Bae is ready to rule! But fame comes with fallout. The drama in her personal life is even messier as Bae is caught between her returning ex-husband and her distractingly hot boss. And just when Bae thought her sisterhood was solid, a “Nayi Behen” enters, and the behencode starts to crack. Love is war. Work is a battlefield. And a new mystery is about to explode.'

The new season is produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, with Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta serving as producers. Somen Mishra and Collin D’Cunha are attached as executive producers, with D’Cunha also directing the series.

 comprises Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar and Rohit Nair. Alongside Panday and Haasan, the ensemble cast includes Vir Das, Gurfateh Pirzada, Varun Sood, Vihaan Samat, Muskkaan Jaferi, Niharika Lyra Dutt, Lisa Mishra and Mini Mathur.

Further details regarding Haasan’s role and the show’s release timeline are yet to be announced. Haasan is also set to appear in the Tamil film 

opposite Vijay Sethupathi. “I’ve been really excited about everything I’m going to do,” the actor recently told 

Shruti Haasan Joins Ananya Panday in 'Call Me Bae' Season 2

At the Prime Video Presents: India launch of their new 2026 slate, Prime Video announced two new original series from Dharmatic Entertainment, the digital content arm of Dharma Productions. Titled 

, the shows continue the company’s focus on contemporary relationship dramas.

Both series are produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta, with Anu Ramsay serving as executive producer.

, directed by Ruchir Arun, centres on two couples whose lives become intertwined after a workplace connection alters the course of their relationships. When Seher and Abhay begin working together, their spouses Ved and Meera unexpectedly develop a relationship of their own. The series follows the emotional consequences that unfold as the four characters navigate the tension between loyalty and desire. The cast includes Paresh Pahuja, Aakanksha Singh, Taaha Shah Badusha and Nikita Dutta.

The show is written by Priyanka Bannerjee, Prateek Payodi, Abhinandan Sridhar and Heem Verma, with dialogues by Preeti Mamgain.

, is directed by Harsh Dedhia and focuses on a relationship shaped by missed opportunities and changing circumstances. The story follows Laila and Aarav, whose teenage romance is interrupted by life decisions and shifting priorities. Years later, the two reconnect in their early twenties, confronting the question of whether their relationship can survive the realities of adulthood.

The show stars Zaeden and Katyani Mehra in the lead roles. The writing team includes Riya Poojary, Rohan Thakkar and Zainab Sapatwala, with dialogues by Jehan Handa and Sapatwala.

Both projects reflect Dharmatic’s emphasis on creating stories for the new-age streaming audiences, focusing on modern relationships and shifting expectations around love, commitment and personal ambition.

The event also confirmed a second season of 

, with Ananya Panday and Vir Das set to reprise their roles. Actor Shruti Haasan will join the new season in a key part, expanding the ensemble of the streaming series.

Dharmatic Unveils Two New Prime Video Series ‘Nazdeekiyan’ and ‘Dono Mile Iss Tarah’

At the Prime Video Presents: India launch of their new 2026 slate, Gold Box Entertainment announced 

, a new musical Telugu series starring Prakash Raj, Madhubala, Srikanth Meka, Akshay Lagusani, Sushmita Shetty, Sijju Menon, Shafi, and Suman. 

Set in Vaikuntapuram, a sacred temple town nestled between the banks of the Godavari and the neon lights of pop stardom, a disciplined heir to a musical throne and a fame-weary singer strike a forbidden chord. To protect a century of heritage, they must navigate a landscape of family secrets, masked identities, and the heavy price of finding their own voices. This makes up the plot of the Palnati Surya Pratap directorial. 

. Set in the 1990s, in the ruthless port town of Isakapatnam, three forces collide—a woman driven by justice, a henchman torn by loyalty, and a common man hungry for revenge—each closing in on the empire built by the port’s most powerful man, Naidu.

 The title stars Aishwarya Rajesh, Samuthirakani ,Sunil, Naresh Agastya, Merin Philip, Sudhakar Komakula, Rajeev Kanakala, Mime Gopi, Rohini, and Raja Chembolu.

Shobu Yarlagadda's Arka Mediaworks announced 

a modern-day western, set on the mean streets of Old City, Hyderabad in which lives of criminals, police and cricket players clash on the eve of a high-stakes gully cricket match. The title co-stars Sudheer Babu, JD Chakravarthy, Hansika, Shraddha Srinath, Adarsh Balakrishna, Nandagopal, Chaitu Jonnalagadda, and Prince. 

co-starring Kiran Abbavaram, Thiruveer, Samyuktha Menon, Tejaswi Rao, Siddique, Aadukalam Naren, Vikas Darshan, Maharshi Vidhya, Vinod Kishan. "In a feudal South Indian town ruled by bloodlines and ancestral bargains, a hidden heir quietly manipulates friendship, love, loyalty, and legacy to reclaim his stolen identity—only to realize that once chaos is unleashed, no one controls where it ends," reads its synopsis. 

Prakash Raj's 'Jagamae Sangeetham', Shraddha Srinath's 'Gully' and Aishwarya Rajesh's 'Isakapatnam' Announced

At the Prime Video Presents: India launch of their new 2026 slate, 

Wallwatcher Films announced two shows, while 

gears up for a darker, more expansive second season—together signalling a strong push into layered, genre-bending narratives across crime, corruption, and the supernatural.

, created, written, and directed by Andrew Louis. The story follows SI Moosa Raaza (M. Sasikumar), who, after a punishment posting to the outskirts of Madurai, cracks a high-profile political cold case—only to suspect he may have wrongfully condemned an innocent man. What follows is a tense moral spiral as Raaza takes on the system he once served, reopening buried truths and risking everything to undo a grave mistake. The series also stars Yashwanth, Anagha Maruthora, Aparna Das, Vivek Prasanna, Revathy Sharma, and Arjun Nandhakumar. It is produced by S. Guhapriya, S. Nandakumar, and Gowtham Selvaraj, with Pushkar and Gayathri as creative producers.

, directed and written by A. Sarkunam, a gritty thriller set against the backdrop of a massive public service exam scam. The narrative centres on a young woman (Dushara Vijayan) who infiltrates a dangerous paper-leak network, only to uncover a far-reaching corruption chain embedded deep within the education system. As the stakes escalate, she must expose the nexus before it derails the futures of countless aspirants. The cast includes Aditi Balan, Abbas, and Vasundhara Kashyap, with Pushkar and Gayathri serving as creative producers.

Season 2 pushes further into supernatural territory. Created and directed by Nandhini JS, the new season follows Rishi (Naveen Chandra) and his team as they investigate eerie abductions where victims return altered—physically scarred and stripped of memory. As unexplained phenomena intensify and a cryptic megalith points to an ancient prophecy, the case begins to hint at an otherworldly invasion with personal implications for Rishi himself. 

The series also stars Sunaina, Kuraishi, Malini Jeevarathnam, Kishore Kumar G, Anupama Kumar, Gaby, Ramesh Thilak, and Deepika Venkatachalam, with writing by Nandhini JS alongside Gautam Kumar Jayaseelan and Charulatha Rangarajan. Produced by Nandhini JS and Shukdev Lahiri under Make Believe Productions, the season promises a gripping blend of investigative drama and cosmic horror

New Seasons of 'Vadhandhi' and 'Inspector Rishi' Announced; Gritty Thriller 'Exam' To Star Dushara Vijayan


Actor Preity Zinta is gearing up for her big comeback with actor-filmmaker 

. At the Prime Video Presents: India launch of their new 2026 slate, the makers announced the new title, which will be written and directed by Kemmu.

While the makers didn't reveal any first look from the project, they dropped a title card of the film along with its tagline: "

"A clueless slacker and his by-the-book best friend—two men who can barely manage their own lives—find the fate of the nation in their hands when they accidentally stumble into a terrorist plot," read the official logline. The film stars Kemmu, Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava and Vanshika Dhir. 

is produced by Drongo Films, the recently launched banner of Kemmu and producer Chirag Nihalani.

Kemmu made his directorial debut with the hit comedy 

in 2024. He began his career as a child actor in the late 1980s with a Doordarshan television series and made his film debut with Mahesh Bhatt’s 

in 1993, before making his debut as a leading man with Mohit Suri’s 2005 romantic drama 

. He has since starred in several films, including the 

Zinta, meanwhile, was last seen on the big screen in the 2018 comedy drama 

in which she co-starred with  Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, Arshad Warsi,  Shreyas Talpade and Pankaj Tripathi.

won't be the only project that will mark the return of Zinta, as she will also be seen this year in

which has been directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan. The film, also starring Deol, Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal, is gearing for an Independence Day weekend release. The film is set against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947.

Preity Zinta To Star in Kunal Kemmu's Directorial 'Vibe'

Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and written by Karan Vyas and Pellissery, the film stars Abhay Verma and Zahan Kapoor.

The film follows the tale of Rose and Atharva, who are bound by an intense and complicated past, and are drawn back together by a passion they cannot escape. What begins as a second chance soon turns into a seductive yet volatile game of love, betrayal, and emotional manipulation. Their fragile reunion is further threatened by an obsessive third lover, whose fixation pushes them into dangerous territory. As desire collides with memory and fantasy blurs with reality, the trio becomes entangled in a web of longing and control, where every choice carries irreversible consequences. 

 is produced by Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal.

Widely regarded as one of the inventive voices in Indian cinema, Pellissery has earned global acclaim for his visually daring and narratively ambitious titles like 

Angamaly Diaries, Jallikkattu, Ee. Ma. Yau 

"To bring together Lijo Jose Pellissery and AR Rahman for this film feels nothing short of momentous," said Sahil Saigal, Partner at True Story Films. "We look forward to beginning production later this year and sharing the magic that Lijo and ARR, along with a stellar team, will bring to audiences.” 

Hailing Pellissery's storytelling vision, Rahman said, "Lijo is a revelation to cinema. Working with Hansal has been a delight, and I’m eager to see what the three of us create together."

The film reunites Rahman with Mehta after his ambitious series 

Adapted from the definitive biographies by historian Ramachandra Guha, 

 is billed as a sweeping, multi-season epic that reimagines the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, "not as the icon we remember, but as the young, flawed, ambitious man the world has yet to meet."

'Dilkashi': First Look of Lijo Jose Pellissery's New Directorial Out


Amazon Prime Video has officially announced two projects in collaboration with Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films at their 2026 slate launch in Mumbai. They released details about the key cast and crew, as well as a first look at the two projects: 

follows the story of five women with their own wounds, dreams, and deadly secrets when they are drawn into a web of deception that threatens to crush them or set them free when a sustainable housing project unravels into a deadly scam. The thriller series is being produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under their banner, HRX Films. It's created and directed by Ajitpal Singh who also co-wrote it with Francois Lunel and Swati Das. 

Prime Video introduced  Parvathy Thiruvothu, Alaya F, Srishti Shrivastava, Rrama Sharma, and Saba Azad in the first look of the series along with other key cast members Suvinder Pal Vicky, Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajit Kapur,  Ashok Pathak, Gautam Rode, Priyanka Setia and Ranjan Raj. 

follows a motley group of robbers who slowly realise they’re the victims to a night-long standoff when they invade the family house of a man with OCD. The film is being produced by Hrithik Roshan, Eshaan Roshan under the banner of HRX Films (a division of Filmkraft Productions) in association with Rajesh A Krishnan’s Soda Films Lab. Krishnan will also be directing the film. The screenplay, originally written by Paul Soter, has been adapted by Kapil Sawant. 

Prime Video released a first look of the film with Pratik Gandhi playing the role of the man with OCD. Other key cast members will include Ranvir Shorey, Gajraj Rao and Anurag Thakur. 

The two projects mark an expanding creative collaboration between HRX Films and Amazon Prime Video.  Speaking of the same, Roshan said, “

marked the start of something special with Prime Video, and Mess feels like a natural next step for us at HRX Films, our partnership with Prime Video has allowed us to explore bold, innovative storytelling, and this project embodies that spirit perfectly.” 

Hrithik Roshan-Backed Prime Originals 'Storm' and 'Mess' Get First Looks

. The actor will be seen in filmmaker Nagraj Popatrao Manjule's next, 

At the Prime Video Presents: India launch of their new 2026 slate, the makers debuted the show's visual unit as it gears up for a release.

The show is backed by Roy Kapur Films, Aatpat and SMR Productions, with Abhay Koranne and Manjule attached as creators and writers. The show is directed by Manjule, best known for his hard-hitting Marathi social dramas like 

also stars Sai Tamankar, Siddharth Jadhav, Bhupendra Jadavat and Gulshan Grover. "In this fictional tale set in 1960s Mumbai, an enterprising cotton trader who craves legitimacy and respect, starts a new gambling game dubbed ‘Matka’, that takes the city by storm and democratizes a terrain previously reserved for the rich and elite," read the logline of the series.

The show is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, Manjule, Gargi Kulkarni, Ashish Aryan and Ashwini Sidwani. Varma had begun filming 

 in 2024, and the show was announced as part of Prime Video's slate last year.

This will be Manjule's first directorial since his 2022 feature 

which was headlined by megastar Amitabh Bachchan.  The sports film, based on the life of Vijay Barse, the founder of NGO Slum Soccer, marked the filmmaker's Hindi debut. 

Meanwhile, Varma is gearing up for a packed 2026. While he already has 

he will also be seen in Hansal Mehta's Netflix series 

The show, starring Anil Kapoor, Akash Khurana, Rhea Chakraborty, Neha Dhupia and Anant Nag, among others, is co-created by Niren Bhatt.

On the film front, Varma was last seen in the theatrical 

(2025). Produced by Manish Malhotra, the film also starred Naseeruddin Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sharib Hashmi.

'Matka King': Vijay Varma, Kritika Kamra Headline Nagraj Popatrao Manjule's Prime Video Series

Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia's new film 

The film tells the story of a rational, city-bred man who returns to his ancestral village, dismissing its age-old beliefs as superstition. Rooted in logic and modernity, he refuses to heed warnings about a forbidden forest tied to his lineage. But when he crosses its boundaries, he unknowingly awakens an ancient, divine force—a goddess whose power defies everything he understands about the world.

What begins as disbelief soon turns into dread, as strange and unexplainable events begin to unfold. The village is gripped by a growing darkness, and whispers of folklore begin to feel all too real. As chaos mounts and danger closes in, he is forced to confront the limits of reason and the existence of forces beyond human comprehension.

Caught between skepticism and faith, he undergoes a profound transformation. No longer just an outsider looking in, he becomes deeply entwined with the fate of the village and its people. As the threat escalates toward annihilation, he must rise to the occasion, embracing a role he never imagined for himself—that of a protector.

Produced by Balaji Telefilms Ltd in association with TVF Motion Pictures and 11:11 Productions, the film is backed by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Arunabh Kumar, and Niraj Kothari. 

Directed by Deepak Mishra and written by Arunabh Kumar, the film stars Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Maniesh Paul, Sunil Grover, Shweta Tiwari, and Anup Soni.

, while Tamannaah Bhatia featured in the Prime show 

In a world where myth and reality collide, 

 explores the tension between belief and logic, tradition and modernity. It is a story of courage, destiny, and the awakening of inner strength in the face of overwhelming odds.

'VVan– Force of the Forest': Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia to Star in New Thriller


the first look of the upcoming spy thriller 

The series, produced by Roy Kapur Films and led by producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, is created by Abbas Tyrewala and directed by Priyanka Ghose. It brings together an ensemble cast that includes Sidhant Gupta, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pavail Gulati, Ronit Roy, Isha Talwar, Chandni Bainz, Faisal Malik and Bobby Deol.

According to details revealed in the first look, the narrative begins in the aftermath of the 1993 Bombay bombings, when a covert intelligence unit is formed with the sole task of protecting Mumbai from future threats. Operating outside public scrutiny, the agency monitors potential attacks and tracks networks connected to hostile organisations.

Years later, the system is compromised when classified information begins to leak to Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s intelligence agency. The breach raises the possibility that someone within the organisation itself is working as a mole.

At the centre of the story is a former field operative believed to have died seven years earlier after being accused of betrayal. Forced out of hiding, he returns to uncover the identity of the real traitor who framed him, even as the agency that once employed him now treats him as a threat that must be eliminated.

The series is written by Tyrewala alongside Arghya Lahiri and Omkar Modgi. It blends elements of political intrigue with action and surveillance drama, framing the search for the mole as both an intelligence operation and a personal reckoning.

The series also brings together a cast that has recently appeared in a range of high-profile projects across film and streaming. Shaikh was recently seen in 

. Gupta has been part of series including 

, and Deol’s recent run includes the series 

‘Teen Kauwe’ First Look Out: Sidhant Gupta-Bobby Deol Led Spy Thriller About a Mole Inside Mumbai’s Secret Agency

Actor-filmmaker Konkona Sensharma is back with her latest directorial, 

series is headlined by actors Aditi Rao Hydari and Barun Sobti, playing half-siblings.

 was announced at a grand event on Thursday as part of Prime Video's slate. The show is backed by Dramsoc, with Sensharma and Jaydeep Sarkar serving as creators. Both have also directed the series.

"Kanishk and Kanupriya, ex-royals and half-siblings united by a crumbling inheritance, are forced to take over their family’s remote heritage hotel, The Khoya Mahal. Desperate to escape, they hatch a reckless plan to free themselves, unaware that Khoya Mahal has plans of its own," read the logline of the show.

The makers also dropped a minute-long teaser of the show, revealing its charming world. "Welcome to Khoya Mahal, peace and tranquility await you," greets Hydari as the video unit then gives a glimpse of its quirky characters.

Hussain Haidry, Sarkar, Sensharma and Genesia Alves. The show also stars veteran actor Aparna Sen—Sensharma's mother—Harish Khanna, Master Luca Adhikari and Dhruv Sehgal. The show is produced by Smriti Jain, Gaurav Mishra, Sensharma, and Sarkar.

Sensharma made her feature directorial debut with the 2017 drama-thriller 

featuring Vikrant Massey, Tillotama Shome, Om Puri, Tanuja, Gulshan Devaiah, Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh and Ranvir Shorey. 

Her directorial follow-up was the 2023 Netflix anthology 

which starred herself along with Tillotama Shome and Amruta Subhash.

On the work front, both Hydari and Sobti have had one release each this year. While Hydari starred in the theatrical 

co-starring Vijay Sethupathi and Arvind Swamy, Sobti was recently seen in Netflix's 

, in which he co-starred with Mona Singh. The show was released in February.

Aditi Rao Hydari, Barun Sobti Lead Konkona Sensharma's Prime Video Directorial 'Welcome To Khoya Mahal'

Actor and producer Alia Bhatt has announced a new production venture, the coming-of-age romantic comedy 

, which will stream on Prime Video. The project will be produced by Bhatt alongside her sister Shaheen Bhatt under their banner Eternal Sunshine Productions.

Bhatt said the film will feature a cast drawn entirely from outside the film industry, introducing new performers rather than established actors. The decision, she suggested, aligns with the production company’s interest in backing fresh voices and stories rooted in contemporary experiences. She also added that she's planned a fitting launch for the cast of the project soon.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film follows Shyamili “Shy” Das, a 20-year-old who believes she has her future mapped out with precision. Her carefully structured life begins to unravel when an unexpected turn of events disrupts her plans, forcing her to confront uncertainty in matters of friendship, love and identity.

Bhatt said the story resonated with the ethos behind Eternal Sunshine Productions, which she co-founded to support character-driven narratives. “At Eternal Sunshine, we’ve always wanted to back stories that feel honest and voices that feel their own,” she said in a statement announcing the project.

The film will be co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani and made in association with Chalkboard Entertainment. Dialogues and additional screenplay have been written by Sehaj Kaur Maini.

According to Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals for Prime Video India, the platform sees the project as a character-led romantic comedy aimed at younger audiences. He described the film as a story about growing up that blends humour with emotional realism.

The music for the film will be composed by Ram Sampath. Further details about the cast are expected to be announced at a later stage.

Bhatt, who has increasingly expanded her role as a producer in recent years, also has several acting projects lined up. She is set to appear in 

, part of the spy universe developed by Yash Raj Films, and in 

, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.

Alia Bhatt Says ‘Don’t Be Shy’ Cast Will Feature Newcomers From Outside the Film Industry

At the Prime Video Presents: India launch of their new 2026 slate, Baweja Studios announced an upcoming courtroom drama titled 

 directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Jyotika in lead roles, alongside Ashutosh Gowariker. The film brings together a compelling mix of talent both in front of and behind the camera, setting the stage for an intense exploration of power, privilege and justice.

This will mark Jyotika's next on-screen appearance after last year's 

, and the actor was present at the event to remark on how excited she is about the project.

At the heart of the story are two women from starkly different worlds. Neha Rajvansh is a privileged and accomplished public prosecutor, while Sarika Rawat works as a courtroom stenographer, navigating life from a far more modest background. When their lives intersect within the judicial system, the encounter sets off a chain of events that disrupts their personal and professional realities.

As the narrative unfolds, the film delves into the complex dynamics of the courtroom, where power often shapes perception and, at times, even truth itself. Through Neha and Sarika’s journeys, the story raises pertinent questions about the nature of justice, examining whether it remains impartial or bends under the weight of influence and hierarchy. The film aims to present not just a legal drama, but also a character-driven narrative that reflects on morality, ambition and the cost of standing one’s ground.

The project is produced by Pammi Baweja, Harman Baweja and Smitha Baliga. The story and screenplay have been written by Harman Baweja and Arun Sukumar, with additional screenplay by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Tasneem Lokhandwala. Dialogues for the film are penned by Akshat Ghildial.

With a strong creative team and a thought-provoking premise, the film promises to offer a nuanced take on the idea of justice in contemporary society.

Jyotika, Sonakshi Sinha Team Up For New Courtroom Drama 'System'

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has set the box-office ablaze with his latest espionage actioner 

which has scripted history with its sensational paid-previews on Wednesday. The film, led by Ranveer Singh, released on over 12,000 shows on what was technically a "half day", as shows started from 5 PM onwards.

clocked a whopping ₹43 crore net on its paid previews. In terms of all-India gross collection, the film stands at over ₹50 crore, comfortably ahead of the previous record holder: Pawan Kalyan-starrer Telugu actioner 

has also emerged as the biggest Bollywood film in terms of paid previews, surpassing 

by a huge margin. The Shraddha Kapoor-Rajkummar Rao-led horror comedy had netted around 8 crore in 2024.

, the film is expected to shatter all opening day records as well. The all-India opening day collections, including premieres, are estimated to be around ₹125 - 150 crore gross, with the Hindi version alone contributing an estimated ₹100-115 crore nett. This will be the biggest opening day one for a Hindi film, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan's 

will look to open around an estimated ₹225-250 crore gross, standing behind the current record holder, 

, which had grossed around ₹280 crore in 2024. The previous best global gross from the Hindi film industry was in 2023, with Khan's 

 grossing around ₹130 crore on day one. 

Produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar, the sequel continues the journey of Indian intelligence agent Hamza Ali Mazari, also known as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who operates undercover in Karachi, infiltrating criminal syndicates and political power structures to dismantle a terror network threatening India.

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Mohanlal-Mammootty's 'Patriot' To Open 2026 Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles

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