Latest news with #Jawan
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
My life itself was a masterclass in challenges, says Eijaz Khan
Eijaz Khan, known for roles in 'Jawan' and 'Tanu Weds Manu,' emphasizes the futility of comparing oneself to others, citing his humble beginnings as a grounding force. He acknowledges the industry's demands and his past struggles, highlighting a shift towards self-care and spiritual growth. Eijaz Khan , who has featured films like Jawan and Tanu Weds Manu , feels that it is futile to compare one's success to others. He shares, 'You can't compare yourself with others. Our starting lines are different. I come from humble beginnings and thinking about where I started out to where I am today, keeps me grounded. This industry always takes an equal pound of flesh.' Elaborating on the process of dealing with his inner battles, he says, 'My life itself was a masterclass in challenges. The chaos of competition doesn't shake me anymore.' The actor also highlights his unwavering commitment to self-care. 'Earlier, I didn't really invest in my health or focus on evolving spiritually. But now I do. I realised I was pouring my time and energy into everything, but my own healing. Even my anger, when it surfaces, reminds me where I need to heal. At this stage in my life, I just want to live fully and in the present,' he signs off.
India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Shah Rukh Khan lights up Sitaare Zameen Par screening, hugs and poses with actors
Shah Rukh Khan lit up the screening of 'Sitaare Zameen Par' on Thursday in Mumbai. He arrived late for the star-studded screening, hosted by Aamir Khan. The actor interacted with the debutant actors, hugged them and posed for pictures. In a viral video, we can also see him strike his iconic open-arms pose with one of the and his girlfriend Gauri Spratt were seen welcoming Shah Rukh Khan at the screening. The debutant actors of 'Sitaare Zameen Par' were visibly excited to meet 'Jawan' actor was seen wearing a white shirt, blue hoodie and a black beanie for the screening. Viral videos and photos from the screening have been doing the rounds. Here's the video: The screening also saw Salman Khan, Rekha, Vicky Kaushal, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Rajkumar Hirani and Tamannaah, among others in to the screening, Shah Rukh Khan also visited the sets of 'Sitaare Zameen Par'. The makers shared a video of his visit as part of the film's the video, he can be seen telling the cast, "Aamir has told me at least 10 times. He said, 'Come and meet the actors. They are doing so well'. I didn't get time earlier, but every day I meet him, whenever I am meeting him, he is calling me, saying, 'Please come. Please come'. Even 3 days ago, he told me, 'Shah, tu ana yaar (Come no, please)! '"advertisementHere's the video: 'Sitaare Zameen Par' is a spiritual sequel to Aamir Khan's 'Taare Zameen Par'. The film marks Aamir Khan's return to the big screen in three years after 'Laal Singh Chaddha'.Trending Reel
India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
India's cinema halls struggle with dwindling footfalls
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 23, 2025)Amidst the glitz and spectacle of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), one topic weighed on the minds of most film industry stakeholders—the current crisis in the theatre business. 'I have always believed that India has too few theatres, given the size of the country and [number of] people,' actor Aamir Khan said at a session. 'Our biggest theatre hits have had footfalls of 30-35 million. That's 2 per cent of our population in what is a cinema-loving country.' Seated next to him was Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR Cinemas and managing director of country's biggest multiplex chain, PVR INOX Ltd. Bijli replied in jest, 'Main office jaata hoon [I better head to office to get work done].'advertisementThe world's most populous country has just about 9,000 screens, a number that has been steadily declining, largely due to the closure of single-screen cinemas. The figure implies that there are roughly 7-8 screens per million people. More than half of these screens are concentrated in southern territories, predominantly in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, followed by Karnataka and Kerala. Even as new box office benchmarks have been set post-pandemic with releases like Pathaan, Jawan, Animal, Stree 2 and Pushpa–Chapter 2–The Rule, the hard reality is that footfalls have still not matched up to 2019 levels. As Aamir called for more screens in 'vast tracts where there are no cinemas', Bijli reminded us that existing screens were struggling to put bums on the existing 4 million seats. 'Consistency of content that engages is important, as the consumer is critical,' Bijli said. 'We need to start cinemas pockets where they are not available.'advertisement The latest EY report on India's media and entertainment sector states the need for low-priced theatres in Tier III and IV markets alongside growth in 'mass-themed films'. Five months into 2025, there has been only one that fits the bill—Chhaava, a period action drama on Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, which collected Rs 530 crore, a significant chunk of it coming from Maharashtra. Bollywood's sluggish start to the year cannot be attributed to just fewer big releases in the first half. Mid-budget films have also struggled to make an impact, with just a few exceptions such as Kesari-Chapter 2, Raid 2 and Jatt. At Cinepolis India, which has 186 of its 430 screens in Tier II and III centres, the situation is improving, but with a caveat. 'While overall attendance figures have recovered to near pre-Covid levels—85 per cent of 2019 level in 2024—this is primarily due to the increase in screen count rather than per-screen productivity, which is down 25-30 per cent,' says Devang Sampat, the managing director of the multiplex group. 'This disparity highlights the underlying challenges the exhibition sector faces. Ultimately, it boils down to the content the industry is churning out.' The chain's expansion strategy has seen it open cinemas in Kozhikode, Bhopal, Jaipur, Rajkot and Kannur, with plans to set up shop in Jhansi, Pondicherry and Jodhpur in a few DIVIDE Talk to any exhibitor and the conversation ultimately boils down to the lack of a steady stream of compelling films that can lure the audiences back into cinema halls. 'Nobody makes movies for the masses anymore,' says Yusuf Shaikh, whose family operates five single screeners in Gujarat that are just about breaking even. 'We are not ready to understand who our audience is or [have] ignored who they are.' An 'ABCD film', one that connects in all geographic centres, is a rarity, he says. Instead, he praises filmmakers in the South for working out 'their target audience and sale and recovery model' as well as marketing, which has resulted in a few films becoming hits even in the Hindi belt. 'In the South, actors have their own fan clubs. Even the music and trailer launch are events for them,' he no overlooking the fact that the South is way above the rest of India when it comes to big screen viewing. As per of the 6,877 theatres in India, 54 per cent are in the five southern states. Add Maharashtra, and the figure rises to 70 per cent. Screen density in the South too is much higher than the national average. Ashish Pandey, currently head, programming and strategic initiatives, at MovieMax, has been in the film distribution business for over two decades and has some understanding on why the likes of Andhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu dominate. 'In the South, there's a culture of going to the cinemas. It's not like you are going for the sake of entertainment alone. It's also not considered demeaning to go to the cinemas. So, there's no hesitation,' he says. 'A regular audience comes regardless of which film is released. There's penetration of cinemas even in smaller towns.'advertisement But all is not hunky-dory even in the hero-worshipping South. If there's a Tourist Family (Tamil) or Thudarum or Alappuzha Gymkhana (both Malayalam) which succeeds, there's also a Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, which failed to live up to the hype. Sunil Narang of Asian Cinemas feels some course correction is needed, especially when it comes to aspects such as the theatre-to-streaming release window. In the South, it's just 28 days, compared to 56 days in the Hindi belt. Steep ticket prices as well as those for food and beverage, he feels, are also deterring audiences. 'How can we have more screens when existing screens are not running?' he laments. 'Where are the movies? Where are the numbers? How will the theatres run?' As many as 30-40 single-screen cinemas in the South have closed in the past six months, he says. THE BIG PICTUREadvertisementIf India wants to level up to the markets in China and the United States, what it needs are films that pique audience interest enough for them to make the trip. 'There isn't a regular supply of tentpole pictures or big films. They come once every three months; the rest of the time is when we face a downturn,' says Pandey, whose MovieMax is looking to expand from 80 to 100 screens by the end of the year. 'Once we have a stronger content pipeline, the expectation is that those footfalls will come back. Because people are coming to the cinemas even to watch re-releases and smaller, mid-budget fare like Munjya and 12th Fail.'But even these pleasant surprises are too few and far between. Bijli summarises the cinema theatre business post-pandemic as akin to 'feast and famine', wherein a film does exceedingly well only to be followed by a long dry spell where nothing clicks. Yet, he also realises that new cinemas need to come up in smaller centres as opposed to the big cities. Currently, 372 of PVR INOX's 1,743 screens are located in 66 Tier II and Tier III cities and come with a cumulative seating capacity of 80,947. In 2018, the multiplex giant launched the 'franchise owned, company operated' (FOCO) model to take its presence beyond the metros. Adopting an 'asset-light strategy', FOCO has franchise partners who own the property but with PVR INOX handling the design, operations and customer experience. Under this, 42 screens are operating across 12 locations, with 35 more planned in nine new locations, including Shillong, Gangtok and Shaikh is hoping to revolutionise the film exhibition market with Janta Cinemas, a business idea that emerged from a simple premise: 'Grahak khada hai, dukaan hi nahin hai [(The customer is there. But there's no shop in sight)'. He has tied up with the state governments of Assam and Tripura to convert vacant town halls and panchayat houses into 300-seater cinema spaces. While the morning and afternoon hours are devoted to edutainment, the evenings are reserved for films. Tickets are priced at Rs 99 and Shaikh throws in a chai and samosa too.'What this country needs is cinema halls for the masses. I am planning 10,000 screens in the next two years,' he boasts, adding that he is already communicating with the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi to launch more Janta properties. 'I am converting the pirate audience to the ticketed audience.' The ultimate endeavour, he hopes, is that there's a steady maintenance of average collections through modest outlets, which, in turn, helps build a loyal audience. It may not have swanky recliner seats or fancy food and beverage offerings, but what it can ensure is that the show goes on. A houseful one at to India Today Magazine
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
When Ridhi Dogra Was Asked If She Wanted To Attend SRK's Om Shanti Om Premiere
Last Updated: Ridhi Dogra recalled her memorable experience at the Om Shanti Om premiere, which was a whirlwind of emotions, with Deepika Padukone's debut making a lasting impression. Can a single night change the course of your life? For Ridhi Dogra, crashing the grand Om Shanti Om bash was a moment that would stay with her forever. Long before she became a household name, the Jawan actress had a brush with Bollywood glamour that was both unexpected and unforgettable. In a recent interview, Ridhi opened up about her daring move and the memories that lingered. In a candid conversation with Curly Tales, Ridhi Dogra took a trip down memory lane, recalling her early days at Zoom Television, where she was still navigating the media landscape. Film journalist Omar Qureshi, a senior colleague, would often receive invites to A-list film screenings and events, and he'd generously offer Ridhi and her peers a chance to tag along. 'He asked us who wanted to attend screenings for Saawariya or Om Shanti Om, and I jumped at the chance to watch Om Shanti Om," Ridhi reminisced, a smile still playing on her lips as she recounted the thrill of rubbing shoulders with Bollywood's elite. But little did Ridhi know, she was about to walk into a star-studded event. As she entered Yash Raj Studios, she was swept into a whirlwind of glamour and excitement, unaware that she was about to witness one of Bollywood's most epic premieres. 'I had no idea what I was getting into. I thought I was just going to watch a film, but the entire film industry was there," she revealed, still in awe of the magnitude of the event. She further revealed that the event was attended by many big names, including legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, as well as talented divas such as Rani Mukerji, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor. And then, of course, there were the stars of the show: Shah Rukh Khan and debutant Deepika Padukone, alongside veteran icon Rekha. 'I was completely starstruck. I felt out of place and overwhelmed. Deepika was so shy – it was her first film, and I was feeling like I didn't belong. Back then, we didn't take selfies with stars, and you couldn't just stare; there was a sense of reverence and shyness that added to the magic of the night," she confessed. On the professional front, Ridhi Dogra was recently seen in the JioHotstar series Kull, which began streaming on May 2. First Published: June 19, 2025, 13:40 IST
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
SRK begins filming intense jail action scene for King with 200 stuntmen: Report
After the massive success of 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan', Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is set to return to the action genre with his much-anticipated film 'King'. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the shoot of the high-octane action thriller recently began in a foreign jail. It is an intense action sequence, which will be one of the key highlights of the to a Mid Day report, the filming of the jail sequence began earlier this week at Mumbai's Mehboob Studios. The scene features Shah Rukh Khan's character, a ruthless assassin, taking on a gang of criminals inside a foreign prison. "The scene is set in a foreign jail, where the protagonist takes on a gang of baddies. Since it forms a critical part of the narrative, Siddharth has flown in three international stunt experts to design the scene. On June 15, the crowd portions were canned with nearly 200 stunt performers," a source revealed to the news prepare for this physically demanding scene, Shah Rukh has undergone intense action training over the past few weeks. The shoot for the jail sequence will reportedly continue until June 21, with several whistle-worthy moments expected to thrill audiences. 'King' promises to present Shah Rukh Khan in a slick, action-packed avatar once again. The film also marks the theatrical debut of Suhana Khan, who made her acting debut in Zoya Akhtar's 'The Archies'.The ensemble cast includes Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Saurabh Shukla, Raghav Juyal, and Abhay Verma. Abhishek Bachchan is reportedly playing the film's primary antagonist, while the rest of the characters are being kept under project is expected to have a shoot schedule of over 100 days and is tentatively set for a theatrical release on Gandhi Jayanti 2026. While the music will be composed by the popular duo Sachin–Jigar, the background score will be handled by Anirudh Reel
