BY SACNILK

Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar will make his digital debut with Amazon Prime Video's original web series, Tandav, which he says will focus on the various aspects of the power-hungry world of politics where nothing is wrong or right. ## Created and directed by Zafar, the nine-part political series features an ensemble cast headlined by Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Sunil Grover along with Gauhar Khan, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Kritika Kamra, and others. Zafar has produced the web show with Himanshu Kishan Mehra.## "Through 'Tandav', we take audiences into the power-hungry world of politics. As you watch the show, you'll realize that there is no right or wrong, there is no black or white; the world of power is about the world of greys", the Tiger Zinda Hai director said to IANS.## "I believe that content must be backed by credible performances and I am fortunate to have such heavyweights in the show. I'm excited that my debut as a creator-director in the digital domain is with a streaming platform, which will take this intriguing and gripping story of 'Tandav' to millions across the world", Ali added.## The power-pact teaser of the series was released today. Set in Delhi, Tandav will take viewers inside the closed corridors of power and uncover the manipulations. The show will premiere on January 15, 2021.## Tandav Teaser#TandavOnPrime releasing on Jan 15 @PrimeVideoIN pic.twitter.com/D4f8szYvOP— ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) December 17, 2020 ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Actor Raaj Singh Arora, who is currently seen in the recent Netflix released film Torbaaz, notes how the film's leading actor Sanjay Dutt has a way with children. He recalls how well Dutt bonded with children on the sets of the film while shooting in Kyrgyzstan.## "In the film, Sanjay sir takes up the challenge to protect kids from the shackles of religious terrorism. In fact for the shooting that took place in Kyrgyzstan, we had taken kids from various places all over the country to portray an ethnic mix. Sanjay sir and the kids bonded really well", Raaj who plays cricket coach in the movie said to IANS. ## "After the shooting hours, all of us would play games and engage in various fun activities. One could notice the playfulness of a mega actor then. I am sure that he is a doting father to his kids. The kids did not get intimidated with him, be it the beard, the voice, or the height", Raaj added.## "Having worked with young people a lot, Sanjay sir knew how to create the perfect environment. The kids being kids, at times do not understand what is happening. We soon began to eat and spend most of the time together. We were all gloomy on the last day of the shoot, especially Sanjay sir and the kids, now that the journey would be paused", Raaj recalled.## Directed by Girish Malik, Torbaaz is about child suicide bombers in Afghanistan, who have been trained to believe that killing the enemy is a virtue and glory in the afterlife. Sanjay Dutt plays the role of a medical professional that lost his wife and son while he was placed in the Indian Embassy in Kabul. ## Apart from Sanjay Dutt, and Raaj Arora, the movie also stars Rahul Dev, Nargis Fakhri, Gavie Chahal, and Kuwaarjeet Chopraa in the key roles. It streams on Netflix on December 11 skipping the originally planned theatrical release due to the covid-19 pandemic.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

While the year 2020 hasn't been great in many aspects, it has been a pathbreaking year for the over-the-top (OTT) platforms which are largely benefitted by the closure of the cinemas in India duo the covid-19 pandemic. ## Now, as the year is coming to an end, people look back at the year gone by and try to pick the best thing that happened. Netflix, one of the leading streaming platforms, has made Indian and international shows and movies public which the audience in India loved the most. ## Among the movies on Netflix, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Ludo, Guilty, Bulbbul, Malang, Extraction, The Old Guard, and Raat Akeli Hai clocked the record views while Masaba Masaba, She, Never Have I Ever, Indian Matchmaking, Mismatched, Too Hot To Handle, and Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives were among the most-watched shows. ## Among the documentary series, Bad Boy Billionaires, The Social Dilemma, and Money Heist: The Phenomenon along with international shows like Money Heist, Dark, and The Protector were the most loved in the country. ## For the Hindi content, Netflix India premiered 10 web-series, 17 films including the upcoming AKvsAK starring Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, and two Standup Specials this year. With so much to offer, one will see what Netflix has in its store for 2021. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Amid the rise of digital platforms in India, Discovery Plus, after stepping in India in March this year, has announced its foray into creating original content for its streaming service in the country with three new originals featuring the stars like Manoj Bajpayee, Rana Daggubati, Neeraj Pandey, and Randeep Hooda. ## The launch of the originals starting from December 9 has been planned. The line-up includes shows such as "Ladakh Warriors: The Sons Of The Soil" narrated in Hindi by Randeep Hooda, "Mission Frontline" featuring Rana Daggubati, and "Secrets Of Sinauli: Discovery Of The Century" that is presented by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey with Manoj Bajpayee as the host.## "Ladakh Warriors: The Sons Of The Soil" showcases the grueling training of the warriors. It will start streaming on December 9. Talking about the show, Randeep said as quoted by Zee News, "With 'Ladakh Warriors: The Sons of the Soil', we celebrate the snow warriors of India and I couldn't be happier to be associated with a project like this. To be able to lend my voice to take the story of these heroes to the masses is an honor".## "Ladakh! Land of majestic beauty & home to the Snow Warriors. It's an honor to narrate Ladakh Warriors: The Sons of the Soil which showcases the grueling training of these warriors at the highest Regimental Centre in the world @discoveryplusIN #IndiaKeLiye", Hooda tweeted. ## Ladakh! Land of majestic beauty & home to the Snow Warriors. It's an honor to narrate Ladakh Warriors: The Sons of the Soil which showcases the grueling training of these warriors at the highest Regimental Centre in the world @discoveryplusIN #IndiaKeLiye #DiscoveryPlusOriginals pic.twitter.com/4KIQxHhmlK— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) December 3, 2020 ## "Mission Frontline" highlights the life of Military Forces, fighting at the border to keep the country safe. The special episode features actor and producer Rana Daggubati, who will experience the difficult life of a soldier and live with the border men at the Border Security Force, Jaisalmer.## "It was an experience of a lifetime spending a day with and as a BSF Jawan in Jaisalmer. Stories of war & first-hand experiences have left a mark on me and I shall cherish them forever. Thank you @discoveryplusIN for Mission Frontline! #IndiaKeLiye", Rana tweeted.## It was an experience of a lifetime spending a day with and as a BSF Jawan in Jaisalmer. Stories of war & first-hand experiences have left a mark on me and I shall cherish them forever. Thank you @discoveryplusIN for Mission Frontline! #IndiaKeLiye #DiscoveryPlusOriginals pic.twitter.com/tzZLqAYGgS— Rana Daggubati (@RanaDaggubati) December 3, 2020 ## Meanwhile, "Secrets Of Sinauli: Discovery Of The Century" uncovers the mysteries behind the excavations of Sinauli (a village in UP). The show will cover the timeline of the finds, the artifacts, and the people involved across each stage of the discovery.## "Being a part of 'Secrets Of Sinauli: Discovery Of The Century' was enriching in many ways because I got to learn so much more about ancient India. I have been able to see ancient Indian history from a new perspective and to know that this excavation is just the tip of the iceberg, and there is lots more to be discovered in the timeline of Indian history with regards to the Sinauli excavation is certainly exciting", Manoj Bajpayee said. ## I have been able to see ancient Indian history from a new perspective through ‘Secrets of Sinauli: Discovery of the Century’ coming soon on @DiscoveryPlusIn @FridayStorytel1 @neerajpofficial#IndiaKeLiye #DiscoveryPlusOriginals pic.twitter.com/Aufb1NSPNY— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) December 3, 2020 ## Apart from the upcoming three Indian originals, the streaming platform has planned more than 200 shows in the first half of 2021 including the local and global titles. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

ALTBalaji's hit series, Broken But Beautiful will soon be back with its third season. Recently, Ekta Kapoor took to social media to announce that the new season of Broken But Beautiful won't have Veer (Vikrant Massey) and Sameera (Harleen Sethi) and introduced new characters, Rumi and Agastya via a short video which spoke about incomplete love stories and broken hearts. ## Now, the producer of the web-series, Ekta Kapoor has unveiled the much-anticipated cast of this romantic series and presented Rumi and Agastya to the fans. Within days of Ekta's announcement of the new season, it was revealed that Bigg Boss 13 winner, Sidharth Shukla will play the main in Broken But Beautiful 3 and now, it has been confirmed and he will romance Sonia Rathee in the much-loved series. Sonia is the sister of Ankur Rathee, who became a household name with Four More Shots Please 2. ## "Ekta wanted to cast actors who can justify the plot and appeal to the audiences in the same way that the previous leads did. While a lot of names were thrown on the table, Sidharth Shukla has been finalized to carry on the baton. The search for the female lead is on", a source quoted in India Today had said earlier. ## Sidharth took to social media and shared a teaser of his debut web series. "Every end leads to a new beginning! Meet Rumi & Agastya, the broken hearts that will mend us all with their beautiful love. #BrokenButBeautiful Season 3 filming begins soon!", he wrote in the caption. ## Every end leads to a new beginning! Meet Rumi & Agastya, the broken hearts that will mend us all with their beautiful love story😍#BrokenButBeautiful Season 3 filming begins soon! @ektarkapoor @altbalaji @ZEE5Premium #SoniaRathee @SaritaTanwar @nirajkothari @yukti86 pic.twitter.com/I5pg2Xfk9Y— Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) December 3, 2020 ## Earlier, there were rumors floating on social media that Sidharth's housemate of Bigg Boss 13 and his dear friend, Shehnaaz Gill will share the screen space with the actor while Rashmi Desai was also in the race to grab the main role. However, most of the fans were demanding Shehnaaz Gill and Siddharth Shukla in lead roles. This pairing has a huge fan following ever since their appearance on the television reality show, Bigg Boss 13.## However, later they were squashed as Ekta Kapoor was looking for a fresh face to pair up with Sidharth. Sonia is known for projects like Night Encounters, 100: The Tribute, and The Rat. ## View this post on Instagram A post shared by Erk❤️rek (@ektarkapoor) ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Nishant Singh Malkani, who appeared in the ongoing Bigg Boss season 14, will be seen portraying an army officer in the upcoming web film, titled 'LAC'. Out of the Bigg Boss house a while back, Nishant is currently shooting for the film in Kargil.## "The story focuses on a frontline soldier in the Galwan Valley. The Chinese are trying to occupy Indian territory and this soldier is key to disarming the Chinese army", Nishant said to The Pioneer. ## "I am playing an army officer and the character is very patriotic. He is always ready to give up his life for his country and he is somebody who doesn't think twice before getting into the battle with the enemy. He is a very daredevil kind of character - he's not afraid of death and is an ideal Indian army officer. I have so much respect for the Indian Army and it's an honour for me to play an army officer", he added.## On shooting in Kargil, the Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega actor said, "It is so cold here. Shooting in such conditions is very difficult. I have an extreme amount of respect for the Indian forces for guarding our country in such conditions. I always did, but I realized it after experiencing Kargil in real life. On set, we still get some luxuries and comfort. But these soldiers protect us in cruel weather conditions and rough terrains".## Directed by Nitin Kumar Gupta, the movie is expected to release in January 2021.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

In what comes as a proud moment for India, Delhi Crime - the web-series won the Best Drama Series award at the 48th International Emmys on Monday. Delhi Crime, a seven-part series written and directed by Richie Mehta, features Shefali Shah in the lead role. ## The International Emmy Awards Twitter handle announced the news of the significant achievement. It read, "The International Emmy for Drama Series goes to "Delhi Crime" produced by @GoldenKaravan / @skglobalent / @NetflixIndia, #India!#iemmys #iemmyWIN". ## The International Emmy for Drama Series goes to “Delhi Crime” produced by @GoldenKaravan / @skglobalent / @NetflixIndia, #India!#iemmys #iemmyWIN pic.twitter.com/kA5pHCuTC4— International Emmy Awards (@iemmys) November 23, 2020 ## The Netflix series is based on the horrific 2012's Delhi gang-rape. Shefali plays the role of DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, who leads a thorough search for the culprits of the gang-rape and murder, in the web-series. The series also stars Rajesh Tailang, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain, Vinod Sherawat, Mridul Sharma, Gopal Datt Tiwari, Gaurav Rana, Yashaswini Dayama, Jaya Bhattacharya, Anurag Arora, and Sidharth Bhardwaj, among many others.## After the series win big, Shefali Shah couldn't hold her excitement and spilled it onto Instagram. She wrote, "OMG, OMG, OMG", after Delhi Crime became the first web-series from India to win an International Emmy Award.## The video, recorded by Shefali, shows director Richie Mehta delivering a quick speech after winning the award. In the background, Shefali can be heard screaming "Oh my god" with joy.## View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shefali Shah (@shefalishahofficial) ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Amid the growing effects of the digital platforms, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui isn't hopeful about the future of OTTs in India. The actor feels OTT platforms in India are getting cramped and herd mentality is seeping in. He says OTT used to be a platform for unique content but not now, it is turning into a business. ## "Frankly speaking, OTT used to be a platform for content that was different from the typical Bollywood form and had a distinctive character. I am not talking about social content, but content for the audience who want something apart from the regular Bollywood", Nawazuddin told IANS.## "At the moment, there is an overload. We have a tendency of herd mentality. With that, there will be a decline and there is no doubt about it. There is a possibility of going below the set level", he added. ## "We turn art into the trade. Initially, it is an art and then eventually turns into a business. I fear the trend of showing anything and everything in the name of a business will seep OTTs. It will happen, in fact, it has already begun", shared the actor.## "For example, I didn't expect that these types of films will be released on Netflix, which I won't be able to watch. But they are being released on Netflix, especially in India. Netflix and other OTT services have a very different set of the audience", he added, without naming the films.## There was a time when the Sacred Games star, whose Serious Men, Raat Akeli Hai, and Ghoomketu released on streaming platforms this year, was hopeful about the OTT wave in India, but not anymore.## "I thought there would be a change for the better. I thought that it would go a step ahead from the bar which we had set on OTT. Now, I don't think so. I am not hopeful. That is just declining", added Siddiqui. ## Explaining his point, he said, "Because that is what happens when people come from all directions and do business in the name of creativity. Woh decrease hi hoga (it is bound to decrease)".## "I feel everyone wants to do something or the other on OTT at the moment. This is because of business. (When things are done) for the sake of business and not for art, then it will be hopeless. I don't think there would be much development in India in this sphere", he shared.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Streaming giant Netflix on Friday announced that the platform will be available free for everyone on December 5 and 6 in India. Anyone in India can watch all the content available on the OTT platform for two days starting from 12 midnight on December 5.## "We think that giving away everyone in a country access to Netflix for free for a weekend could be a great way to expose a bunch of new people to the amazing stories that we have, the service and how it works", Greg Peters, COO and Chief Product Officer at Netflix, said during the company's earnings call.## "At Netflix, we want to bring the most amazing stories from across the world to all fans of entertainment in India. It's why we're hosting StreamFest: an entire weekend of free Netflix", the company said in a statement.## Last month, Netflix announced its plans to give users in India access to free streaming for a weekend. To access free streaming, users have to visit --- netflix.com/StreamFest, sign up with your name, email or phone number, and password, and start streaming — no credit or debit card or payment needed.## "Anyone who signs in during StreamFest gets one stream in standard definition — so, no one else can use the same login information to stream", said -Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Bollywood couple Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh are all set to turn hosts for a new show that aims to settle the age-old gender debate. The actress, who has worked with Riteish in many films, is excited to team up with her husband again with the digital show, titled "Ladies Vs Gentlemen". ## Hosted by Riteish and Genelia, the show will see team Ladies versus team Gentlemen, aided by panelists such as Karan Wahi, Karan Kundra, Vikas Gupta, Nia Sharma, Tejasswi Prakash, Bani J, Rashmi Desai, Paras Chhabra, and Rithvik Dhanjani.## "I am really excited to be sharing the screen again with Riteish after a long time. ‘Ladies Vs Gentlemen’ is an engaging show that gives everyday discussions and scenarios a unique twist. The instances and examples shared by the panelists and the differences of opinion will surely entertain the audience", Genelia said the IANS.## "This show was also like a walk down memory lane for Riteish and myself, we cited so many instances from our own lives. I'm sure these questions are going to stir up some household debates too", she added.## Riteish, who had made his acting debut with the 2003 film "Tujhe Meri Kasam" opposite Genelia, said, "Putting people on the spot with tricky questions that can escalate really quick, was both challenging and fun at the same time".## "The fact that I get to co-host with my wife, just makes it that much more special. Through the course of the show, we also discovered interesting things about each other on day-to-day topics and I am sure the audience will experience them too".## Riteish and Genelia will be seen indulging the panelists in fun banter and animated conversations in the show, which goes live on the Flipkart app on November 18.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Southern star Samantha Ruth Prabhu will be stepping into the digital medium with the second season of the much-awaited series, The Family Man on Amazon Prime Video. She says she has experimented with something new with her role, which will leave everyone surprised.## "OTT gives us an opportunity to break rules. I've broken a lot of rules with The Family Man 2, and really experimented with something extremely new", Samantha told IANS. "I am very happy with the product and with the output. It's going to be a good surprise for everyone who is used to seeing me do a particular type of role", she added. ## Samantha will be joining actor Manoj Bajpayee in the second season of the web series, The Family Man along with the likes of Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, Darshan Kumar, Sharad Kelkar, Sunny Hinduja, Shreya Dhanwantary, Shahab Ali, Vedant Sinha, and Mahek Thakur. ## The actress is happy with the growing world of digital platforms and feels it opens up new opportunities for everyone.## "OTT has opened up a world of possibilities for every technician, actually. When it comes to feature films, as an actor you have to do a certain kind of role that it's widely and universally accepted. With OTT, one can really afford to take risks and experiment," said Samantha.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Coming as a significant move, the governement of India has brought the OTT platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV, ZEE5, Disney+Hotstar among many others, along with news websites, under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.## The central government's move to bring the OTT platforms under the I&B ministry could also mean that these platforms would have to apply for certification and approval of the content they wish to stream from the I&B ministry. ## The move is clearly a big setback for the OTT platforms which will now they have to keep a check on the content they made. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta who recently saw immense success with his web series Scam 1992 expressed his disappointment at the government's order. ## Talking to indianexpress.com, the director said, "While this decision wasn't unexpected, it is still a reason for despair. This desperation for control of free speech and expression does not augur well. I am currently very disappointed".## Karan Anshuman, known for directing web series like Inside Edge and Mirzapur, called the move "unacceptable". Taking to Twitter, "Unacceptable. Viewers and creators have to band together and challenge censorship in any and every manner!".## "Whatever happened to the understanding with Mr Javadekar that OTT will be self-regulated? The govt is giving in to the basest demands of prudes. How is this progress in any manner? Don't like it, don't watch it. Don't impose your regressive views on a billion people", he added. ## Whatever happened to the understanding with Mr Javadekar that OTT will be self-regulated? The govt is giving in to the basest demands of prudes. How is this progress in any manner? Don't like it, don't watch it. Don't impose your regressive views on a billion people.— Karan Anshuman (@krnx) November 11, 2020 ## Earlier, the government had asked OTT platforms to come up with a self-regulatory system. But, in September, the government expressed displeasure at the model proposed by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). The model was largely rejected because it did not define the code of ethics and was not clear on the definition of prohibited content. ## Stay tuned...