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India.com
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meeet man who once worked as waiter, served food at Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's wedding, is now a star, name is...
Some series and serials give identity to stars which never fades off. Something similar happened with Aasif Khan. If the name doesn't ring a bell, then let us tell you the man is known for one of the hit series Panchayat. If you think it is Jitendra, Ashok Pathak, Raghubir Yadav or Faisal Khan, then your guesses are completely wrong. The man in discussion is the famous Aasif Khan. Aasif had humble beginnings. Over the years, the actor starred in various series including Mirzapur, Panchayat, Paatal Lok, Jamtara, Pagglait, and Human. He gained massive recognition for his dialogue, 'Gajjab Bezzati hai Yaar,' in Panchayat, giving him the name and fame he deserved. Aasif Khan Heart Attack News Recently, Aasif made headlines when news of his heart attack surfaced online. According to reports, Aasif Khan suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. He received the needed treatment and the 34-year-old actor is stable now. When Aasif Khan Served Food at Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's Wedding Yes, while this may sound absurd, not many people know that Aasif once served food at Saif and Kareena's wedding. When he came to Mumbai, he started working in a mall. However, later, he worked in the kitchen department of a hotel, which hosted Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's wedding reception. Aasif Khan Faced Rejection When Aasif tried his luck in the industry, he faced massive rejections. One of the producers heavily criticised his looks and height. However, instead of taking that rejection negatively, he took it in a positive way and worked on his skills. He later returned to Mumbai to pursue his dreams in the entertainment industry once again and landed a job as a casting assistant.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Balaji Telefilms bets on films, digital as traditional TV loses steam
Balaji Telefilms is restructuring its business strategy with a sharper focus on movies and digital content , aiming to reduce its reliance on traditional television, which is under pressure due to pay-TV erosion and industry consolidation impacting margins. Historically, television has been the company's core business, with Balaji dominating primetime for years and delivering a string of popular shows. During the company's Q4 and FY25 earnings call on July 4, Group CEO and CFO Sanjay Dwivedi said the company is at the cusp of a turning point, driven by internal consolidation, strategic partnerships, and a redefined content distribution strategy. 'Over the next 2.5 to 3 years, movies will become the group's primary growth driver, followed by digital, with television as the third focus area,' Dwivedi told investors. 'We look at the content business broadly—whether TV or digital—alongside our motion pictures division and our B2C digital operations, including platforms like YouTube, Meta, and our proprietary app.' A key initiative during the year was the merger of ALT Balaji and Marinating Films into Balaji Telefilms, streamlining operations, reducing cost redundancies, and enabling significant tax benefits. This consolidation is expected to improve resource allocation across its core verticals, movies, television, and digital content. Among the notable developments was a long-term content partnership with Netflix. Described by Dwivedi as 'not a one-show, one-movie, or single-format deal,' the multi-year agreement spans various formats including direct-to-OTT films, telenovelas, binge-watch series, and reality shows. The collaboration builds on Balaji's earlier Netflix projects such as Kathal, Pagglait, and Jaane Jaan. Balaji also revamped its digital strategy, moving away from a purely subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) model to a hybrid framework that incorporates both SVOD and ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD). 'Relying solely on SVOD has been a financial drag,' said Dwivedi. 'Our app now operates on both ad-supported and subscription-based models.' This shift helped reduce ALT Balaji's cash burn from over ₹120-145 crore annually to just ₹35 lakh per month. The platform currently has over two million active users and added 3.29 lakh subscriptions in Q4, including 1.73 lakh renewals. Still, Dwivedi emphasized that ALT Balaji would now form a 'smaller piece' of the broader digital strategy, as the company expands its presence across platforms. Balaji Telefilms, he said, is keeping production costs for its app-based content low, with shows costing around ₹2.5–3 lakh each. This means the app will not significantly burden the company's balance sheet. The platform is still a small part of the overall business, but the company plans to diversify its offerings and launch a cleaner, more refined version of the app in the future, he noted. On the B2B front, Balaji has built a digital content order book worth over ₹300 crore, with projects commissioned by platforms such as JioCinema and Hotstar. 'Three shows were delivered in the last fiscal, two of which—Power of Paanch and Kull—performed strongly on JioHotstar. We are also in talks for second seasons,' said Dwivedi. To further broaden its digital reach, Balaji launched Kutting, a short-form vertical video platform similar to Instagram Reels and is developing regional content in Tamil and Telugu. The company's new YouTube channel crossed one million subscribers within a month of its launch. The film division, which Balaji expects to be its main growth engine over the next three years, is gaining momentum. Using a pre-sale and co-production model, the company recovers 85-90% of production costs before release. 'We don't greenlight any movie until digital rights are secured,' Dwivedi noted. 'Across our film portfolio, we've delivered a 22% return on capital over six years.' The upcoming movie slate includes Vrushabha starring Mohanlal, set for a Diwali 2025 release; Bhoot Bangla featuring Akshay Kumar and directed by Priyadarshan; and Vvan, a collaboration with The Viral Fever starring Sidharth Malhotra. Balaji plans to double its annual movie output from three to six films. Despite its legacy in television, the segment is facing yield and margin pressures. 'TV yields remain under stress, still down by more than 25% compared to pre-COVID levels,' Dwivedi said. Flagship shows like Bade Achhe Lagte Hain Phir Se and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi are ongoing, while discussions are underway with Colors for new titles, including a fresh season of Naagin. For FY25, Balaji reported revenue of ₹453 crore, down from ₹625 crore the previous year. However, net profit surged to ₹84.6 crore from ₹19.4 crore. The company also raised ₹130.7 crore in new capital during the year, with participation from promoters. The funds are being allocated across movies (₹65 crore), digital and music content (₹33 crore), and general corporate purposes (₹32.5 crore). 'In three years, we expect movies to be our primary business, followed by digital, with television becoming the third revenue stream,' Dwivedi reiterated. Looking ahead, Balaji is optimistic about rising content demand and platform growth. The company recently launched Kalnagri, an AI-generated show, as part of its push into tech-driven content creation. However, Dwivedi ruled out a digital business spin-off for now. 'Once the business scales and there's enough investor interest to unlock value, we can consider evaluating that option,' he said.
News18
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana To Explore Emotional Side Of Manthara? Sheeba Chaddha Reveals
Last Updated: Sheeba Chaddha has been roped in to play Manthara in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious film adaptation of 'Ramayana'. Veteran actress Sheeba Chaddha is all set to step into the role of the infamous Manthara in Ranbir Kapoor's much-anticipated Ramayana. Known for her powerful screen presence, Chaddha is keen to delve deep into the emotional layers of the character, aiming to portray shades of Manthara that audiences have never seen before. Speaking about the role, the actress shared, 'Manthara has always been seen as a catalyst for conflict, but I believe there's a human story behind every action. I'm excited to explore her emotional landscape and bring out shades that haven't been seen before." Sheeba Chaddha has been roped in to play Manthara in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious film adaptation of Ramayana. She joins a stellar cast that includes Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Ramayana is said to be one of the year's most eagerly awaited films. As per reports, Sunny Deol has been cast as Hanuman, while popular television actor Ravi Dubey will take on the role of Lakshman. Lara Dutta has been roped in to play Kaikeyi, a pivotal figure in the epic tale. Rakul Preet Singh will portray the fiery and complex Shurpanakha. Kajal Aggarwal is set to essay the role of Mandodari, the dignified queen of Lanka, and in a powerful casting choice, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will appear as Jatayu, the noble vulture who sacrifices everything in Sita's defence. The film is set to release in two instalments—part 1 arriving on Diwali 2026, followed by part 2 on Diwali 2027. Speaking of Sheeba Chaddha, she has left a mark in both television and films, earning acclaim for her powerful performances. She is widely known for her roles in movies such as, 'Badhaai Do', 'Pagglait', 'Taj Mahal 1989', 'Bandish Bandits', and more recently 'Kaushaljis vs Kaushal and Zara Si Dhoop'. About the Author Chirag Sehgal Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published:
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sheeba Chaddha to present a never-seen-before side of infamous Manthara in Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ramayan'
Veteran actress Sheeba Chaddha is all set to step into the role of the infamous Manthara in Ranbir Kapoor 's much-anticipated 'Ramayan'. Known for her powerful screen presence, Chaddha is keen to delve deep into the emotional layers of the character, aiming to portray shades of Manthara that audiences have never seen before. Speaking about the role, the actress shared, "Manthara has always been seen as a catalyst for conflict, but I believe there's a human story behind every action. I'm excited to explore her emotional landscape and bring out shades that haven't been seen before." Sheeba Chaddha has been roped in to play Manthara in Nitesh Tiwari 's ambitious film adaptation of 'Ramayan'. She joins a stellar cast that includes Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Ranbir Kapoor's first look from 'Shamshera' unveiled on his 39 birthday 'Ramayan' is said to be one of the year's most eagerly awaited films. As per reports, Sunny Deol has been cast as Hanuman, while popular television actor Ravi Dubey will take on the role of Lakshman. Lara Dutta has been roped in to play Kaikeyi, a pivotal figure in the epic tale. Rakul Preet Singh will portray the fiery and complex Shurpanakha. Kajal Aggarwal is set to essay the role of Mandodari, the dignified queen of Lanka, and in a powerful casting choice, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will appear as Jatayu, the noble vulture who sacrifices everything in Sita's defence. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The film is set to release in two installments-part 1 arriving on Diwali 2026, followed by part 2 on Diwali 2027. Speaking of Sheeba Chaddha, she has left a mark in both television and films, earning acclaim for her powerful performances. She is widely known for her roles in movies such as, 'Badhaai Do', 'Pagglait', 'Taj Mahal 1989', 'Bandish Bandits', and more recently 'Kaushaljis vs Kaushal and Zara Si Dhoop'.
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Ektaa Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms, Netflix forge new creative partnership
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 7 (ANI): Netflix and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms Ltd. have forged a new creative partnership spanning films and series. The deal encompasses content development across multiple formats tailored specifically for streaming audiences. An untitled series is already in advanced stages of development as part of the initial slate, as per Variety. The collaboration will be executed through Balaji Telefilms Ltd. and its divisions, including Balaji Motion Pictures and Balaji Telefilms Digital. Speaking about the collaboration, Monika Shergill, Vice-President, Content, Netflix India, said, Ekta has been a force in shaping Indian entertainment with 'unforgettable stories and characters that made it to pop culture, even before hashtags existed'. 'Her creative instinct and deep understanding of the audience's pulse have consistently set her apart in shaping what India chose to watch and love for more than two decades. Our focus is to serve audiences with very diverse tastes and this collaboration will bring unique stories in rooted ways, marking an exciting new chapter in our creative journey' Ektaa Kapoor, Joint Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms, said storytelling has always been at the heart 'of everything we do -- whether through cinema, television, or digital platforms'. She said the partnership 'is a big moment for us'. 'It allows us to bring powerful, culturally rooted, and emotionally resonant stories to a global audience. The beginning of this new collaboration marks an exciting new chapter where we continue to push creative boundaries and deliver content that entertains, inspires, and connects people everywhere.' Netflix and Balaji have previously collaborated on successful projects such as 'Kathal,' 'Pagglait,' 'Jaane Jaan' and Busan selection 'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare.' (ANI)
