Bollywood

5 hrs ago

582 views

Akshay Kumar Confirms Ambitious Alien Thriller Samuk; Shares His Vision For Sci-Fi Film

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 29 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is gearing up to explore an entirely new cinematic space with Samuk, an ambitious alien survival thriller backed by producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Kanishk Varma. The film, which is currently in pre-production, is being envisioned as one of the most technically advanced and genre-defining projects attempted in Indian cinema. "A Never-Seen-Before Cinema" (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Speaking about the film in an exclusive interaction with Variety India, Akshay Kumar admitted that Samuk instantly stood out because of its fresh concept and scale. The actor revealed that the project offers something Indian audiences have rarely experienced before in mainstream cinema. Calling it a "never-seen-before" thriller, Akshay shared that the film combines survival horror, intense action, and extraterrestrial suspense in a grounded yet cinematic manner. The actor also expressed excitement about stepping into the sci-fi genre in such a large-scale setup, blending military realism with high-intensity survival sequences. Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah emphasised that Samuk is not being treated as a conventional Bollywood entertainer. Instead, the makers are aiming to create a globally mounted sci-fi thriller with strong emotional storytelling and realistic action. Director Kanishk Varma reportedly drew inspiration from iconic international alien survival films but wanted Samuk to have its own identity rooted in Indian storytelling sensibilities. One of the film's biggest creative decisions is the use of practical creature effects instead of depending heavily on computer-generated imagery. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Hollywood Technician On Board To achieve that vision, the team has brought on board Hollywood creature designer Alec Gillis, best known for his work on globally acclaimed franchises like Alien and Predator. Gillis will design the extraterrestrial creature for Samuk, with the makers aiming to create a terrifying and physically realistic on-screen presence. The project has also roped in action expert Luke Tumber, who has worked on major international productions, including films from the Mission: Impossible franchise. Samuk also marks Akshay Kumar's reunion with Vipul Amrutlal Shah after several successful collaborations in the past. Their partnership has delivered multiple commercial entertainers over the years, and expectations are already high for this latest venture. At a time when Indian cinema is increasingly experimenting with new genres and storytelling formats, Samuk could emerge as a landmark project if executed successfully. The shoot of the film is expected to begin in August this year for a grand theatrical release in 2027.

Bollywood

5 days ago

3.3K views

Akshay Kumar To Headline Sci-Fi Alien Thriller Samuk For Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 24 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is gearing up for a major genre shift as he reportedly joins hands with producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah for an ambitious sci-fi alien thriller titled Samuk. The film is expected to mark Akshay's first full-fledged attempt at the alien-horror genre, a space that remains largely unexplored in mainstream Indian cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Kanishk Varma, the project is already generating significant buzz for its scale and international collaborations. According to the report by Hindustan Times, Samuk is being mounted as a high-concept thriller with a strong emphasis on practical effects and immersive action, with shooting scheduled to begin in August 2026. The makers have reportedly roped in Hollywood stunt coordinator Luke Tumber, who has previously worked on global blockbusters like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Venom, and No Time To Die. The inclusion of international technicians suggests that the team is aiming to deliver a visually grand cinematic experience with global production standards. The film is also said to feature creature effects designed by acclaimed Hollywood artist Alec Gillis, known for his work on iconic franchises such as Alien and Predator. Instead of relying entirely on CGI-heavy visuals, the makers are reportedly focusing on practical alien effects to create a more realistic, terrifying atmosphere. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This approach is expected to give Samuk a unique visual identity compared to conventional Indian sci-fi films. For Akshay Kumar, the film marks another attempt to explore fresh territory after experimenting with genres ranging from social dramas to historical epics and action entertainers over the years. Samuk will also reunite the actor with Vipul Amrutlal Shah after more than a decade. The duo previously collaborated on successful films like Namastey London, Waqt: The Race Against Time, and Action Replayy. While the makers are yet to announce the film officially, the project has already emerged as one of the most anticipated upcoming ventures in Akshay Kumar's lineup. Meanwhile, Akshay will next be seen in Welcome To The Jungle (Welcome), which is scheduled to release on June 26, 2026.

Bollywood

450 days ago

5.4K views

Akshay Kumar Announces Re-Release of 'Namastey London'

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 5 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has announced the re-release of the cult romantic-comedy Namastey London, starring Katrina Kaif as the female lead. Originally released in 2007, this Vipul Amrutlal Shah's directorial has been one of the iconic films in Akshay's filmography. ## Namastey London is an absolute favourite of fans of this genre and due to its popular songs, iconic dialogues and evergreen romantic chemistry between the lead pair, the movie has aged well among the masses. The makers have announced its re-release after 17 years, continuing the ongoing trend of re-releasing the old classic Bollywood films. ## Akshay Kumar took to social media to confirm that Namastey London will hit the big screens on March 14, on the occasion of Holi. The movie's music was composed by Himesh Reshammiya while lyrics were penned by the legendary Javed Akhtar.## "Thrilled to announce the re-release of #NamasteyLondon on the big screen this Holi, 14th March! Get ready to relive the magic — unforgettable songs, iconic dialogues and timeless romance with Katrina Kaif, all over again. See you at the movies", Akshay said.## Thrilled to announce the re-release of #NamasteyLondon on the big screen this Holi, 14th March!Get ready to relive the magic — unforgettable songs, iconic dialogues and timeless romance with Katrina Kaif, all over again.See you at the movies! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/qS1PasYBnk— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 5, 2025 ## Namastey London was a box office superhit in its original run. The movie grossed over 71 crores at the worldwide box office, including 52 crores gross in India and was one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2007. Due to its popularity, the movie is expected to draw the attention of moviegoers upon its re-release.## Stay tunes...

Bollywood

1068 days ago

2.5K views

'The Kerala Story' Makers Reunite For A New Film 'Bastar'; Release Date Locked

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, June 26 - Director Sudipto Sen and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who recently scored one of the biggest blockbusters of all-time in the form of "The Kerala Story", have reunited for a new film, titled "Bastar". ## The makers announced that "Bastar" is based on true events. The movie is about a terrorist attack in which 76 CRPF Jawans and 8 poor villagers were killed in Chintalner village of Dantewada District of Bastar, Chhattisgarh in April 2010. ## The film's poster featured a forest in the middle of huge and ominous clouds of smoke after gunshots and a red flag. A rifle was also seen. The text on the poster read, "Hidden truth that will take the nation by a storm – Bastar".## Produced by Vipul Shah and Aashin A. Shah under the banner of Sunshine Pictures, "Bastar" will be released in theaters on April 5, 2024. It will clash with Jr. NTR's Pan India movie "Davara" which is currently in production. ## The upcoming movie marks the second collaboration between Sudipto Sen and Vipul Shah after TKS which grossed over 300 crores at the global box office. The makers haven't revealed the star cast of "Bastar" yet. ## Unveiling our next, #Bastar. Prepare to witness another gripping true incident that will leave you speechless. Mark your calendars for April 5, 2024!#VipulAmrutlalShah @sudiptoSENtlm @Aashin_A_Shah#SunshinePictures pic.twitter.com/3qQVxKpCcG— Sunshine Pictures (@sunshinepicture) June 26, 2023 ## Stay tuned...

Bollywood

1079 days ago

9.8K views

All-Time Blockbuster 'The Kerala Story' Crosses 300 Crores At The Worldwide Box Office

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, June 14 - Director Sudipto Sen's drama film The Kerala Story is nearing its end at the box office but it has done more than what was asked for. The movie has emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of all time with its phenomenal collection. ## Starring Adah Sharma, "The Kerala Story" has crossed the 300 crores mark at the global box office, and becomes only the 2nd Bollywood movie of the year to do so. It has so far grossed approx. 302 crores, including approx. 15.50 crores overseas box office in 49 days. ## At the domestic box office, TKS grossed around 286.50 crores (including 3 crores of Telugu version) to date, which is the second biggest for a Bollywood movie this year after Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan". Post the covid-19 pandemic, TKS is 5th Bollywood film to breach the 300 crores mark at the worldwide box office. ## Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah of Sunshine Pictures, TKS is made on a budget of just 15-20 crores and it is one of the rarest Indian movies ever to gross over 300 crores with such low budget. Vivek Agnihotri's "The Kashmir Files" also did the same when it was released last year. ## "The Kerala Story" follows a group of women from Kerala who are coerced into converting to Islam and joining the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It also stars Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani in prominent roles. ## Stay tuned...

Bollywood

1107 days ago

3.7K views

Blockbuster 'The Kerala Story' Crosses 200 Crores At The Worldwide Box Office

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 18 - Director Sudipto Sen's drama film The Kerala Story crossed the 200 crores gross mark at the worldwide box office within two weeks, becoming only the third Bollywood movie of the year to do so. ## The movie, based on true incidents, hits the double-century mark on its 13th day and currently stands at a little over 200 crores gross mark. In India, The Kerala Story has grossed approx. 194 crores (164.59 crores net) while the overseas collection is approx. 6 crores in 13 days.## The Kerala Story was released on May 12 in overseas markets and will debut in the UK on May 19. Made on a low budget, TKS has emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters post the covid-19 pandemic. It is currently the 3rd highest-grossing Bollywood movie of the year, behind only "Pathaan" (1050 crore) and "Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar" (223 crores). ## Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under the banners of Sunshine Pictures, the movie stars Adah Sharma in the lead role alongside Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani. The plot follows the story of a group of women from Kerala who are converted to Islam and join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ## Stay tuned...

Bollywood

1120 days ago

4.9K views

'The Kerala Story' Set For A Good Start At The Box Office

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 4 - Director Sudipto Sen's drama film The Kerala Story has been at the center of controversy ever since the trailer was launched. The movie is claimed to have been based on true events and follows the story of a group of women from Kerala who are converted to Islam and join the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ## There was hardly any buzz around "The Kerala Story" a couple of weeks ago but due to the controversy, everyone is now aware of it which is proving to be advantageous as far as the box office of the film is concerned. The movie has been able to fetch a decent advance booking collection and despite being not a mainstream Bollywood flick, it has better pre-sales than films like "Kuttey" and "Gumraah" which had a bigger star cast and scale.## As of 4 AM on May 5, the pre-sales collection of "The Kerala Story" was approx. 1.25 Cr with around 60K tickets sold for the first day. As far as the opening is concerned, the movie might surprise with a 6-7 crores net start which will be a very good result considering it is not a big-budget film and has less cinematic value. ## Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, "The Kerala Story" is along the lines of director Vivek Agnihotri's "The Kashmir Files" which turned out to be a huge blockbuster last year. TKF took the opening of around 3.50 crores, but word of mouth and controversy helped it big times as it ended up scoring over 250 crores net and over 340 crores gross at the worldwide box office. ## Stay tuned...

Bollywood

1124 days ago

11.8K views

'The Kerala Story' Overtakes Shah Rukh Khan's 'Jawan' As The Most Anticipated Indian Movie

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, May 1 - Director Sudipto Sen's drama film The Kerala Story, which is scheduled to release on May 5, 2023, has overtaken Shah Rukh Khan-fronted actioner Jawan as the most anticipated new Indian movie, as per IMDb. ## "The Kerala Story" follows the story of a group of women from Kerala who are converted to Islam and join the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the movie stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani in prominent roles. ## The movie is claimed to have been based on real-life incidents, however, the opposition political parties of India are calling it a propaganda movie for showing Kerala state in a bad light. This has steered new controversy which seems to be helping the film in getting the attention of the audiences. ## The anticipation around the film has increased over the past week after the trailer was launched. As per IMDb, "The Kerala Story" has a 45% page views share at the moment, way ahead of "Jawan" which has an 18% page views share. "Adipurush" is not too behind with 13% IMDb page views share. ## Check out the complete list of Most Anticipated New Indian Movies and Shows## Note - The "Most Anticipated New Indian Movies and Shows" widget tracks the real-time popularity of relevant pages on IMDb, and displays those that are currently generating the highest number of pageviews on IMDb. ## Each title is ranked according to its share of pageviews among the items displayed. Pageviews for each item are divided by the aggregate number of pageviews generated by the items displayed.## Stay tuned...

Digital Media

1595 days ago

1.9K views

Human Review: Twisted And Disturbing With Ace production Values

BY SACNILK

Series: 'Human' (Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar)## Duration: Averages 46 minutes per episode## Directors: Vipul Amrutlal Shah, Mozez Singh## Cast: Shefali Shah, Kirti Kulhari, Vishal Jethwa, Ram Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Aditya Srivastava, Mohan Agashe## IANS Rating: ***1/2## Set in tragically scarred Bhopal, 'Human' is a twisted, dark, and psychologically disturbing 10-episode series that unravels the secrets of the medical world relating to clinical drug trials. But at its core, it also shows us the degradation of the human race.## Shot on a lavish scale with ace production values, brilliant camera work, and adrenaline-pumping background score, the series begins with a scene where we are shown dead guinea pigs surreptitiously discarded into a water body and later a victim of a clinical drug trial suffering. Then we are transported to Manthan, a multi-specialty hospital run by the ace neurosurgeon Dr. Gauri Nath, which is the center of this narrative.## Running parallel to the events at Manthan is the subplot of Mangu, who works in the local civic morgue and is the ambitious son of a rickshaw driver. In his endeavor to make some extra money, he is lured to recruit people for clinical drug trials. He enrolls his parents in the scheme, and soon his mother who suffers from comorbidities is affected by the after-effects of the drugs and is in a serious condition.## His path crosses with Dr. Saira Sabharwal, the efficient and capable cardiac surgeon, a new entrant at Manthan who is also the apple of Dr. Gauri Nath's eye.## When Dr. Saira realizes that something is amiss with the drug trials conducted in the hospital and tries to bring it to Dr. Gauri's attention, she stumbles upon things much sinister and beyond her comprehension.## What makes this series appealing is its well-etched but flawed characters, some with more than skewed emotional issues plaguing them. Also, the plot dives deep into the complex web of emotions and thoughts of the key characters where lies and deception are a part of their daily living.## The chatter between the characters does not take away from the show the visible effort and meticulousness put into crafting each shot which appears candid and natural. The series is skilfully written, astutely mounted, and incredibly well-acted.## Shefali Shah is a brilliant performer, and as Dr. Gauri Nath, she is an enigma that unravels effortlessly. Ram Kapoor as Gauri's cuckold husband Pratap Munjal, is perfunctory and unimpressive. Seema Biswas in an underwritten, complex and convoluted role, as the cold and devious matron 'Roma Maa' is natural and menacing. Her ominous presence onscreen is unsettling.## Kriti Kulhari is simply understated, graceful, and effortless as the efficient Dr. Saira Sabharwal but a masterful liar and manipulator in her personal life who finds herself in a world that she can't control completely, and yet she has a conscience.## Indraneil Sengupta as Dr. Saira's husband Neil, Atul Kumar Mittal as Dr. Snehal Shinde, Gaurav Dwivedi as Dr. Vivek Shekhawat, Shruti Bapna as Dr. Shekhawat's wife Sucheta in minuscule roles leave their mark on the screen. Mohan Agashe as Mohan Vaidya, the founder of the pharma company, is wasted in a minor role.## On a different level, it is Vishal Jethwa as Mangu who steals the show. He enthralls the audience with his stained teeth and intense facial expressions. He is aptly supported by Pranali Ghogare as his sister Meena, Sushil Pandey as his father, and the rest of the supporting cast, who seemed to be playing an extension of themselves.## Overall, the series is fairly compelling.## Stay tuned...

Digital Media

1607 days ago

1.5K views

Shefali Shah Calls Her 'Human' Character A Pandora's Box

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) Shefali Shah, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming medical thriller series 'Human', had her share of challenges while getting into the nuances of her character of Gauri Nath.## The actress says, "Gauri Nath is Pandora's box. You don't know what hits you at each moment. She's complicated, unpredictable, and indecipherable".## What made it tricky was the fact that the character came with a blank slate, Shefali mentions, "Not only is 'She' unlike anyone I've played before, I don't know nor have heard of anyone like her!"## 'Human' is a medical thriller based on human drug trials in India, it sheds light on the collateral damage due to fast-tracked drug trials for financial gains as innocent lives are lost to greed. Touching compelling themes like the value of human life, medical malpractice, class divide, and ramifications of fast-paced medical science, 'Human' brings forth the greed to make money in a compelling tale of power struggles, secretive pasts, trauma, and murders.## In addition, the series also stars Kirti Kulhari, Vishal Jethwa, Ram Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Aditya Srivastava, and Mohan Agashe. Directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh, 'Human' has been penned by Mozez Singh and Ishani Banerjee. The series will be available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from January 14.## Stay tuned...

Digital Media

1613 days ago

1.6K views

'Human' trailer shines a light on the dark underbelly of medical drug trials

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, Dec 28 (IANS) The trailer of medical drama-thriller 'Human', which stars Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari, was released recently. The film explores the story of fast-tracked drug trials and their ramifications on public health and human lives. ## Directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh, the series, will be released on OTT on January 14. ## Shefali Shah, who plays the character of Dr Gauri Nath, gives an insight into the series, "'Human' as a series is extremely relevant and relatable in today's time. When I read the script, I couldn't help but imagine our current scenario, a world of hospitals and vaccine trials. It makes one question humanity and everything that transpires to keep it intact." ## She added: "Gauri Nath is someone you rarely come across. It's one of the most complicated characters I've ever played, and completely out of my comfort zone. She is unpredictable and indecipherable. 'Human' is a Pandora's box of emotions, actions and consequences. And you'd never know what hit you from the dark depths of its complexities (sic)." ## Kirti Kulkarni, who plays Dr Saira Sabarwal in the series, said: "It has been an absolute pleasure and thrill to play the role of Dr Saira Sabharwal. It's the first time that I am playing a doctor on screen, a world that I am not completely unfamiliar with as my sister and brother-in-law are doctors. I did get a lot of insight by speaking to both of them and other doctors. During that phase, I would get into a conversation with whichever doctor I met which could help me with my character." ## She continued: "Apart from that, 'Human' is such a layered and complex story, it immediately pulled me towards it. Also the fact that Shefali Shah would be a part of the same show with me, really excited me. She is someone I really look up to and I have truly enjoyed her work as an actor and I was thrilled to share screen space with her. The show also has other wonderful actors and I also met a psychologist to discuss some aspects of my character." ## She further added: "I basically got into the mindsets and world of the doctors, speaking to various people and understanding various aspects of how they function in the workspace and outside of it. It's the first time I am playing a doctor and it's a thrilling experience, my fans too are going to really enjoy my role of Dr Saira Sabharwal. Super excited for 'Human'". ## Producer and director Vipul Amrutlal Shah said: "'Human' delves into the complexities of human nature with a backdrop of the medical world. It explores the dark and twisted world of unethical human trials in a provocative yet real and gritty manner. It showcases aspects of the unknown medical world laden with suspense at every turn. Mozez Singh and Ishani Banerjee have done a wonderful job with the script and the incredibly talented ensemble star cast makes 'Human' an exciting watch." ## Sharing his experience of working as the scriptwriter and director, Mozez Singh said: "'Human' is a series that deals with a very unique take on life and death. It questions the value of human life and the extent human beings will go to run away from their grief, guilt and shame. The repercussions of this can have extreme effects on the lives of the people involved, creating escalating drama and conflict between all of them and allowing the narrative to be truly explosive, especially when you throw in the barriers of class into the mix." ## "Getting to explore all of the above with my co-writer Ishani Banerjee and the rest of the writers room was a true honour and I'm extremely grateful to Sunshine Pictures for giving me the opportunity. This was an intense project for me as it has several elements that resonated with me on a personal level and therefore I was constantly inspired and determined to give my best. I'm proud of what we have delivered," Mozez concluded. ## In addition, the series also stars Vishal Jethwa, Ram Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Aditya Srivastava and Mohan Agashe. 'Human', a Disney+ Hotstar Special, will be available to stream from January 14. ##

Digital Media

1618 days ago

1.7K views

Shefali Shah, Kirti Kulhari to inject dose of thrill and drama with 'Human'

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, Dec 23 (IANS) Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari are coming together for the medical drama thriller series 'Human' written by Mozez Singh and Ishani Banerjee. The series unravels unexpected secrets of the world of medicine. ## The makers recently released a special video from the series with Shefali Shah where she acquaints the audience with what's in store for them. The series, which has been directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh, and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah of Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd, will see Shefali Shah essaying the role of a surgeon. ## Talking about the series, producer and co-director Vipul Amrutlal Shah said, "'Human', I had worked on this subject as a film script for 3 years and then I felt that this subject is too vast to be encapsulated in a film script which is only going to be 2 to 2.5 hours and that's when I approached Mozez Singh and gave him the script." ## He added, "He read it and found it interesting. Mozez Singh got Ishani Banerjee on board, followed by Stuti Nair and Aasif Moyal and they started writing this particular show. We wanted to make the series to rightfully represent the medical world and also wanted to portray the personal relationships and conflicts of the characters to offer a wholesome presentation of this world. We are confident and hopeful that viewers will be intrigued by this story." ## 'Human' will be soon available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar. ## For more and the latest news about Digital Media, stay tuned to us.