Have you heard? Sunny Deol to make his OTT debut with an action thriller

The making of the father of Indian cinema

Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani are reuniting after 11 years to make a film together (Two idiots score a hat-trick, May 15). On May 15, the actor’s team announced that it will be a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. The film, set against the backdrop of India’s independence struggle, will cover Phalke’s journey from scratch to creating the largest indigenous film industry in the world. According to the statement from Aamir’s team, “He will start preparing for his part soon after the release of Sitaare Zameen Par.” The script has been in the works for four years, with Rajkumar Hirani collaborating with Abhijat Joshi and other writers. Dadasaheb Phalke’s grandson, Chandrashekhar Pulaskar told mid-day, “Happy that a movie is announced on the life of my grandpa, Dadasaheb Phalke, with Hirani helming the movie, and Aamir Khan playing Phalke. I am very happy. The writing team has taken a lot of effort, they have been on this project for last four years. They took us in confidence and were taking our views time to time.” 

…and one from the south

SS Rajamouli and Jr NTR

While Aamir made an official announcement about his film on Phalke, we have learnt that Telugu superstar Jr NTR is also set to play the role of Phalke, in the upcoming project, Made in India. Touted to be a pan-India release, the film will be created by SS Rajamouli. In 2023, the filmmaker had announced the film. However, we have learnt that the he won’t helm the project but back it under his banner. Insiders tell us that Rajamouli, and his associates  recently narrated the script to the actor, who “did not miss a beat” to give his nod to the film as it will unveil the lesser-known stories of Phalke.

Never too late to experiment

Sunny Deol

Sunny Deol is reportedly set to make his OTT debut with an action thriller on Netflix India. The buzz is that Sunny is in advanced negotiations to headline the film. The project is apparently being written, and a director is yet to be finalised. The production schedule will be finalised once the script is ready and Sunny’s availability is confirmed as he is shooting multiple projects. The actor seems to be enthusiastic about the project, which will show him in an action-hero avatar. He has a busy line-up, including Rajkumar Santoshi’s historical drama, Lahore 1947, which is backed by Aamir Khan Productions, Border 2, and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, in which he’ll play Lord Hanuman. 

Sister Midnight rises at dawn

Radhika Apte

She is finally coming home! After touring the world and earning unanimous praise, including a nomination at this year’s British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), Radhika Apte-starrer Sister Midnight is set for an Indian release. The film, directed by debutante Karan Kandhari, will arrive in theatres on May 23. Radhika plays Uma, a newly-married woman who sets out to adjust her life with husband Gopal. The story explores the isolation of womanhood, the strangeness of domestic life, and the hunger for freedom — both literal and metaphorical. It is also said to capture the unease and absurdity of transformation, set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s dense urban life. Described as a combination of marital realism, body horror and dark comedy, Sister Midnight also stars Ashok Pathak and Chhaya Kadam, among others.

Recession in Bollywood

Kalki Koechlin

Kalki Koechlin has stated that Bollywood is experiencing a recession, citing a lack of content and unpredictability in the industry. During an appearance on the podcast Aleena Dissects, she said, “Recession ho raha hai! Does everyone know that? There is a Bollywood recession, that’s why they are re-releasing everything.” Kalki emphasised that people within the industry are aware of the crisis but are powerless to control the damage. She added, “Everything is stalled, everything is stuck. Creative teams are being fired and rehired.”

This article first appeared on Mid Day