28, Dec 2023
Varun Sood leaves us drooling as Ahaan Kothari in Disney+ Hotstar’s Karmma Calling
Flamboyant, vulnerable and trying to find his footing, Ahaan Kothari – the prodigal son & apple of Indrani Kothari’s eye, is here to charm you with his simplicity and style in Hotstar Specials’ Karmma Calling. Played by the handsome hunk Varun Sood, he is an integral part of the Alibaug society and the world of glitz, glamor, deceit and betrayal. He is torn between his family legacy and listening to his heart.
Produced by R.A.T Films, adapted for India and directed by Ruchi Narain, the series is releasing on January 26, 2024 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.
Talking about his character, Varun Sood said “With Karmma Calling, I am making my series debut. When I first encountered Ahaan Kothari on paper, it felt like an immediate connection. Being empathetic towards him came naturally as I found our personalities to be quite similar. I also wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone with Ahaan Kothari and his flamboyance.”
Decoding his workout routine, he added, “I took my workout routine and diet to another level, this is something that I do to live the character a little more. It’s my own way of living in the skin of the character. I just wanted to bring Ahaan to life in every sense. I am sure that even the audiences will like Ahaan Kothari and enjoy seeing me in this new avatar”
Karmma Calling is based on the U.S. original series Revenge, which aired from 2011-2015 and was produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios.
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- By Rabindra
26, Dec 2023
Brewing royalty on Koffee with Karan; Saif Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore grace the Koffee couch
Mumbai, 26th December 2023: The beloved couch is back with its most loved and versatile host Karan Johar as Hotstar Specials’ Koffee with Karan returns for season 8. To spice up your life and bring you closer to your favorite stars, this time the conversations will be edgier, crazier and candid with no room to escape.
Dropping new episodes every Thursday exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar, viewers will be on a whirlwind journey of getting up close and personal with celebrities. So why wait? Let’s brew Koffee with Karan season 8.
The upcoming episode of Koffee with Karan has a royal touch to it as Saif Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore grace the Koffee couch. From their iconic roles to family tales, this episode is a tribute to their regal legacy and a peek into their fabulous journey.
As Saif Ali Khan looked a little lost, Karan Johar asked, “Yes Saif, you are looking bewildered?”
“As I often am on this couch” quipped Saif Ali Khan
Curious as ever, Karan Johar asked, “The story I really want to know is about the college”
Spilling the beans, Sharmila Tagore replied, “He didn’t go to the university, he asked the air hostess out and they went off somewhere”
Koffee with Karan Season 8 is brewing exclusively, only on Disney+ Hotstar!
16, Dec 2023
Probus Insurance joins hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023
Mumbai, December 2023: After an overwhelming response during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Probus Insurance, one of the fastest-growing Insurtech brands, yet again joined hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023. Like their previous association, Probus will again be the exclusive partner for the Action Replay bug for Pro Kabbadi League Season 10, featuring their brand ambassador, Bollywood celebrity Hrithik Roshan.
Pro Kabaddi League is the most popular Kabaddi league in the world. In a testament to its widespread popularity, the PKL League achieved a staggering viewership of 435 million during its last season, resonating with a diverse audience from avid sports enthusiasts to casual viewers, making it one of the most-watched sporting events in the country after the IPL.
Rakesh Goyal, Managing director of Probus, said in the announcement, “We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with exclusive rights for the Action Replay Bug for Pro Kabaddi League this season. Probus has a strong local footprint of 800+ cities, serving 15000 pin codes, where most of our penetration is rural. With this tie-up, we aim to reach out to the rural belt, where Pro Kabaddi League is also making the sport an aspiration for the people in Tier 2 3 cities, touching diverse segments of the population. This is exactly where our brand ethos binds us together, boosting the purpose of this association.”
Dhruv Dhawan, Head – Ads at Disney+ Hotstar, said, “At Disney+ Hotstar, it is our constant endeavour to enable our advertisers to meet their business goals by leveraging our tentpole events. We are delighted to associate with Probus across our marquee sports properties, such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and now the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. We hope to continue to build on this association in the future as well.”
Probus’s online platform presents an array of insurance products, including motor, life, health, and SME. Having surpassed 1000 crore premium in the last year, the company has achieved a significant milestone. Aligned with IRDAI’s goals, Probus aims to expand into rural markets by deploying Bima Vahak, a specialized distribution channel, in every Gram Panchayat nationwide.
9, Dec 2023
Disney+ Hotstar and Friday Storytellers launches an exciting sizzle for their much-anticipated thriller Neeraj Pandey’s The Freelancer: The Conclusion
Mumbai 9th December 2023: Finally, Avinash Kamath sets out on the last leg of his extraction mission. Will The Freelancer be able to save Aliya? Disney+ Hotstar is all set to bring you the much-awaited The Freelancer: The Conclusion. The series is based on the book – A Ticket to Syria by Shirish Thorat, directed by Bhav Dhulia, produced by Friday Storytellers and Shital Bhatia, and created by showrunner Neeraj Pandey, the series is set to release on December 15, 2023, on Disney+ Hotstar. The Freelancer: The Conclusion is helmed by popular actor Mohit Raina and veteran actor Anupam Kher along with Kashmira Pardeshi. The series also features talented actors like Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji and Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, and Sarah Jane Dias amongst others.
Unveiling the world of The Freelancer, Disney+ Hotstar hosted a special event in Mumbai and shared a sneak peek into what the conclusion holds for our beloved Freelancer and Aliya. Teasing the mission and fueling the adrenaline, the video sizzle captured the fast-paced thrill and drama in the series. Present at the event were Gaurav Banerjee (Head – Content, Disney+ Hotstar & HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star), Creator & Showrunner Neeraj Pandey, Producer Shital Bhatia, Director Bhav Dhulia along with the talented cast of the series including Anupam Kher, Mohit Raina, Kashmira Pardeshi.
Gaurav Banerjee, Head – Content, Disney+ Hotstar & HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star said, “I think first and most important for The Freelancer is Neeraj Pandey and our unbelievable and unshakable faith in his qualities as a storyteller. How he wants to challenge himself and always surprise and tell thrillers in a style that is incredibly powerful. So, I think for all of us, we first came to him as fans, and after that, there is a lot of comfort with Friday Filmworks and Shital is an amazing force. This partnership brings us great joy for the past 5 years. Of Course, also bringing this cast together. Somewhere, they have history, I have history. So, I think it’s all fantastic. One of the foundational shows in my career is Mahadev. And Mahadev is Mahadev also because of what he is. He is somebody I am incredibly in awe of and hugely grateful for. So, I think this was an easy decision. I think we first think of the people and then think of the story.”
Creator and Showrunner Neeraj Pandey said, “It’s a great story that draws you and in this case, I was happy that Bhav was excited with the idea of leading this one and putting this ensemble cast and helping us in shaping up this particular story. It always starts with the story and ends with the story.”
Anupam Kher said, “When I’m working with Neeraj, I give myself completely to him. Whatever he tells me, I just do that, and he makes my job easy. Acting is not easy; it requires your mind, your body, your everything. It looks very easy, but that’s the beauty of hard work and years of work. Neeraj keeps challenging me, and ‘mai thoda bohot chabi karta rehta hu.’ That’s why I enjoy working with both of them. More than friends, they are like family now.”
Mohit Raina said, “I was following Neeraj and Bhav Dhulia’s vision. The character sketch they thought we explored on a daily basis, every shoot was different. The approach was very different. Shot with anupam ji where I’m standing with a gun, the approach was different because Neeraj Sir wanted red eyes. I didn’t carry any baggage but I enjoyed the journey. It’s been one of the most vulnerable journeys of my life. I haven’t ever played an underdog who comes out of nowhere and becomes something else. It was a very interesting arc for me to play and be Avinash Kamath”
~Witness the mission of ‘The Freelancer’ to save Aliya, in The Freelancer: The Conclusion, all episodes set to stream on 15th December only on Disney+ Hotstar~
17, Nov 2023
The wait is over! Disney+ Hotstar announces The Freelancer: The Conclusion all episodes releasing on 15th December 2023
Mumbai 17th November 2023: How will Aliya escape when death is imminent? Finally, the wait is over, as Disney+ Hotstar announces The Freelancer: The Conclusion, all episodes dropping on 15th December 2023. Following the success of the first 4 episodes (released on 1st Sept), which left the audiences on the edge of their seats, this power-packed extraction mission is all set to unravel the concluding chapters of Aliya’s intense journey. Based on the book– A Ticket to Syria by Shirish Thorat, Creator, and Showrunner Neeraj Pandey, Directed by Bhav Dhulia, and Produced by Shital Bhatia, The Freelancer: The Conclusion made by Friday Storytellers is helmed by Mohit Raina, veteran actor Anupam Kher, and the supremely talented, Kashmira Pardeshi.
Widely appreciated by the audiences, the series also features talented actors like Sushant Singh, John Kokken, Gauri Balaji, Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, and Sarah Jane Dias amongst others
Talking about the series, Producer Shital Bhatia said, “ It’s great to know that the first 4 episodes of ‘The Freelancer’ have received so much appreciation and love from the audiences for the scale and performances. With ‘The Freelancer: The Conclusion’ audiences will be taken through the thrilling journey of Alia and Avinash culminating in an exciting finish!”
Talking about the series, Anupam Kher said, “Dr Khan is a very thought-through character and he has various layers to his personality. It’s another Neeraj Pandey gem that the audiences have loved and appreciated. With the first part, viewers witness Aliya’s struggle, and with The Freelancer: The Conclusion, it is time to take the audiences on the extraction mission as Avinash Kamath risks it all and enters the war stricken zone to rescue Aliya. I am sure the fast-paced action and gripping suspense, will leave the audiences at the edge of their seats”
Talking about the series, Mohit Raina said, “Avinash Kamath’s character graph has grown with each episode as he experiences a turmoil of his own. Season 1 was received well by the audiences and my character was widely appreciated by all. It was the first time I explored something like this and I am glad the audiences thoroughly enjoyed it and are in for a nail-biting extraction mission as Avinash is all set to roll in action with The Freelancer: The Conclusion.”
Witness the mission of ‘The Freelancer’ to save Aliya, in The Freelancer: The Conclusion, all episodes set to stream on 15th December only on Disney+ Hotstar
25, Oct 2023
Star Studios and Cine1 Studios – “Apurva” Streaming From 15th November
Delhi, 25th October 2023: Star Studios and Cine1 Studios’ edge-of-the-seat survival thriller ‘APURVA’ is all set to release from 15th November onwards on Disney+ Hotstar. Directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, the film stars a unique ensemble cast of Tara Sutaria, Abhishek Banerjee, Dhairya Karwa, and Rajpal Yadav who have united to showcase one of the most powerful stories of good over evil onscreen.
The team unveiled the intriguing first look and announced the release date amidst huge crowds and tremendous fanfare at the prestigious Lav Kush Ramlila Ground at Red Fort, Delhi – the first of its kind launch that has never taken place for an Indian film!
Apurva is the story of an ordinary girl who faces extraordinary circumstances and will do anything to Survive and Live. Set in one of the most dangerous places in India – Chambal, the movie is presented by some of India’s leading creative powerhouses who have come together for this gritty thriller.
Tara Sutaria, who plays Apurva says, “This is a powerful and thrilling story of an ordinary girl whose inner strength, intelligence, wit and courage shape a journey that will keep one at the edge of their seat. It’s the role of a lifetime for me and I am eagerly awaiting audiences to see my transformation in Apurva as we launch our trailer very soon! Hugely excited and looking forward to Apurva releasing from 15th November onwards on Disney+ Hotstar.”
Abhishek Banerjee adds, “My character in Apurva is perhaps one of the most menacing and fearsome ones that I have portrayed so far. The powerful script instantly appealed to me when I first heard it, and I can’t wait for the audience to watch the trailer, which will be launched very soon and thereafter the film’s release from 15th November onwards on Disney+ Hotstar.”
Rajpal Yadav whose dramatic new look has struck a lot of intrigue says, “Audiences will see me in a very different and unusual avatar in Apurva which will be revealed when our trailer launches very soon. This is just the first glimpse, and I am looking forward to audiences watching Apurva from 15th November onwards on Disney+ Hotstar.”
Brace yourself to witness this edge-of-the-seat thriller – Apurva streaming from 15th November onwards only on Disney+ Hotstar.
