Hansal Mehta

Before their acclaimed careers, Anurag Kashyap and Hansal Mehta's paths intertwined unexpectedly. Mehta received crucial early support from RV Pandit, leading to the film 'Jayate.' Kashyap, then struggling, penned the screenplay for Rs 15,000, marking his first film venture, though 'Jayate,' starring Shakti Kapoor and Shilpa Shirodkar, ultimately remained unreleased despite its initial promise.

Hansal Mehta's acclaimed web series 'Scam 1992' faced initial rejection from major OTT platforms despite its eventual success. Mehta revealed that SonyLiv, driven by Sameer Nair's vision, ultimately backed the project and Pratik Gandhi. Despite low expectations and concerns about reaching a wide audience, the team persevered.

Manoj Bajpayee's iconic role in 'Satya' is making headlines again, not for its cinematic brilliance, but for the symbolic Re 1 signing amount. Hansal Mehta revealed this detail, highlighting the film's humble beginnings fueled by passion.

Hansal Mehta praised 'Thappad' for its powerful narrative, which inspired him to apologize to the women in his life. He acknowledged the film's impact on his personal growth, expressing regret for past insensitivities and committing to change. 'Thappad' explores themes of respect, marriage, and domestic abuse.

Hansal Mehta spoke about his professional relationship with Kangana Ranaut, praising her on-screen talent despite their personal differences during the making of 'Simran'. Mehta admitted the filmmaking process was challenging and left him with debts. The two recently clashed on social media over comedian Kunal Kamra, highlighting ongoing tensions between them.

Amy Jackson and Ed Westwick welcomed their first child, Oscar Alexander Westwick. They shared heartwarming photos on social media. Amy posted a selfie with Oscar, twinning in matching outfits. The couple met in 2021 and married in 2024 after a romantic engagement in January.

Bollywood faces a slump as re-released films outdo new ones, with industry trends following successful formulas. Randeep Hooda highlights the need for creativity over adherence to trends, and praises South Indian cinema for its authentic storytelling, suggesting a return to deeper character development.

Ibrahim Ali Khan received mixed reactions online after a video of him asking a fan if they wanted a photo went viral. Some accused him of being arrogant, while others felt he was treated unfairly. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta defended the young actor, urging people to be more compassionate and advising Ibrahim to focus on his work for respect.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta emphasizes that a robust writing and preparation process is crucial to making good cinema. He shares how his projects, including 'Scam 1992' and 'Shahid', required extensive development time, proving that budget constraints cannot hinder storytelling.

Bollywood is currently witnessing a dry spell at the box office, with several re-released films performing better than new releases. Addressing the ongoing slump, Randeep Hooda and filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared their perspectives. When asked why re-releases are working better, Hansal Mehta dismissed it as a fleeting trend. Randeep Hooda, however, attributed the situation to the industry’s herd mentality.

Sudhir Mishra expressed surprise at the popularity of 'Adolescence' on Netflix India, noting its divergence from traditional storytelling norms. The series, praised by Western critics and renowned filmmakers like Hansal Mehta and Shekhar Kapur, follows a family turmoil after a teenager's arrest for murder, highlighting issues like misogyny and social media impact.

Hansal Mehta recalled facing public humiliation from Shiv Sena after Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar (2000) and turning to alcohol for solace. Forced to apologize before 10,000 people, he later realized his attackers were cowards driven by power. He found hope in storytelling and achieved success with Scam 1992 and Scoop.

The highlights of the day include Arshdeep Arshi and Jasbir Jassi explored music’s role in filmmaking, while Hansal Mehta and Pratik Gandhi discussed the director-actor dynamic. Abhishek Chaubey, Honey Trehan, Chirag Bajaj, and D.P. Singh discussed about the challenges of biopics, and Vikramaditya Motwane led a panel on the benefits of multi-producer collaborations in film investment~

Anurag Kashyap and Hansal Mehta praise the British series 'Adolescence' and criticize Indian streaming platforms for prioritizing business over storytelling. Ekta Kapoor highlights that quality films like 'Superboys of Malegaon' struggle at the box office, suggesting audience preferences are evolving. She urges creators to invest their own money to prioritize art over profit.

Netflix's 'Adolescence' has sparked debate in the Indian film industry, praised for its innovative storytelling and exploration of complex themes. Indian filmmakers appreciate its narrative structure and character depth, while some criticize Netflix India's reluctance to produce similar content. The series' reception highlights the need for greater creative freedom and experimentation within the Indian film landscape.

Hansal Mehta supports comedian Kunal Kamra amid backlash over remarks on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Mehta recalls a similar incident 25 years ago involving violence and public shaming for his film. Kamra, facing vandalism from Shiv Sena workers, refuses to apologize, defending his freedom of speech and criticizing media bias. He questions law enforcement's impartiality.

The festival will feature 16 celebrity conversations and 16 industry-focused discussions, creating a vibrant platform for in-depth exploration of cinema.

Zahan Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor's grandson, debuted in 'Faraaz' and broke through with Black Warrant. He shares fond memories of his grandfather, who distanced himself from the film industry. Zahan emphasizes hard work despite his surname offering easy access to Bollywood. He also has a background in theatre.

Comedian Kunal Kamra criticizes T-Series for disabling his standup special 'Naya Bharat' over a parody song deemed a copyright violation. The controversy escalated with vandalism by Shiv Sena activists and political disputes, with Kamra vowing not to apologize or back down despite facing legal action.

Actress Saba Azad has now shared a cryptic note about comedy on her social media account amidst the ongoing legal troubles faced by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. The actress took to her Instagram stories to share a note: “Yes!! Comedy is the issue that plagues us!!! Bingo!! (clapping emojis).” The statement appears sarcastic, and she shared the note after Kunal’s direct post, in which he is seen holding the Constitution of India in his hands

After over four years of legal disputes, Javed Akhtar and Kangana Ranaut have settled their defamation case in a Mumbai court. Both parties withdrew their complaints following mediation, with Kangana apologizing and retracting her past statements. Shabana Azmi clarified that Akhtar sought a written apology rather than financial compensation, emphasizing the victory was due to the apology.

Hansal Mehta hopes to re-release his film Shahid with Rajkummar Rao. He believes more people would watch it now. Mehta emphasizes that films do not fail, but budgets do. He mentions re-releases of movies like Tumbbad as an encouraging trend. Mehta is also working on new projects including comedy and action films.

The creator and actor Stephen Graham expresses surprise over the international popularity, particularly in India, of his Netflix series 'Adolescence'. The British crime drama, centered on a 13-year-old boy's arrest for murder, has received acclaim from various Indian film personalities and has started a much-needed conversation about young men's issues.

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur criticized Amazon Prime Video for modifying his 1994 film 'Bandit Queen' without his consent. He likened this unauthorized alteration to being disrespectful to his creative vision and questioned whether such changes would be applied to a Christopher Nolan movie.

The actor says comedy is the most difficult genre

Hansal Mehta says that while it's unfair and people are being harsh with their comments towards Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor; in general, the people who are launching these star kids should also be sure if they are prepared. He blames the advisors of these star-kids for misguiding them. He says that the Gen Z today is prepared for the paps, not for the movie cameras.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta addresses gender representation in Hindi cinema, highlighting talented female actors like Triptii Dimri and Ananya Panday. He stresses the need for female-driven stories and questions the industry's focus on box office viability over substance. Mehta calls for more opportunities and compelling scripts for actresses to showcase their depth and craft.

The release of the Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor starrer 'Nadaaniyaan' has sparked significant backlash and harsh criticism from the audience. One wonders if people are more harsh towards star-kids or there is genuinely something lacking in their approach or the entire process. ETimes speaks to some industry insiders....

Pratik Gandhi shares his philosophy of diversifying roles to avoid being typecast post 'Scam 1992'. He emphasizes the need for experimentation in the film industry and advocates for giving new talent opportunities. Despite obstacles and initial struggles, he follows his gut and remains committed to storytelling.

Filmmaker Karan Johar responded to criticism of 'Nadaaniyan' by quoting a famous song lyric, urging people to ignore negativity. The film, which marks the acting debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan and stars Khushi Kapoor, has been criticized widely, sparking debates about nepotism in Bollywood.