DISNEY INDIA ROPES IN POWERHOUSE ACTORS TO VOICE FOR THEIR LIVE-ACTION MAGNUM OPUS – THE LION KING IN HINDI

Ashish Vidyarthi is Scar, Shreyas Talpade is Timon, Sanjay Mishra is Pumbaa and legendary Asrani is Zazu in the Hindi version

After having conquered hearts with ‘The Jungle Book’ in 2016, Disney is all set to present its legendary franchise and crown jewel - ‘The Lion King’ – with ground-breaking technology that re-imagines the greatest story ever told. Etched forever in pop culture, the animated version was known for its strong and emotional storytelling and memorable characters that won hearts of fans everywhere. With the father-son duo of Mufasa and Simba getting us emotional each time, who can forget the perfect comic timing of Timon and Pumbaa, the reluctant but witty bird Zazu and the menacingly evil villain Scar, rounding up the stellar cast!

While it has been recently announced that actor Shah Rukh Khan and son Aryan will be voicing Mufasa and Simba in the Hindi version, now the studio has orchestrated a befitting casting for the rest of the characters as well! Bollywood’s menacing villain Ashish Vidyarthiwill give us the chills as Scar. India’s biggest comic talent Shreyas Talpade, Sanjay Mishra and veteran Asrani will be lending their trademark wit and humor as Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu respectively. 

“The Lion King is a classic that epitomizes Disney’s prowess of bringing heartwarming stories that are timeless and transcend generations. A quintessential story of a father and his son and their heartwarming relationship; it’s a tale of a pride of lions that will connect with audiences emotionally. The movie is a pioneering blend of live-action filmmaking techniques and state-of-the-art virtual reality technology never seen before on celluloid,” said Bikram Duggal, Head - Studio Entertainment, Disney India.

Directed by ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The Jungle Book’ fame director, Jon Favreau, Disney’s The Lion King is one of the most-anticipated films of recent times. Etched forever as a pop culture classic, the animated version is known for its strong and emotional storytelling and memorable characters. And now the heroic coming-of-age journey will make it to the large canvas with a pioneering and game changing photo-real technology, using cutting-edge tools to make the musical drama come alive on the big screen.

Disney’s The Lion King releases on 19th July 2019 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu

About Disney’s “The Lion King”

Disney’s “The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way, Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into theaters on July 19, 2019.

Sony Pictures International Ramps Up its 2020 film slate in India with High Talent Filmmakers!

Sony Pictures International Productions in India has aggressively ramped up its ongoing local productions by collaborating with four leading filmmakers as it mounts its film slate for the year 2020. 

 

From an action entertainer to a biopic thriller, the four projects toplined by filmmakers - #UmeshShukla #SabbirKhan #SajidSamji and #SashiKiranTikka (Goodachari, in Telugu) - are evidence of the Studio’s concentrated effort towards becoming a local production content power house. 

  

Slated to begin production between now and end of this year, each of the four films promise to bring different types of exciting entertaining content to the audiences worldwide. 

 

Vivek Krishnani, MD, SPE Films India Private Ltd says, “We are excited to work with such talented directors from our industry, who share a common vision like us at Sony Pictures as we seek to become a content led Studio.With Umesh, Sabbir, Sajid and Sashi working on four very different subjects we can’t wait to bring entertaining clutter breaking content to the audiences.”

 

“India continues to be a top priority for Sony International Productions,” said Laine Kline, head of Sony Pictures International Productions. “These filmmakers epitomize what makes Indian cinema special. Their distinctive creative visions will elevate each one of these projects on our upcoming slate.”

 

Sabbir Khan says, “I am really happy to partner with Sony Pictures as I am excited by their approach towards making films. Headed by Vivek Krishnani they have a team of like-minded people who are facilitating everything to make the right films”

 

Umesh Shukla, adds, “I want to offer content that’s relevant, entertaining, funny and which conveys a message. I'm glad to yet again collaborate with SONY after 102 Not Out."

 

Sajid Samji says, “I feel I am in safe hands as I know Sony will do fab job beyond just producing the film but take the marketing and promotions of the film to another level”

 

Shashi Kiran, “As film makers, we get an opportunity to tell stories, stories that inspire, that move us, and stories that leave an impression on us. I'm honored and grateful to Sony Pictures and G Mahesh Babu entertainment for giving me the opportunity to direct Major and tell this story to the entire country.”

 

As the Studio continues to expand its footprint in India, Sony Pictures is also gearing up for a huge Hollywood line-up this year with Spider-Man: Far From Home, Angry Birds 2, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, the Charlie’s Angels reboot and the sequel to 2017’s blockbuster hit Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas will now release on September 20, 2019

Zee Studios & Sunny Sounds Pvt Ltd's upcoming film, Sunny Deol's directorial #PalPalDilKePaas starring Karan Deol & Sahher Bambba will now release on September 20, 2019.

1st song of Arjun Patiala - Main Deewana Tera which will sway your feet away!

The fun and peppy party number is sure to take dance floors by a storm. The song sees Diljit dressed in a dapper white suit, while his lady love Kriti adorns a radiant saree. 

Choreography - Vijay Ganguly 

Lyrics - Guru Randhawa

Singer - Guru Randhawa

Music - Sachin-Jigar & Guru Randhawa

Gulshan Kumar and Prem Vijan present, A Maddock film production in association with T series and Bake My Cake films, Arjun Patiala , directed by Rohit Jugraj, produced by Dinesh Vijan, Bhushan Kumar, Sandeep Leyzell and Kishan Kumar. The film is all set to release on *26th July 2019!*

Get ready to experience the madness in a one of a kind spoof comedy, Arjun Patiala!

Miliye Diljit Dosanjh aka Arjun jo cute nahi muscular hai, Kriti Sanon aka Ritu jo Bijli sein Tezz aur Varun Sharma aka Onida jiske paas draMAA hai, ke anokhe andaz sein! The trio is all set to tickle your funny bones this July! 

Trailer to be out on 20th June.

Gulshan Kumar and Prem Vijan present, A Maddock film production in association with T-Series and Bake My Cake films, Arjun Patiala, directed by Rohit Jugraj, produced by Dinesh Vijan, Bhushan Kumar, Sandeep Leyzell and Krishan Kumar. The film is set to hit the theaters on 26th July 2019

Diljit Dosanjh, Kriti Sanon and Varun Sharma turn marketing gurus for Arjun Patiala, here’s proof!

Arjun Patiala is an upcoming spoof comedy starring Diljit Dosanjh, Kriti Sanon and Varun Sharma. 

The makers of the film released a video clip where Kriti is seen teaching Diljit and Varun the essentials to a successful marketing campaign. Nowadays actors are actively involved in the marketing of the film but the actors of Arjun Patiala are taking it up a notch higher! 

The video starts with Diljit and Varun deciding to go on vacation when Kriti interrupts and tells them to focus on the marketing campaign of the film. 

Gulshan Kumar and Prem Vijan present, A Maddock film production in association with T-Series and Bake My Cake films, Arjun Patiala , directed by Rohit Jugraj, produced by Dinesh Vijan, Bhushan Kumar, Sandeep Leyzell and  Krishan Kumar.  

Taapsee Pannu wants to be an actor of repeat value

In her six-year-old Bollywood career, Taapsee Pannu has worked with a bevy of filmmakers on more than one occasion. After delivering hits like Pink (2016) and Sujoy Ghosh’s Badla, which released last month, she is being considered as one of the most bankable heroines in B-Town. She feels that ‘the audience’s perception is changing now’. She reasons, “Earlier, actresses were easily classified as commercial or off-beat heroines. However today, it takes a while to tag someone. And that’s what I had always wanted for myself. I can’t be a part of a film that I’m not an audience to. I take up movies only if I feel I want to spend my money and time on them. Which is why I took this middle path. For me, entertainment is about holding your audience for two hours. Slowly, with success and effort, people have started noticing it.”

Today, Taapsee has filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, David Dhawan, Shoojit Sircar, Anubhav Sinha and Neeraj Pandey, who are willing to collaborate with her again.She laughs and adds, “That is the biggest validation for any actor. It means that my parent-teacher meeting has turned out well. Hopefully, my directors also feel that their student is good. Hence, it’s worth upgrading me to the next standard.” She adds, “I want to be an actor of repeat value. I’m keen to work with my directors again and again because I had an amazing time doing films with them. My social circle in the industry comprises the people who I’ve worked with. So, I share a great bond with my directors and co-actors. This industry works only on relationships , there are a lot of actors who might be really good, but the ties you form give you a slight edge because of the comfort level you share with each other.”

David Dhawan, who introduced Taapsee with Chashme Baddoor (2013), repeated her in his big-budget comic caper Judwaa 2 (2017). Then, Shoojit Sircar, who produced Running Shaadi (2017), gave her Pink, which not only got her noticed but also put her in the big league. The actress impressed Neeraj Pandey with her short stint in Baby (2015) and the filmmaker decided to produce an entire spin-off (Naam Shabana, 2017) on her character from the espionage spy thriller. While Anurag directed Taapsee in his last film Manmarziyaan (2018), he’s producing her next movie Saand Ki Aankh, and has also signed her for another supernatural thriller. Anubhav Sinha and the actress did Mulk last year and are now teaming up for yet another social drama.

Taapsee says, “The filmmakers, who are repeating me in their projects, are extremely credible names. I must have done something good for them to come to me again. I feel comfortable with them. David sir is my local guardian here because he calls me every few weeks to check on me and see if I’m fine. Anurag is like a buddy and I can discuss anything with him. With these people, I can sit and have conversations, which doesn’t have to be about films.”

The Badla actress is happy that her bonds with these directors have got her a camp of her own. “This is the only way I can build my career in a structural manner. I have to prove that I am a professional worth repeating.  I am happy all these big filmmakers have shown faith in me and I hope to live up to their expectations,” she adds.

Directors Speak

Anurag Kashyap, “Taapsee is not only a good actor but she also makes informed choices. She has a lot of integrity and is a courageous person. She fights for what she believes in and speaks the truth, no matter how bitter it is.”  

Anubhav Sinha, "Some actors are purely addictive. Taapsee is one such artiste. An eclectic blend of talent, pursuit for excellence, story over character maturity, team spirit and a relentless desire to make it work makes her so unique. I see myself collaborating with her more frequently in the near future."

David  Dhawan, "Taapsee’s a good artiste and an amazing person. She’s very humane and an easy person to work with. The fact that she is so committed and comes from a middle-class background keeps her grounded as she doesn’t have any airs about herself. I’m itching to work with her again and want to do a social drama with her.”  

Shoojit Sircar, "Taapsee was first introduced to me by Running Shaadi director Amit Roy. I was not sure if she would be the right girl to cast. But then, he insisted I meet her and see her audition tape. As soon as I saw it, there were no doubts whatsoever. I was like, ‘Where is this girl from?’ We met and then I went to the shoot. When I saw her on sets, I had told my other producers that Taapsee will go places. Then, when I was working on Pink, she was our first choice for Meenal’s character. We straightaway called her and told her she’s doing it. She was fearless, even in front of Amitabh Bachchan. I enjoyed working with her on Pink. The way she owned up that character was extremely esponsible, as a human being. When an actor is like her, I love them more. She’s evolved and look at the kind of choices she’s making, which are absolutely commendable. I would love to cast her in anything that comes up."