Have you heard? Hansal Mehta's Gandhi to premiere at TIFF; Nagarjuna's Shiva to re-release in theatres

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s upcoming series Gandhi, starring Pratik Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, is set to have its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) from September 4 to 14. Marking a milestone, it is the first Indian series ever selected for TIFF’s prestigious Primetime slate. Sharing the first look on X, Hansal wrote, “A bold dream shaped by belief and persistence now finds a global platform.” Featuring music by AR Rahman, the series is based on Ramachandra Guha’s books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World. Rahman added, “Proud to announce the premiere of Gandhi at TIFF — a historic first for Indian storytelling on this stage.”

Smriti rewrites TV history

Smriti Irani as Tulsi Virani

Actor turned politician Smriti Irani’s much-anticipated comeback as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 has smashed records. As per PTI, the reboot, which aired on July 29, clocked over 1.659 billion minutes of watch time and drew 31.1 million viewers in just four days after it dropped. The show topped weekly TRP charts with a rating of 2.5, surpassing Anupamaa and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Star Plus claimed it is the biggest general entertainment fiction debut in India across television and digital. Reflecting on the success, Smriti said that they have proved that history can repeat itself. She added that such milestones are rare in the television landscape.

A warm exchange of ideas

(L-R) Kamal Haasan and Narendra Modi

Superstar Kamal Haasan shared a series of pictures on social media as he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said he has placed some requests before him. Kamal, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, uploaded a post on his X handle on Thursday, comprising pictures featuring the actor alongside Modi. Along with the pictures, and wrote, “As a representative of the people of Tamil Nadu and as an artist, I placed before him a few requests, foremost among them was the call to expedite the recognition of Keeladi’s [An archaeological site in the state] antiquity. I urged the Prime Minister to extend his support to the Tamil people in showcasing to the world the grandeur of Tamil civilisation and the timeless glory of the Tamil language.”

Hero in the making

Ibrahim Ali Khan and Kayoze Irani

Despite facing backlash for his acting debut in Nadaaniyan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of Saif Ali Khan, has made a more favourable impression with his second film Sarzameen, which recently premièred on OTT. Directed by Kayoze Irani, the action thriller received mixed reviews, but netizens noted a marked improvement in Ibrahim’s performance. Speaking on Cyrus Broacha’s podcast, Kayoze revealed, “The first thing I saw is that this boy is tailor-made for the camera. He is bloody handsome. We had to find his inner world and that’s why he is getting a lot more love for this one.”

Healthy box-office competition

(L-R) Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday

Actor Mrunal Thakur has addressed the box-office clash between Son of Sardaar 2 and Saiyaara, saying, “If a film is doing well, we want it to breathe.” Responding to speculation over the Ajay Devgn-starrer’s rescheduled release, she clarified it wasn’t about dodging Saiyaara but allowing space for both films.

(L-R) Mrunal Thakur and Ajay Devgn. PICS/AFP, INSTAGRAM

“There’s enough room for every good story,” she told Miss Malini. Son of Sardaar 2, which released on August 1, has earned approximately R33 crore so far, while Saiyaara, released on July 18, has collected around Rs 308 crore in India.

YouTube se cinema tak

Nagarjuna in ‘Shiva’ and Ram Gopal Verma

Superstar Nagarjuna and Ram Gopal Varma’s cult action film Shiva (1989) is set for a theatrical re-release in Telugu, followed by Hindi and Tamil. The movie is restored in 4K with Dolby Atmos sound. The makers will unveil a teaser of the Nagarjuna starrer with Rajinikanth’s Coolie, arriving in cinemas on August 14. Nagarjuna, in a statement said, “Shiva was the film that gave me an iconic hero status, making my character truly unforgettable. The fact that it remains one of the most talked-about films even after 36 years motivated my brother Venkat Akkineni and me to plan its re-release in the grandest way possible. We felt we owed it to the audience who made it such a cult classic, and also to a new generation who may have only seen it on YouTube.” The director  added, “Although the original sound was highly appreciated, it was decided to redo it entirely to match today’s standards. By using advanced AI technology, we have converted the original mono mix to Dolby Atmos. People might have seen Shiva before, but I promise no one has experienced it the way they will now, with its new sound.”