Actor Paresh Ganatra, who started his acting career with Gujarati theatre in 1984, recently recalled losing a large sum of money during the Harshad Mehta scam in 1992. He shared that the close encounter inspired him to play the role of Radhakishan Damani in Hansal Mehta's web series Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story starring Pratik Gandhi in the titular role. Paresh Ganatra on losing money to Harshad Mehta During his appearance on Digital Commentary's podcast, Paresh said, "I was working then and my salary was Rs 5,000 per month. I had Rs 75,000 in savings and it was a big amount at that time. I lost it all during the Harshad Mehta scam." "When I found out about Scam 1992, I insisted that I would play this role despite Hansal Mehta saying it was a small role. It was based on RK Damani who is the owner of D Mart and my personal story made me decide that I would definitely play it,” he added. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta's series narrates the story of one of the biggest financial scams in the Indian stock market. The financial thriller is based on Debashis Basu and Sucheta Dalal's book The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away. Stockbroker Harshad Mehta, who was popularly known as the 'Amitabh Bachchan of the Stock Market', was named and charged with several financial crimes that took place in a 1992 securities scam. Paresh Ganatra’s acting journey Paresh made his film debut in 1999 with the romantic drama 'Mann', written and directed by Indra Kumar. The film starred Aamir Khan and Manisha Koirala, alongside Anil Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, and Neeraj Vora with Rani Mukerji in a special appearance. He has acted in movies like 'Aankhen', 'Dil Diya Hai', 'No Entry', 'Money Hai Toh Honey Hai', 'Khichdi: The Movie', 'Delhi Belly', 'Rowdy Rathore', 'Ramaiya Vastavaiya', 'Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se', 'Dabangg 3', and 'Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan'. Paresh Ganatra was last seen in Aapka Apna Zakir. Alongside Zakir Khan, the show featured Shweta Tiwari and Rithvik Dhanjani. Embracing a quintessential Gujarati persona, Paresh's character touched upon shares, real estate, insurance, and investments.
07 January,2025 08:52 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn chronicling a list of the anticipated OTT offerings of 2025, several platforms aptly pointed to the Bobby Deol-fronted conman show, Aashram, which was lapped up by audiences upon its August 2020 release owing to its gritty narrative. Three seasons in, Prakash Jha’s directorial venture has amassed a loyal fan base that keeps track of the show’s forthcoming episodes. Evidently then, when news relating to another season hit headlines, it gave fans reason to rejoice. However, a source close to the production tells mid-day that the glimpses of the new content circulating online do not belong to the fourth season. “What has been shot is part of season three itself. It took time to release these episodes because of the merger between [OTT platforms] MX Player and Amazon,” says the source, highlighting that the 10 episodes that are available in the third season are only part of the 15-episode series that was initially shot. “The remaining five episodes, what we’re calling Aashram 3.5, are ready to be released and will be aired this year after a formal announcement on the new channel belonging to the merged platforms. The new episodes will see Baba Nirala, aka Monty Singh [Deol], confronting his past ghosts. It will include glimpses of his past experiences that shaped his current status and those that will influence his future actions. It will also showcase Pammi’s [Aaditi Pohankar] agenda and where her desire for revenge leads her, as well as Sonia’s [Esha Gupta] true intentions. After Baba Nirala lands in jail at the end of season three, we will see that despite his imprisonment, he continues to manipulate people.” Prakash Jha Jha tells mid-day that while he doesn’t know when the new episodes will be released, he is aware that Amazon is keen to take the franchise ahead. “The five episodes that are set to be released will reveal that, aashram zinda hai. We are still talking about season four. A fresh story has been written for it, but I have told the team that while I will mentor it, somebody else must direct that. However, it all depends on the [decision taken by] the platform. We’re yet to see how things will pan out.” Jha, in the meanwhile, has a political drama series titled Sankalp in his kitty. Starring Nana Patekar, Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi and Sanjay Kapoor, the show is produced along with Jio Studios, and the release platform is yet to be announced.
04 January,2025 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRStarting the year on high note, Prime Video unveiled the teaser of the highly anticipated second season of the critically acclaimed series 'Paatal Lok'. With excitement at its peak, fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary. The teaser offers a thrilling glimpse into a new case that pushes Hathi Ram to his limits. With chaos lurking at every turn, will the underdog cop risk it all to uncover the truth, or will his relentless pursuit consume him completely? This time, the stakes for uncovering the truth are higher, the mysteries deeper, and the threats deadlier. The new season promises to raise the drama barometer to new heights, drawing viewers into an even darker, more immersive, and treacherous world. Into the world of Paatal Lok 2 The teaser features Jaideep Ahlawat who essays the role of Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary. He narrates a story that puts the Paatal Lok in perspective setting the tone for the season. The actor has scars on his face and is in a dimly lit place as he narrates a rather eerie story. Watch the official teaser here View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) Produced by Clean Slate Filmz, in association with Eunoia Films LLP, the eight-episode series is created and executive produced by Sudip Sharma. Directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and created by Sudip Sharma, the series is produced by Clean Slate Filmz in collaboration with Eunoia Films LLP. The returning cast includes Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, and Gul Panag, alongside new faces such as Tillotama Shome, Nagesh Kukunoor, and Jahnu Barua in important roles. Sudip Sharma, the creator and showrunner of the series, shared his excitement in a press release shared by Prime Video. He said, "The overwhelming response to the first season inspired me to craft stories that are raw, relatable, and intensely gripping. Collaborating with an exceptional team has been a privilege, and we've amplified the themes of crime, mystery, and suspense in this new chapter." The first season of the series, praised for its intense storytelling and raw portrayal of Indian society, introduced audiences to the morally complex world of Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary. The show will be released on Prime Video on January 17.
03 January,2025 12:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Royals For the first time, it’s not the story or the protagonists that’s making viewers excited for The Royals. Yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman will be making her return to the screen in the Pritish Nandy production, created by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy. Since her exciting and, might we say, explosive debut on Instagram, Aman is all anyone has spoken about. The series, starring Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, is about what happens when an entitled Prince Charming locks horns with a startup whiz. It’s a new-age romance that sees two worlds clash, ambitions collide, and romance bloom. Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Dino Morea, Milind Soman, Chunky Panday, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Sumukhi Suresh, Udit Arora, Lisa Mishra, and Luke Kenny round out this ensemble. The shooting was wrapped up in March last year. In an interview with us, Vihaan had said that his casting was a five-month process. Singer Mishra said that every day on the set was “like a master class.” As per sources, the Netflix offering is inspired by the different royal families of Rajasthan, which is blended with fact and fiction. The show will travel back and forth between two eras—the present day and the past decades. Rakht Bramhand—The Bloody Kingdom Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Aditya Roy Kapur The six-part series has everything—from director duo Raj-DK as producers to Rahi Anil Barve of Tummbad fame as director. The Aditya Roy Kapur, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ali Fazal, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu-starrer is touted to be a fantasy fiction story. The makers have promised to make it a visual spectacle with high production values and ingenious VFX. The team has gone through extensive readings, workshops, and training for the show. What the story will be about is a mystery even to us. Stardom Aryan Khan Shah Rukh Khan’s eldest son, Aryan Khan, is making his debut with Stardom. Unlike other star kids, Aryan is entering the industry as a writer-director. While he will venture into acting later, for now, Khan Jr is busy with the post-production of the star-studded series that revolves around an outsider navigating the glamorous and controversial world of showbiz. The series stars Mona Singh and Lakshya with special appearances by Shah Rukh, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar, and Bobby Deol, among others. Waking of a Nation Ram Madhvani Ram Madhvani is all set to tell the story of the bloodiest incident of Indian history—the Jallianwala Bagh massacre with Waking of a Nation. The six-part SonyLIV series centres on the Hunter Commission that was established in October 1919 to investigate the massacre that took the lives of over 1,500 people. Ram asserts that the series is a “historical fiction.” “The Waking of a Nation is really about racism and prejudice,” says Madhvani. Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki Set in a restaurant, the Colors show is a family drama that’s simmering with raw emotion, tangled bonds, and the complex love between a mother and daughter. The daily soap, set to air from January 6, stars Ayesha Singh, Adnan Khan, and Mona Vasu. Rambhakt Tulsidas Rati Pandey This Zee TV show delves into the life and tribulations of Tulsidas. Naman Ratan plays the child character of the saint and poet renowned for his devotion to the deity Rama. He is best known as the author of the Hanuman Chalisa and of the Ramcharitmanas, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana. Rati Pandey and Tarun Khanna will play parents to Tulsidas. Special mentions Rana Naidu Season 2Paatal Lok Season 2The Family Man Season 3Citadel Season 2Delhi Crime Season 3The Trial Season 2
01 January,2025 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamActor Manoj Bajpayee has concluded the shoot for 'The Family Man 3'. Recently, Manoj took to Instagram and shared the update with his fans and followers. He posted a picture of the clapperboard with the caption, "Shooting wrapped!! For Family Man 3! Aur thoda intezar." More details regarding the new season have not been disclosed yet. A picture of Sharib Hashmi and Shreya Dhanwanthary with Manoj Bajpayee from the sets of Family Man 3 also recently surfaced online. "With our number 1 man," Shreya captioned the post. In September, the team of Family Man visited Nagaland for the shoot where they met with Nagaland's Tourism and Higher Education Minister, Temjen Imna Along. In May, the makers officially announced the third season, updating fans that they have commenced the shoot. In the series created by Raj and DK, Manoj Bajpayee plays Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class man leading a double life as an intelligence officer for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a fictional division of the National Investigation Agency. Written by Suman Kumar and Raj & DK, the eagerly awaited third season will bring back many of the original cast members, including Priyamani (Suchitra Tiwari), Sharib Hashmi (JK Talpade), Ashlesha Thakur (Dhriti Tiwari), Vedant Sinha (Atharv Tiwari), amongst others. It is produced by Raj & DK's D2R Films banner. Gul Panag is also a part of the new season. 'The Family Man: Season 1' premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 20, 2019. The second season was released on the streamer on June 4, 2021. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 December,2024 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | ANISurreal is how actor Taaruk Raina describes the audience’s love for the third season of Mismatched. “People get so involved in the show,” marvels the actor, who plays gamer Anmol Malhotra in the Netflix YA series. Along with leads Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli, Raina has been a fan favourite since the show’s première in 2020. One can assume that the series’ popularity must have led to increased opportunities for him. Raina asks us to hold our horses. “The choices have increased. Now, I sometimes have the luxury to pick and choose. But there are only so many things that are offered to [me]. This is a tough business. It’s not like I am sitting with 10 scripts in front of me. For a young actor, it’s a big thing to get a role, and to have it retained in the show. A thousand things have to fall in place for one thing to happen. Sometimes we have to do [roles] that we don’t necessarily want to do. And sometimes, we are lucky to get great parts, like in Mismatched,” he says. A still from Mismatched Raina is excited about his 2025 line-up. The actor will be seen in Ram Madhvani’s Waking of a Nation, and a dark comedy series, Rangeen. The latter aligns with his pursuit for funny roles. “I barely get the chance to do anything funny. I’d like to explore humour that’s interesting, not slapstick.”
28 December,2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaKritika Kamra can’t wait for 2025 to begin so that the audience can have a look at her upcoming series, For Your Eyes Only. Directed by Sumit Purohit, who wrote Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020), the Netflix series is an espionage thriller set in the ’70s. For Kamra, the show stands out as she believes it is on a par with international offerings. “What drew me to the show is its premise. It’s set in a timeline that is crucial in history. Now that we’ve finished it, I feel that from conception to execution, this show has an international quality to it,” says the actor. Kamra had another incentive to say yes to the project—it gave her the opportunity to share screen space with Scam 1992 star Pratik Gandhi. “He’s a natural and so generous as an actor; it pushes you to bring your A-game. Acting is a team sport. When you work with great writers, actors and collaborators, your game gets better,” she states. This pursuit of growth had led Kamra to Gyaarah Gyaarah earlier this year, and the actor is grateful that the time-travel thriller won praise. “That the show did well in a year when not many clutter-breaking things happened is heartening. The audience is ready to experiment, if creators are. My character was in two timelines. This show gave me a great arc.”
26 December,2024 07:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuThe second season of the much-awaited crime drama 'Paatal Lok', starring Jaideep Ahlawat and Gul Panag, has revealed its release date. Prime Video, on Monday, shared the announcement on its official Instagram account, unveiling a poster featuring Ahlawat. Along with the poster, Prime Video announced that the crime drama is set to return on January 17 next year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) Directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and created by Sudip Sharma, the series is produced by Clean Slate Filmz in collaboration with Eunoia Films LLP. The returning cast includes Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, and Gul Panag, alongside new faces such as Tillotama Shome, Nagesh Kukunoor, and Jahnu Barua in important roles. Sudip Sharma, the creator and showrunner of the series, shared his excitement in a press release shared by Prime Video. He said, "The overwhelming response to the first season inspired me to craft stories that are raw, relatable, and intensely gripping. Collaborating with an exceptional team has been a privilege, and we've amplified the themes of crime, mystery, and suspense in this new chapter." The first season of the series, praised for its intense storytelling and raw portrayal of Indian society, introduced audiences to the morally complex world of Inspector Hathi Ram Chaudhary. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 December,2024 07:58 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIWhen Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry commenced working on the second season of Bandish Bandits two years ago, they were tasked with meeting one requirement—live up to the expectations of the audience after the success of the first edition. Considering the response to the recently released second edition, one may say with some credibility that the duo did succeed. Ask Chaudhry if returning to the show for another edition posed a challenge, and she responds in the affirmative. “Like my character, it felt like Shreya too was starting afresh. Just as [my character] Tamanna goes to a music school in the season, I did too,” she says, alluding to the extensive music workshops that all actors attended so that they could add authenticity to their portrayals. “We had lessons in singing, and [learnt several] instruments,” she says. For Chaudhry, however, lessons didn’t culminate when the workshops ended. Teaming up with her co-star Divya Dutta implied that Chaudhry got the opportunity to enhance her craft by simply watching the senior actor in action. “Like her character Nandini, she is also someone who doesn’t judge anyone. While rehearsing [together] she would give me cues. For scenes involving the two of us, she would perform even if the camera wasn’t on her. This helped me.” Chaudhry’s co-star Bhowmik appears to share her gratitude when reflecting on the opportunities that have come his way. The newcomer’s life changed after the release of season one, which was his first mainstream show as a leading man. In the last four years, he has featured in several shows, including Modern Love—Mumbai, and Jehanabad—Of Love and War. However, he minces no words when admitting that despite the acclaim he received after Bandish Bandits, he didn’t have the privilege to decline offers that didn’t appease him. “The projects that I chose [to do] after Bandish Bandits were those that I needed to do, because I needed work. I don’t come from privilege, and didn’t have the chance to sit back at home and wait for the next big thing. I wanted to keep working and make ends meet,” the actor shares, matter-of-factly. While several stars are well aware of the kind of cinema they wish to be part of, Bhowmik says he wouldn’t take a decision just yet. “I haven’t told myself that I want to only be part of a certain kind of project. Perhaps, four or five years down the line, I will be able to do that. At this moment, I would [not] restrict myself.” The fact that actors are still uncertain about the kind of cinema that will work in an era impacted by the OTT boom implies that artistes like him have the chance to experiment abundantly before picking a path. “From the biggest stars to newcomers, everybody is confused. Nobody can tell us with certainty that something will work. Since childhood, I have just wanted to be seen on screen, be it [the big] screen or television. Of course, I would love to be part of the movies. But I am excited at the moment. There was a four-year-old boy who wanted to be a hero. That boy has been so happy in the last four years that I don’t want him to be bothered by these questions,” he signs off.
23 December,2024 02:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaWhen Khoj was offered to Sharib Hashmi, he was already sold on the story of a man struggling to prove that the woman, claiming to be his wife, is lying. There was another incentive—it was the first series that saw him play the lead. “I always read a story first to see whether it is engaging me as an audience. Then I see how my character contributes to it. Here, everything fit,” says the actor of the ZEE5 series, also starring Anupriya Goenka and Aamir Dalvi. In his 16-year career so far, Hashmi has essayed diverse roles, from the leading man’s closest friend in Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) to a supportive husband in Tarla (2023). Now, the actor says he can feel a shift in the industry’s perception, with filmmakers offering him lead roles. “Today, I am not doing anything and everything that’s offered to me. I can afford to choose. I can see filmmakers’ confidence [in me] by the kind of roles I am being offered. The industry’s perception towards me has shifted. I get more love and respect. I’ve worked very hard for it,” he smiles. It’s impossible to not mention The Family Man when speaking to Hashmi. The third season of the Manoj Bajpayee-led spy thriller is currently in its last leg of production. “We will finish shooting by December-end,” Hashmi shares. Reuniting with Bajpayee is something he looks forward to every season. “When I work with Manoj sir, I am fully prepared, because if I falter even a bit with my dialogues, he’ll say, ‘Look at him, he is flying high. He has become a star.’ I enjoy working with him tremendously. I can spend hours talking about movies, actors and life with him. He is like an elder brother, a friend to me.”
22 December,2024 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaTelling stories is content creator Dolly Singh’s first love. It has taken on a new form with Best Worst Date, an Instagram sketch series that is written by and stars her. As the second season dropped on the photo-sharing app on December 16, Singh says she has enjoyed creating the five-minute episodes. “My love for writing has grown over the years. I like telling my own stories. My voice is more long-form oriented. I wanted to do that on an app where short form is being pushed. This idea allows me to write my own story and use it in bits,” says Singh, who was recently seen in Thank You for Coming (2023). The seven-episode series, directed by Anurag Baruah, chronicles the protagonist’s experiences on blind dates. Singh is enjoying juggling acting, writing and content creation. Having put a decade into content creation, she has seen how the landscape has changed. She reflects, “The internet is hard to catch up with. Too much is changing too quickly. Whatever I try, it is to make my dreams come true. I want to act more in bigger productions next year.”
21 December,2024 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
