Film Financial News

Amazon now in control of the James Bond franchise, the search for Daniel Craig's replacement is intensifying. Following its $1 billion acquisition of the James Bond franchise, Amazon must make a significant choice. In 2021, Daniel Craig announced that he would be hanging up his tuxedo to pursue other projects after playing James Bond for almost 20 years.

Indian cricket, Varun Chakravarthy had a brush with the silver screen. In 2014, he played a cameo in the Tamil movie ‘Jeeva,’ a sports drama that unknowingly mirrored his own life’s journey. The film depicted a cricketer’s struggle against odds, much like Varun’s real-life battle to carve a niche for himself in professional cricket. Not stopping at movies, he also made an appearance in the popular cooking reality show "Cooku with Comali". However, his true calling lay elsewhere—in cricket, where he would rise to fame as India’s mystery spinner, leaving batsmen baffled with his unorthodox variations. Varun Chakravarthy has been a key architect of India's ICC Champions Trophy win. He has been the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament. In the finals against New Zealand, he put the Kiwis on the backfoot with two crucial wickets. 33-year-old Varun Chakravarthy made his T20I debut in July 2021 and became the second-oldest player after Farokh Engineer to debut in ODIs in February 2025. He plays for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and is a key spinner for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sony has announced the release date for a new Resident Evil film. The movie, based on Capcom's horror video games, will be released in the U.S. on September 18, 2026. Zach Cregger will direct and co-write the script with Shay Hatten.

The Ballad of Wallis Island is an upcoming comedy directed by James Griffiths. Carey Mulligan plays a lead role in the film, which focuses on a musician facing unexpected challenges during a performance on a remote island. The movie is scheduled for release on March 28, 2025.

Nana Patekar and Gadar 2 director Anil Sharma’s son, Utkarsh Sharma, is making its digital debut nearly three months after its big-screen run. Fans who missed the film in theatres can now stream it from the comfort of their homes.

Can I Get a Witness?? is a new sci-fi film directed by Ann Marie Fleming. The story highlights the impact of extreme policies to protect the environment. The film features Sandra Oh, Keira Jang, and Joel Oulette. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and will be released in Canada and the U.S. soon.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is battling systemic injustices in showbiz, one day at a time. The ‘Yashoda’ actress, who launched her production house Tralala Moving Pictures in 2023, has revealed that every artiste associated with her maiden venture 'Bangaram' will receive equal pay. This unprecedented move has been widely lauded by her peers, including Kannada actress Ramya and cinematographer Preetha Jayaraman, both of whom commended Samantha for championing fair wages in cinema. During a panel discussion on gender equity in the film industry at the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES), filmmaker Nandini Reddy, who is directing the project, disclosed that Samantha had personally intervened to eliminate pay discrepancies. This decision marks a significant shift in an industry where wage inequality remains a persistent issue.

Bollywood classic, five decades after its theatrical release. The Hrishikesh Mukherjee directorial, which starred Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna in lead roles, quickly became a box-office phenomenon as well as a milestone in Bachchan Sr’s career. 49, years after its release, an old interview of Bachchan is currently going viral. In a 1990 interview with Star Dust, the ‘Agneepath’ star stated that working with Rajesh Khanna played a big part in his rise to stardom. He revealed that after he did the movie, many people came up to him to ask after Rajesh Khanna, who was the reigning superstar at that time. “When Hrishida asked me to work with Rajesh Khanna in Anand, it was a dream come true for me. The hysteria that be evoked was witnessed for the first time in the history of Hindi films. I got famous purely because I was working with Rajesh Khanna. People came and asked me questions like ‘How does he look?’, ‘What does he do?’ So I became very important, thanks to him. I have always had the greatest respect for Kaka," he said.

Shah Rukh Khan secured a major win as the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) ruled in his favor, overturning the reassessment proceedings and order initiated by the tax authorities for the 2011-12 financial year. Against an income of Rs 83.42 crore declared by the actor in his income-tax (I-T) return, the tax officer denied his claims for foreign tax credit (for taxes paid in the UK) and reassessed the income as Rs 84.17 crore. Such reassessment was done beyond four years from the end of the relevant assessment year (2012-13). The ITAT bench held that reassessment of the case by the income-tax department was not legally justified, marking a crucial win for the actor in his prolonged battle over foreign tax credit claims.

Michael Sheen has hit headlines for paying off 900 people’s debt after Tata Steel shut down its last blast furnace in Port Talbot. As per a BBC report, the ‘Twilight’ actor embarked on a mission to alleviate financial burdens by establishing a company dedicated to purchasing and erasing debt for 900 individuals in South Wales. His philanthropic initiative is the focus of an upcoming Channel 4 documentary titled Michael Sheen’s Secret Million Pound Giveaway, scheduled to premiere next week. The program aims to shed light on how banks and financial institutions often exploit economically disadvantaged individuals for profit. Sheen disclosed that he remained unaware of the specific identities of those whose debts he cleared, knowing only their geographical location and the type of financial obligation they held. He emphasized, «I would never know who they are. Even now, I still don't know their identities.» Using £100,000 of his personal savings, the actor successfully established a debt acquisition company, which enabled him to purchase £1 million worth of outstanding loans. Initially unfamiliar with the intricate workings of the debt industry, Sheen admitted, «At first, I had no understanding of how this unusual system operated, but it felt like the right thing to do.»

Vivek Agnihotri is rather disillusioned with current Bollywood. Taking to X on Saturday, the ‘Kashmir Files’ director went on an extensive rant against the sore lack of independent producers and new actors in the industry who are hungry to tell a story and eager to take risks and experiment. He also added that directors who are enthusiastic about making good content have moved on to OTT. “Today, Bollywood has hardly any independent producers. No new producers. No fresh ideas. No innovative distribution or marketing strategies. A few years ago, there were a dozen studios — now just two or three remain, and they too are monopolistic and here for reasons other than filmmaking. The passion for cinema has been replaced by corporate greed and agenda-driven content,” he wrote. He elaborated on the challenges confronting the film industry, emphasizing that its very survival hinges on the presence of bankable star-actors. However, he lamented that there is an alarming dearth of promising new talent. When filmmakers seek to cast actors between the ages of 21 and 35, they find themselves at a loss—both male and female actors in this bracket are scarce.

NYT Strands puzzle for March 8, 2025 (Saturday), Game #370, brings another exciting challenge for word game lovers. This latest addition to The New York Times puzzle collection continues to engage players with a daily themed word search. Today’s theme, «Two Thumbs Up,» hints at something related to cinema, and solving the puzzle requires identifying words connected to this topic. If you’re looking for hints, answers, and today’s NYT Strands spangram, we’ve got you covered.

Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan sharing a warm moment at an event went viral. The ‘Jab We Met’ co-stars were both guests at the IIFA 2025 award ceremony. A widely circulated video on social media captures the heartfelt moment when Kareena and Shahid embraced during the press conference. After greeting Shahid, Kareena proceeded to hug Karan Johar, who was also present. The duo briefly interacted, while other celebrities, including Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, and Karan Johar, joined them on stage. The unexpected sight of the ex-couple together sent fans into a frenzy, sparking waves of excitement online. Social media was soon flooded with reactions to the viral video. One user pointed out, «The awkwardness on Shahid’s face is so obvious,» while another expressed disbelief, exclaiming, «Whaaaaat!» A third fan commented, «I can’t believe my eyes!» while another enthusiastically wrote, «Jab We Met Again!» Several fans demanded a sequel to the beloved 2007 blockbuster, which also happened to be the pair's last film as co-stars.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah's statement during his budget presentation Friday has raised uncertainty and concern within the industry. PVR INOX, which operates 215 screens in Karnataka out of its total 1,728, will wait for a government order and assess its conditions before evaluating its position, said chief executive Pramod Arora. He also cautioned that implementation of such a cap would also hurt the state’s tax revenue.

Akshay Kumar being the lead actor, these films are patriotic or based on real-life incidents that showcase the themes of national security and heroism. Now, in a recent interview, he shared that his wife now pulls his leg for saving the country many times. During a recent event hosted by Republic World, Akshay Kumar shed light on why he continues to gravitate toward films centered on nationalism and patriotism. He revealed that ever since launching his production house, he has been consciously choosing stories that highlight these themes. Sharing a lighthearted moment from his personal life, he mentioned that his wife, Twinkle Khanna, often teases him, playfully asking, “How many times will you save the country?” Akshay Kumar explained that while growing up, he noticed a recurring theme in movies—whenever the world faced a crisis, whether it was terrorism, natural disasters, or even alien invasions, it was always America that came to the rescue. It made him wonder that if America does everything, then what is the role of India? He shared that this thought eventually led him to make Airlift, a film inspired by true events. Later, he was fascinated by India’s remarkable achievements in space exploration—how the country accomplished extraordinary feats with limited resources. This inspired Mission Mangal. He also mentioned Sky Force as another project that aligned with his passion for showcasing India's achievements.

A new documentary titled «Tune Out The Noise» brings together some of the academic heavyweights whose work reshaped the financial industry and helped lower costs for all investors.

Jennifer Lopez is not happy with the increased public sightings of her ex-husband Ben Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner. A Page Six report claims that Lopez can’t help but notice the many photos of Affleck and Garner together, especially as they have been rather tactile with each other, and that has sparked rumours that Affleck still has feelings for his first wife.

Mindy Kaling has responded to the online criticism that Meghan Markle has been receiving following the release of her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. The Mindy Project star said that she had a great time filming the show, Page Six reported.

Thandel is a 2025 Telugu-language romantic action thriller, crafted by writer-director Chandoo Mondeti. Starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, the film draws inspiration from a real-life 2018 incident, where a fisherman from Srikakulam was captured by Pakistani forces in international waters. Blending intense action with emotional depth, Thandel delivers a gripping narrative that intertwines patriotism, love, and survival. Originally slated for a Sankranthi 2025 release, the film was postponed before hitting theatres on 7 February 2025. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Thandel struck a chord with audiences, raking in over ₹100 crores worldwide. It currently stands as the fourth highest-grossing Telugu film of the year and the eighth highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. Now, Thandel is available for streaming on Netflix. You can watch it for free by subscribing to the OTT platform.