Digital Media

1716 days ago

1812 views

Five OTT Films & Web Series Based On Books

While the OTT platforms are spreading their legs worldwide, they are also experimenting with genres and content. However, it remains a challenge all the time to produce fresh and worthy content for viewers to watch, and to fill that void, the over-the-top (OTT) platforms are taking inspiration from the projects that are based on the books. ## In recent times, we have seen many films and web series that are loosely based on widely regarded novels. Among those, Parineeti Chopra-starrer "The Girl On The Train" that was based on Paula Hawkins' bestseller of the same name along with the Riddhi Dogra-Monica Dogra-starrer web series "The Married Woman" is based on Manju Kapoor's book of the same name, got brilliant response. ## Here are 5 notable OTT shows & movies that have been inspired from books - ## BARD OF BLOOD [Netflix] ## ## An espionage thriller series directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, Bard of Blood is based on Bilal Siddiqi's 2015 novel of the same name. Siddiqi penned the book while he was still a student at St Xavier's college in Mumbai. The book traces the life of Kabir Anand (Emraan Hashmi), a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent who gives up civilian life to return for a risky mission. Produced by Shah Rukh Khan's production house Red Chillies Entertainment, the series stars Emraan Hashmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Danish Husain, and Jaideep Ahlawat. The first season of 7 episode premiered on 27 September 2019 on Netflix. ## THE MARRIED WOMAN [ALT Balaji, ZEE5]## ## The Monica Dogra and Riddhi Dogra-starrer web series is based on Manju Kapoor's book of the same name. The series is about two women falling in love and the circumstances that lead to this. It is directed by Sahir Raza, and currently streaming on Alt Balaji and ZEE5. ## THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN [Netflix] ## ## Directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, The Girl on the Train is a murder mystery and a psychological drama, starring Parineeti Chopra, Kriti Kulhari, Aditi Rao Hydari and Avinash Tiwary in pivotal roles. This film is based on Paula Hawkins' 2015 novel of the same name. It was originally scheduled for theatrical release in 2020 but due to the covid-19 pandemic, it directly premiered on Netflix on February 26, 2021. ## STATE OF SIEGE: 26/11 [ZEE5] ## ## State of Siege: 26/11 is based on Sandeep Unnithan's book, Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11. The web series depicts the events of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai from the point of view of the NSG. Apart from showing the defense team in action, it also shows the planning that went into taking down the terrorists while ensuring the safety of the civilians. The web series has eight episodes and is created by Abhimanyu Singh. It stars Arjan Bajwa, Arjun Bijlani, Mukul Dev, Vivek Dahiya, Tara-Alisha Berry, among others. ## SAMANTAR [MX Player] ## ## Based on the novel of the same name by Suhas Shirwalkar, Samantar is a mystry thriller that follows the journey of a man who seeks to know his future, but his future is the past of another man. He leaves no stone unturned to find this man and change his life, but it is not easy to find someone who does not want to be found. Directed by Satish Rajwade, the series stars Swapnil Joshi, and Tejaswini Pandit in lead roles. ## Stay tuned...

Digital Media

2077 days ago

2032 views

Arjun Bijlani: Success of 'State Of Siege: 26/11' is surreal

Mumbai, April 22 (IANS) Actor Arjun Bijlani is overwhelmed with the positive response that his web series "State Of Siege: 26/11" amid the coronavirus outbreak in India.## "It's ironic how this has worked out so beautifully because first, we faced hurdles on the release date and when we actually released, coronavirus in India had only just broken out," Arjun said.## "It's been a surreal experience from then to now and I'd like to congratulate the entire team - the cast, crew and Abhimanyu Singh, Roopali Kadyan and our Director Matthew who have put a great piece together. This story had to be told and we're glad audiences are streaming in and positively receiving it, without them it wouldn't have been possible," he added.## Arjun along with Arjan Bajwa and Vivek Dahiya are seen as NSG Commandos in "State of Siege: 26/11". The series is based on Sandeep Unnithan's book "Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11". The show tells untold stories and the different events that took place during the attacks of 26/11. The Contiloe Pictures' show recently became the "Most Watched Original Content (New)" on Zee5.## Talking about the success, Arjan said: ""˜?State of Siege 26/11' is the top rated and most watched show on ZEE5 India!! When all of us are locked in our homes, demotivated, this news couldn't have come at a better time. Lots of love to everyone who made it possible and especially all my fans!"## To this, Abhimanyu Singh, Founder-CEO at Contiloe Pictures, added: "I am glad our effort to showcase the effort of the commandos in neutralizing the 26/11 terror attacks has been liked extensively."## Stay tuned...

TV

2082 days ago

1845 views

Ban TikTok in India completely, says Kushal Tandon

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) Actor Kushal Tandon is totally against the use of TikTok application in India, especially amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Not only this, but he has also demanded a ban on the app that originated in China.## "While the whole world is f****d coz of China, but still guess what are Indians and many others are giving them the revenue from s*** #tikTok, while China made TikTok for people who were useless and who had nothing to do, and look at us all haha, everyone is on TikTok, ban TikTok ...proud of never using TikTok," Kunal wrote on Instagram.## Kushal's post comes after Vivek Dahiya showed his support for the application.## "For those suggesting we should ban made In China. remember -- the mobile phone you use to express your thoughts about banning an app was also assembled in the same part of the world so are 7 out of 10 products in every average household. China is branded the manufacturer of the world, whether we like it or not. I am pretty sure the founder of this app was not responsible for conspiring the coronavirus. Additionally, Hydroxycioroquine used for recovery is either made In India or China. The bottom line is. we are all interdependent in this global marketplace. II one nation is a Buyer, then the other is a Seller. and both need one another to move forward. towards a single goal of prosperity. Unless of course, we are fully self-sufficient in everything but no such example exists," Vivek had said.## Stay tuned...

TV

2084 days ago

1535 views

Divyanka Tripathi turns hairstylist for hubby Vivek Dahiya

Mumbai, April 15 (IANS) Actress Divyanka Tripathi has turned hairstylist to beat the lockdown blues, and ended up giving hubby, actor Vivek Dahiya, a whole new look.## On Wednesday, Vivek took to Instagram and shared a picture in which Divyanka is seen giving him a hair cut and, according to Vivek's caption, something went wrong. He will share the final outcome of his haircut soon.## "Can you trust your wife with a haircut? Apparently, I did and wait to see what happened. Video rolling out soon..! Bolo toh tha kaan sambhal ke kaat na...#StayTuned! LifeUnderQuarantineSeries," Vivek wrote.## In a recent interview with IANS, Vivek expressed his wish to work with Divyanka again.## "I know our fans are waiting for long to see Divyanka and me together on the screen... I also want to work with her again... It''s just that I am waiting for some right project to come our way. If the project is right and the script looks interesting, we would definitely give a heads-up," Vivek said.## The couple first met on the sets of "Yeh Hai Mohabbatein" and after several months of dating, the two got married in 2016.## Stay tuned...

TV

2091 days ago

1848 views

Vivek Dahiya would love to work with wife Divyanka again

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) Actor Vivek Dahiya, who met his wife Divyanka Tripathi for the first time on the sets of the TV show "Yeh Hai Mohabbatein", says he would love to work with her again.## "I know our fans are waiting for long to see Divyanka and me together on the screen... I also want to work with her again... It's just that I am waiting for some right project to come our way. If the project is right and script looks interesting, we would definitely give a heads-up," Vivek told IANS.## After dating each other for several months, the two got married in 2016.## Speaking of Vivek's acting projects, he recently wowed the audience with his role in the web series "State Of Siege: 26/11", which is based on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.## On playing the role of Captain Rohit Bagga on the show, Vivek said: "It was quite challenging for me to do this show as it is based on a true event. I got goosebumps when I wore the uniform for the first time...It was an incredible feeling. I felt more responsible and tried my best to give my 100 percent."## Vivek's character captain Rohit Bagga was away on leave when the terror siege in Mumbai took place and the NSG Commandos were called upon. As soon as he learned of the development, the brave commando immediately called his senior and reported on duty. His senior tried to reason, telling him he was on personal leave and could avoid reporting to work, but Captain Rohit Bagga had insisted that he wanted to be a part of the operation.## Stay tuned...

Bollywood

2097 days ago

1153 views

Writing is 'a little box of interest' for actor Mukul Dev

Mumbai, April 2 (IANS) Actor Mukul Dev is receiving a lot of praise for his performance as a terrorist mastermind in the web series "State Of Siege: 26/11". He is also the man who penned the story of the Rajkummar Rao-starrer "Omerta" that released in 2018. Mukul says he does not feel the pressure of finding a balance between the two callings, as writing is just a "passion".## "I am an actor who also writes. I love reading so I read a lot of books. The interest in writing has developed recently. When I was writing the story of 'Omerta' I was not writing it to make a film or something. But when a filmmaker like Hansal Mehta picked up my story and turned it into a film, I thought that now I can consider myself as a legitimate writer. Having said that I am an actor and I will remain that. Writing is a little box of interest that I take out once in a while," Mukul Dev told IANS.## "State Of Siege: 26/11", directed by Matthew Leutwyler, has Mukul playing Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. The show also features Arjan Bajwa, Arjun Bijlani, Vivek Dahiya, Sid Makkar, Tara Alisha Berry, Khalida Jaan, Jyoti Gauba, Roshni Sahota, Suzanne Bernert, Naren Kumar and Jason Shah.## "Since I am an actor and am shooting most of the time, I have time in between shots and I keep writing then. I am surrounded by people who are filmmakers, producers, and actors. So once in a while, they also inquire if I have a story or something. If they like it, they eventually make something out of it. But that is a time-consuming process and I see no reason to stop acting for my writing. Writing is a passion," he shared.## So, what is his favorite topic to write about? "I like to write on anything that is intriguing, unheard of -- something that is offbeat. I used to love reading Richard Bach. So yeah, writing will happen side by side," he replied.## "State Of Siege: 26/11" is streaming on ZEE5.## Stay tuned...

Bollywood

2099 days ago

1202 views

Arjan Bajwa eager to play Air Force pilot on screen

Mumbai, March 31 (IANS) Actor Arjan Bajwa says after playing Colonel Sunil Sheoran in his digital debut, "State Of Siege: 26/11", he now wishes to play an Air Force pilot on screen.## On his parameter of choosing scripts, the actor said: "This is the kind of roles I would like to play -- one that potentially creates impact. I think 'State of Siege' has already set the bar. Having said that, I am so eager to play an Air Force pilot in a film. That is what I am dying to play! I fly as a hobby pilot and aviation is my first love."## Created by Abhimanyu Singh and directed by Matthew Leutwyler, the story of the show is based on Sandeep Unnithan's book "Black Tornado: The Three Sieges Of Mumbai 26/11".## The show also features Mukul Dev, Arjun Bijlani, Vivek Dahiya, Sid Makkar, Tara Alisha Berry, Khalida Jaan, Jyoti Gauba, Roshni Sahota, Suzanne Bernert, Naren Kumar and Jason Shah.## Arjan went through an extensive process to get the look and the feel of Colonel Sheoran right. On the show, his protagonist is a commando of the National Security Guard (NSG). According to him several conversations with Col Sandeep Sen, who was the second command of Colonel Sunil Sheoran during the 26/11 Mumbai attack, helped him to get depth and understanding of the character.## "It is true that I always wanted to play a character in uniform on screen, and playing Colonel Sheoran let me do so. I had a feeling that such an opportunity could become a milestone in my career. With the kind of review I am getting, I hope it has become one. I see the journey upwards from here," said the actor who began his career in modeling and also acted in Telugu films before entering Bollywood.## Asked if he feels that the influx of digital entertainment has given the right opportunity for an actor like him, Arjan said: "I wouldn't say so. When it comes to playing a substantial part in a story, I have always done that. All my characters in Bollywood films and the few films I did in the South have always been pivotal roles. However, when one plays a character like Colonel Sheoran that releases on an OTT platform, the exposure is much bigger. The show and the actor get good marketing and our work gets better projection."## "State Of Siege: 26/11" is streaming on ZEE5.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

Bollywood

2104 days ago

1439 views

Arjan Bajwa: This is the time to introspect on how we were living our lives

Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) As the nationwide lockdown continues amid of outbreak of COVID-19, actor Arjan Bajwa is spending happy time at home receiving a lot of praise for his performance in the web series "State Of Siege: 26/11".## Although the actor does not mix the two situations of enjoying success and the reason for the lockdown, Arjan told IANS: "I think this is the time we have got to introspect on how we were living our lives and how we should live henceforth sustainably. We will be staying at home for a couple of weeks right now. It is not just us, but the whole world."## The famed actor added: " Rarely did it happen in the past that people of the entire world stood still like this. It's as if life is in standby mood. I think such a situation did not occur even during the World War. I think this is the time we should realize that Mother Earth is upset with us and perhaps this is the punishment we are given."## "At the same time, our government and administration are working really hard to handle the situation. We have to strictly follow the rules to really save our lives. We have to stand together to fight the virus," he said.## "State Of Siege: 26/11" is based on Sandeep Unnithan's book "Black Tornado: The Three Sieges Of Mumbai 26/11".## The show is directed by American director Matthew Leutwyler and produced by Abhimanyu Singh. It features Mukul Dev, Arjun Bijlani, Vivek Dahiya, Sid Makkar, Tara Alisha Berry, Khalida Jaan, Jyoti Gauba, Roshni Sahota, Suzanne Bernert, Naren Kumar and Jason Shah.## The show is streaming on the OTT platform ZEE5.## Arjan plays the character of Colonel Kunal Sahota, the commanding officer of the NSG unit that arrives in Mumbai to take charge of handling the terrorist attacks.## "I am so glad that I am receiving so much positive feedback for the work we, the team of "˜State Of Siege: 26/11', put together. I waited for such appreciation for so long. And I am not saying because I want to thank everybody but it is really the collaborative effort of writer, director, cinematographer, producer and every member who came together and envisioned the project," he said.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

TV

2107 days ago

2084 views

COVID-19: Divyanka Tripathi rekindles love for reading

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) With the COVID-19 pandemic creating a lockdown situation in the country, actress Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya has found a perfect way to spend her days of isolation -- by pursuing her passion for reading.## She has a collection of over 400 books comprising fiction as well as non-fiction at home, and she is making most of her free time during the lockdown to catch up on reading.## "I do have a huge collection at home. Few of the books have been gifted by fans and the rest were brought by me as I have a fascination with owning all kinds of books," Divyanka said.## "Due to hectic shooting schedules in recent years, it was difficult to take out time for hobbies, one is reading. However, with the current scenario, I am catching up on reading. It's been almost 4-5 years since I had the leisure to just lie down and read a good book and hence I am digging into my library and pulling out all the unread books off the shelf, ingest them and digest them and it feels marvelous as books have a way of transporting you to a different world from the reality we are currently living in," she added.## Divyanka is known for playing the lead role in the long-running TV show "Yeh Hai Mohabbatein". The actress has also featured in shows such as "Banoo Main Teri Dulhann" and "Adaalat". Apart from the fiction space, she has also participated in reality shows. Divyanka and her husband Vivek Dahiya had also won the "Nach Baliye" show.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.