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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Aparshakti Khurana, Veer Pahariya’s ‘Prem Keetanu’ Film Announced “Scam 2010 Is A Story About Ambition”: Hansal Mehta A ctors Aparshakti Khurana and Veer Pahariya wil be seen sharing screen space in a new film titled ‘Prem Keetanu’. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, the film, which also features Aafiya Sayed, Rakesh Bedi and Nikhil Vijay, is set to be released on Gandhi Jayanti 2026. Described as a heartwarm- ing and relatable entertainer, the film explores the aspira- tions, relationships and every- day struggles of young Indians. With humour and emotion at its core, Prem Keetanu is ex- pected to offer a contemporary take on modern life and love, read a press note. Prem Keetanu marks the first production under Gaurav Verma’s newly launched ban- ner, Avanika Films, and is co- presented by Phars Films. As per the makers, Prem Keetanu is a story about the boys “Jinko college main na marks mile, na ummeed, na pyar, kuch mila to sirf dost aur khoob sare heartbreaks”. Veer also has the dark action thriller Naam – To Live IsWar in his upcoming lineup. Presented by veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and directed by Sidhaant Sachdev, the film will feature Veer alongside Varun Sharma, who is expected to step into a negative role for the first time. - ANI F ilmmaker Hansal Mehta is all set to come up with ‘Scam 2010’, which stars Siddharth Bodke in the lead role. Birla Studios and Applause Entertain- ment have begun production on Scam 2010. From his rise through small savings schemes that laid the foundation for a sprawling financial empire to the public scrutiny that followed, the series follows the journey of the late businessman Subrata Roy, the founder of Sahara Group. Hansal Mehta described Scam 2010 as “a story about ambition, influence and the arrogance that follows both.” “It looks at how one of India’s largest business empires was built on belief — and what happened when that belief ran out. It tells the fascinating story of the rise of an empire and the man who mis- took it for invincibility,” Mehta said in a press note. Deepak Segal, Chief Content Officer, Applause Entertainment, said, “Scam has become much more than a franchise for us. The success of Scam comes with a lot of responsibility, as we are ex- tremely conscious of the expectations that people have from us. Scam 1992 arrived at a time when the Indian streaming ecosystem was still finding its voice and went on to become one of the most loved and culturally resonant series to emerge from India. The success of Scam 1992 gave us the confidence to build an anthology around a simple but powerful idea: India’s history is full of extraordinary stories where ambition, money, power and human nature collide. With Scam 2010, we are taking that ambi- tion even further. What makes this season par- ticularly exciting is having Hansal Mehta return to direct. Hansal has been integral to the DNA of Scam from the beginning, and his ability to transform complex real-life events into intimate, gripping hu- man stories is one of the reasons the franchise has resonated so deeply.” Siddharth Bodke, who steps into the lead role, said, “What floored me was the complexity of the lead’s personality and the scale of the show. His pas- sion, power, flaws, rise and eventual downfall make him an incredibly fascinating character to portray. The experience has been nothing short of thrilling for me, and I have relished the opportunity to play such a layered character under the guidance of someone like Hansal Mehta.” ‘Scam 2010’ will be released on Sony LIV. - ANI “The Audience Has To Feel Like They Are Discovering The Story”: Vir Das On ‘Baara Number’ V ir Das has wrapped shooting for his second directorial venture, ‘Baara Number’, a found- footage psychological thriller that explores an immersive storytelling format. Das serves as the film’s director, producer and a member of its ensemble cast. Speaking about the completion of the shoot, Das said, “Baara Number has been an incredibly intense and rewarding experience for me because it challenged me in almost every way possible.” He added, “Making a psychological thriller is already a very specific exercise in restraint, atmosphere and character, but choosing to tell it through the found- footage format added an entirely different layer to the process.” Describing the filmmaking process, Das said, “The camera itself becomes part of the world, and the audi- ence has to feel like they are discovering the story rather than simply watching it unfold.” Das also highlighted the film’s ensemble, saying, “What makes Baara Number particularly special to me is the ensemble we have put together,” in a press note. He said the actors were willing to experiment with the material and embrace uncertainty, adding that the experience as a producer was “incredibly fulfilling” because it created space for creative risks. Reflecting on the shoot, Das said, “Wrapping the shoot is a strange feeling because after living with these characters and this world for so long, suddenly you have to let them go.” The film will now move into editing and post- production. Das said he hopes audiences experience ‘Baara Number’ differently from a conventional psy- chological thriller, describing the project as “immedi- ate, unpredictable and deeply immersive, while still being driven by character.” For Das, the filmmarks another stage in his film- making journey. “My first film taught me so much about finding my voice behind the camera, and Baara Number has pushed me to question that voice, experi- ment with it and take it somewhere new,” he said. The film is co-produced by Naresh Malik, Jeff Lazarus and Kaushik Srinivasan of Third Frame Studio, Kavita Gupta and Vir Das’ Zazu Productions, with Kavi Shastri as creative producer. Baara Number features an ensemble cast including Sheeba Chaddha, Suhail Nayyar, Arunoday Singh, Ah- saas Channa, Atul Kulkarni, Niharika Lyra Dutt, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Puja Sarup and Navin Kaushik, among others. - ANI PHOTO:ANI PHOTO:ANI PHOTO:ANI Entertainment News India Times (August 15, 2026 - August 21, 2026) August 21, 2026 27