Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 22 ENTERTAINMENT April 3, 2026 V eteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has officially an- nounced the sequel to his acclaimed 1983 classic ‘Masoom’. Tentatively titled ‘Masoom: The Next Genera- tion’, the upcoming film will reunite original cast members Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, along- side Manoj Bajpayee and a fresh ensemble of actors. Kapur revealed the project during an interactive media session at the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026, where he also shared extensive insights into the evolving landscape of global cinema and the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence. Addressing the intersection of technology and art, Kapur highlighted AI’s role in democratizing the filmmak- ing process. He noted that AI tools are breaking traditional barri- ers of budget and scale, allowing a young filmmaker with minimal resources to create visuals comparable to a high- budget cinematic production. “Today, a child in 30,000 will make a film worth 300 crores,” he said. Kapur reflected on the analog era, recalling how it once took three hours to light a celluloid shot and how actors preferred specific cameras. He observed that cinema has always created its own reality, but today, AI tools can instantly generate that real- ity from a simple written paragraph. Despite this technological leap, Kapur emphasized the inherent limitations of AI, defining it as an algorithmic scraping tool devoid of true human instinct. “AI is not instinctive… it is not intuitive,” he remarked. He argued that while AI can replicate previously ex- pressed feelings, it cannot generate original emotion, experience the fear of death, or fall in love. Highlighting human unpredictability, he added, “I am mad sometimes. AI can’t be mad. Not as mad as I can be. So, I must use that madness.” For Kapur, the primary challenge for modern directors is to cultivate their human intuition to outpace artificial intelligence. Shifting focus to the global box office potential of Indian cinema, Kapur expressed immense confidence in the country’s storytelling heritage. He cited the epic Mahabharat as an unparalleled nar- rative, stating, “No one has ever told a story like Mahab- harat. We are storytellers to the world…We need to find out how to tell stories so that the rest of the world under- stands them…Our filmmakers are just as good..” To achieve global resonance, he urged filmmakers to bridge cultural gaps by adapting their storytelling lan- guage so international audiences can easily understand Indian folktales. -ANI Shekhar Kapur Announces ‘Masoom’ Sequel, Discusses AI And Indian Cinema’s Global Future At IFFD 2026 PHOTO:ANI Prasanth Varma Drops ‘Mahakali’ BTS Featuring Akshaye Khanna’s Sage Avatar Makers Announce Release Date Of Vijay Varma’s ‘Matka King’ On Actor’s Birthday A ctor Akshaye Khanna’s foray into Telugu cinema has generated fresh buzz after filmmaker Prasanth Varma marked the star’s birthday with a behind-the-scenes glimpse from their upcom- ing mythological film ‘Mahakali.’ The filmmaker shared a BTS image that teases Khanna’s transformation into the antagonist Shukracharya. The image features Khanna in a long- haired, bearded sage look, dressed in as- cetic robes, gesturing mid-performance on a blue-screen set. Fire pits were also one of the visible elements in the picture. Varma’s post, while celebrating Khanna’s birthday, also hinted at an upcoming update related to ‘Mahakali’, building anticipation among fans. Social media reactions quickly followed, with many users, expressing excitement over the project’s potential scale. Hashtags like #Adhira and #JaiHanuman trended in replies, with fans speculating about connections to other projects and possible cross over. “Happy Birthday #AkshayeKhanna sir, a true actor who proves that real talent doesn’t need noise. Effortless screen presence, powerful performances, and unmatched class always stand out Its an absolute honour working with you. Can’t wait to show the world what we’ve created together! Updates coming soon! #Ma- hakali #Adhira #JaiHanuman,” Prasanth Varma wrote in the caption. The project has been steadily building interest since September last year, when RKD Studios unveiled the first-look poster of Khanna as Asura guru Shukracharya. Directed by Puja Aparna Kolluru and created by Varma, the film presents Khanna in a strik- ing avatar, flowing silver beard, intense eyes, and a com- posed yet enigmatic presence, symbolising a character rooted in both wisdom and rebellion. The makers had described Shukracharya as an “eternal Asura guru.” Khanna was last seen in the blockbuster film ‘Dhurandhar’ as Rehman Dakait. Directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, the film features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Its sequel ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ was released on March 19, and, the film has already crossed over Rs 600 crore within its extended first week. -ANI I t’s actor Vijay Varma’s birthday, and on the occasion of his special day, the makers of his upcoming series ‘Matka King’ have announced the release date along with a teaser for the show. The series, which also stars Kritika Kamra, is set to premiere on Prime Video on April 17. Set in 1960s Bombay, ‘Matka King’ revolves around a cotton trader who creates a new gambling system called Matka. What starts as a small idea gradually grows bigger, reaching people from different sec- tions of society. Apart fromVijay and Kritika, the show also features Sai Tamhan- kar, Siddharth Jadhav, Bhupendra Jadawat, and Gulshan Grover, along with several other actors in key roles. The story follows Brij Bhatti, played by Vijay Varma, as he tries to make a name for himself in a fast- changing city. As his idea expands, he faces rising risks, power strug- gles, and ever-growing ambitions. Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur shared his thoughts on the project, stating that the story stood out be- cause of its setting and the journey of the main character. As per a release, Kapur said, “What drew us to Matka King was the scale and uniqueness of the world it is set in, and the story of an individual navigating ambition, identity, and the pursuit of respect in a rapidly evolving society.” Created and written by Abhay Koranne and directed by Nagraj Popatrao Manjule, the series will be available in India and over 240 countries from April 17. -ANI PHOTO:ANI PHOTO:ANI