The coronavirus outbreak and lockdown have surely changed a lot of things for the Bollywood industry. The theatres have been shut from the past three months, and it is not yet known when the cinemas will reopen.
During this period, a lot of filmmakers have decided to release their movies directly on the OTT platforms. We have already seen Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Gulabo Sitabo on Amazon Prime Video, and soon Vidya Balan starrer Shakuntala Devi will also release on the OTT platform.
Well now, not one or two, but seven films are slated to release on Disney+ Hotstar in the next three months. Here’s the list of the films we will get to see on the OTT platform…
Sushant Singh Rajput’s last film Dil Bechara will be released on Disney+ Hotstar on 24th July 2020. The makers had made an announcement about it a few days ago. However, fans of the actor are upset as they want to watch their favourite star’s last film on the big screen.
From the day lockdown has been announced we have been hearing that Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani starrer Laxmmi Bomb will release directly on a digital platform. And now, it’s confirmed that the film will stream on Disney+ Hotstar soon.
Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, and Nora Fatehi starrer Bhuj: The Pride Of India was slated to hit the screens on 15th August 2020. But now, the movie will get a direct-to-digital release on Disney+ Hotstar.
Abhishek Bachchan and Ileana D’Cruz starrer The Big Bull is slated to release in October this year. However, it looks like the makers don’t want to wait and see the situation till October as they have decided to release the film on Disney+ Hotstar. The Big Bull is produced by Ajay Devgn.
Mahesh Bhatt is making his comeback as a director after a gap of two decades with the film Sadak 2. We all were excited to watch the film on the big screen. However, the movie, which stars Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt, and Aditya Roy Kapur, will release on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar.
Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi sarrer Khuda Haafiz will also get a direct-to-digital release on Disney+ Hotstar. The movie is a romantic-thriller and it has been shot in Uzbekistan.
Kunal Kemmu starrer Lootcase was slated to release in October last year. But the release date was postponed. However, now the film will get a release on Disney+ Hotstar. It also stars Ranvir Shorey and Rasika Dugal.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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