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Dulquer Salmaan to team up with R Balki for an untitled thriller

Dulquer Salmaan to team up with R Balki for an untitled thriller

By: Mohnish Singh

According to reports, filmmaker R Balki is set to direct his next directorial venture. The director, who has previously helmed such notable films as Cheeni Kum (2007), Paa (2009), and Ki & Ka (2016), last directed Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor-starrer Pad Man (2017), which received both critical and commercial success.


If reports are to be believed, his next project is a thriller that will star south sensation Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role. Salmaan, who is one of the most sought-after actors in the Malayalam film industry, made his Bollywood debut with the 2018 film Karwaan, also starring Mithila Palkar and late actor Irrfan Khan. His last release in Hindi was The Zoya Factor (2019), which failed to meet audiences’ expectations at the box office.

Talking about Balki’s next, a source had earlier informed an entertainment portal, “He had been toying with the idea of making a thriller for a while now and the lockdown gave him the time to explore that space on paper. He worked on the idea and developed it into a full-fledged screenplay. Given the way his script shaped up, Balki and his team felt that Dulquer Salmaan would fit the bill and be apt for the protagonist’s part in the film. The female lead and other actors of the film will be locked soon, and a formal announcement is on the way.”

Meanwhile, Dulquer Salmaan has three interesting films on his platter right now, namely Kurup, Salute, and Hey Sinamika. Apart from playing the male lead in Salute, he is also producing the film under his banner.

Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.

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Highlights:

  • Netflix says global viewing of Southeast Asian titles rose almost 50% between 2023 and 2024.
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  • Netflix holds more than half of the region’s total viewing and remains its biggest investor in originals.
  • New rivals, including Max, Viu and Vidio, are forcing sharper competition.
  • Local jobs, training and tourism are increasing as productions expand across the region.

Last year, something shifted in what the world watched. Global viewership of Southeast Asian content on Netflix grew by nearly 50%, and this isn't just a corporate milestone; it’s a signal. Stories from Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila are no longer regional curiosities. They are now part of the global mainstream.

The numbers tell a clear story. Over 100 Southeast Asian titles have now entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists. More than 40 of those broke through in 2024 alone. This surge is part of a bigger boom in the region’s own backyard. The total premium video-on-demand market in Southeast Asia saw viewership hit 440 billion minutes in 2024, with revenues up 14% to £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore). Netflix commands over half of that viewership and 42% of the revenue. They have a clear lead, but the entire market is rising.

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