Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way people used to watch the latest films. In absence of theatrical releases, a lot of filmmakers are opting for direct-to-digital premieres of their films. Over the past few months, several high-profile movies have hit OTT platforms, including Gulabo Sitabo (2020), Shakuntala Devi (2020), and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020). Laxmmi Bomb, Sadak 2, and Bhuj: The Pride of India are some of the much-awaited films slated to release on OTT soon.
The latest we hear that filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar’s Khaali Peeli is also heading to an OTT platform. Starring Ishaan Khatter and Ananya Panday in principal roles, the film will premiere on ZEE5. Contrary to speculations of it releasing on Netflix, we hear that it is ZEE5 that has bagged the exclusive digital rights of the film.
“The talks were on with Netflix and ZEE5, with both the platforms showing keen interest in bagging the rights. However eventually, it is ZEE5 that has added it to their library. While Ali and his studio partner, ZEE Studios, were keen on holding back the film for a theatrical release, the current scenario on the ground with respect to nepotism debate made them rethink on the decision and they have finally decided for a direct-to-digital release,” a source in the know informs an entertainment portal.
The source goes on to add that Khaali Peeli, which has been helmed by Maqbool Khan, is a quintessential commercial Bollywood entertainer with song, dance, and action. “It is a big-screen film, but no one knows how the audience will react in post-COVID times. Right now, they got a good offer from ZEE5, which is more of an internal transfer, thereby reducing the theatrical risk. The work on the final edit of the film is underway,” the source signs off.
An official announcement is expected to arrive soon.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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