Shahid Kapoor is in huge demand after the thunderous success of his last film Kabir Singh (2019), which prides itself on being the highest-grossing film of his acting career. The actor has listened to dozens of scripts over the past one-and-a-half year and has even greenlighted a few which appealed to him.
Latest buzz suggests that Kapoor has added one more high-profile project to his resume. He has reportedly agreed to headline well-known filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s next directorial offering which happens to be an adaptation of the Mahabharata.
Though nothing much is known about the upcoming project at the moment, a source in the known informs an entertainment portal that it will be told from the point of view of Karna. Reportedly, Kapoor has given his nod to play the character of Karna in the magnum opus.
“Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has always wanted to make a film on Karna. It is a subject he has been toying with for a long time but could not give it a shape due to the budget and scale it requires. With Ronnie Screwvala coming on board as producer, and Shahid Kapoor leading the cast, Mehra is now all set to liven up his passion project,” divulges the source.
Meanwhile, Shahid Kapoor recently wrapped up the shoot of his forthcoming film Jersey, which is an official remake of the superhit Telugu film of the same name. Written and directed by Gowtham Tinnanuri, who also helmed the original, the sports drama also stars Mrunal Thakur as the female lead. Kapoor is also preparing for his digital debut with Raj & DK’s next web offering for Amazon Prime Video. An official announcement on his digital debut is still awaited though.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the glitzy world of entertainment.
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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