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Actress Tisca Chopra, who is making her digital debut with web series "Hostages" and also gearing up for her directorial venture in Bollywood, says high quality production and content in the web space is keeping filmmakers on their toes to deliver good cinema.

"The way the web space is booming, films have to be reinvented by the makers. In the web space, makers are not looking for a hero-heroine story. They are looking for stories that are engaging," Tisca told Ians.

Bollywood, said the "Taare Zameen Par" actress, was still chasing a formula.

"The big change is that, in recent times, none of those formula films have worked well at the box office. Rather, films like 'Badhaai Ho', 'Stree' and recently 'The Tashkent Files' earned good reviews and considerably good business. That way, I think digital entertainment is changing the face of cinema," she remarked.

Hotstar Specials upcoming crime thriller Hostages holds the excitement and thrills to the hilt as it beholds the future of digital thrills.

Basking on the glory of their recent stories like Criminal Justice and City Of Dreams Hotstar yesterday launched their fourth new web series named Hostages helmed by the national award winning filmmaker Sudhir Mishra known for critically acclaimed movies like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Dharavi, Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin, Main Zinda Hoon etc.

The author got the opportunity to watch the pilot episode and it seems that Hostages is set for a thrilling future ahead.

Presented by Applause Entertainment and directed by Sudhir Mishra who has proven his mettle in thriller with Raat Ki Subah Nahin and complexities of characters in his cinema, that undercurrent of Murphy Law is evident in Hostages as well that stars Ronit Roy, Tisca Chopra, Parvin Dabas and Dalip Tahil in pivotal roles.

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, who is making a foray into the digital content world with crime thriller show "Hostages", says every good story comes with an element of suspense.

Mishra was interacting with the media while promoting "Hostages" along with cast members Ronit Roy, Tisca Chopra, Parvin Dabas, Dalip Tahil, and Aashim Gulati, apart from Nikhil Madhok - Executive Vice President and Head of Original Content, Hotstar, here.

Known for helming films like "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi", "Dharavi" and "Chameli" -- which touched upon social issues -- Mishra was asked how different it was for him to direct a thriller.

"I have done a thriller. I made a film called 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin' before thrillers were fashionable here. It was released two years before 'Satya'. Personally, I like suspense and thriller films," he said.

"I think every good story is actually a suspense story in the sense that it has to surprise you.

Actor Ronit Roy, who is playing the role of a police officer in the upcoming crime thriller "Hostages", says the audience will be binge-watching the episodes of the show as it has interesting twists and mystery.

Directed by Sudhir Mishra, "Hostages" is an official adaptation of the internationally acclaimed series of the same name. It also features actress Tisca Chopra in the lead role, read a statement.

Talking about his character, Ronit said: "Things heat up quite fast in 'Hostages' and it begins with my character Prithvi Singh, a superintendent of police. The level of tension fuelled by several plots, twists, and mystery is sure to keep the viewers guessing.

"The show is packaged so well that you will find yourself binge-watching the episodes just to find out what happens next."

The story follows a renowned surgeon Mira Anand who is about to perform a routine operation on the Chief Minister.

A creative force behind the hit Israeli series “In Treatment,” Nir Bergman is presenting his latest drama “Just for Today” in competition at Series Mania festival in Lille. Produced by Endemol Shine Israel for Yes TV, “Just for Today” follows Anat, an idealistic social counsellor who is dealing with the shutting down of a halfway house for former inmates where she’s worked for a long time, while Niko, a former lover she took care years before, unexpectedly comes back into her life.

Bergman, who wrote and directed “Just for Today” (co-created with Ram Nehari), spoke to Variety about the genesis, themes as well as political and social resonance of the series which is being represented internationally by Yes Studios. Besides co-creating “In Treatment,” Bergman has also written multiple episodes of the successful Israeli drama “Hostages.” Bergman’s film credits include “Broken Wings” which won awards at the Israeli equivalent of the Oscars,...

Ever since global streaming giants Amazon Prime Video and Netflix entered the Indian Ott space in 2016, the conversation around original series has mostly revolved around them, thanks in part to market leader 21st Century Fox’s Hotstar’s circumspect attitude at the time about producing content.

Netflix had great success with “Sacred Games,” while Amazon rode on “Inside Edge,” “Breathe,” “Mirzapur” and the recent “Made in Heaven,” and the U.S. majors also announced several other commissions.

Cut to 2019 where the scenario for homegrown Indian OTTs is vastly different and there is a glut in originals production. Hotstar, with 150 million monthly active Indian users, scored a slam-dunk in January, announcing a slew of A-listers signed up to create content, including Shekhar Kapur (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), Neeraj Pandey (“M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story”) and Kabir Khan (“Tubelight”). The first of the new original commissions include local remakes of hit franchises “The Office,...

Christian Borle (The Good Fight) is set as a series regular opposite Olivia Thirlby and E.J. Bonilla in ABC’s Until the Wedding, a romantic drama pilot from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly, Alon Aranya, Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios. Based on the Israeli series (titled Ad Hatuna in Hebrew), Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends/family as Adrienne (Thirlby) and Danny (Bonilla) are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage. Borle will play Miles, Adrienne’s charming, highly accomplished brother and stay-at-home dad. Borle is a two-time Tony winner, for Peter and the Starcatcher and Something Rotten!, and...

Michael David-Stahl, Trent Garrett, Liza Colon-Zayas, Juani Feliz, Vered Blonstein (The Good Doctor) and Michael Benjamin Washington are set as series regulars opposite E.J. Bonilla, Olivia Thirlby and Britt Lower in ABC’s Until the Wedding, a romantic drama pilot from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly, Alon Aranya, Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios.

The original series, created by Avner Bernheimer and Anat Weizman and produced by Ami Amir’s Matar Productions, aired on Israel’s Reshet 13.

Based on the Israeli series of the same name (Ad Hatuna in Hebrew), Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships...

Britt Lower is set as a lead opposite Olivia Thirlby and E.J. Bonilla in ABC’s Until the Wedding, a romantic drama pilot from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly, Alon Aranya, Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios.

Based on the Israeli series of the same name (Ad Hatuna in Hebrew), Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends/family as Adrienne (Thirlby) and Danny (Bonilla) are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage.

Lower will play Naomi, Adrienne’s roommate and best friend. Defiantly single, defiant in general — there’s nothing Naomi loves more than a good fight. Smart, uncensored, very funny,...

Production underway on Second World War saga starring Ben Foster.

Danny DeVito, Vicky Krieps, Peter Sarsgaard, Saro Emirze, Dar Zuzovsky and John Leguizamo have joined the cast of Barry Levinson’s Harry Haft, which Bron Studios and New Mandate Films are producing in association with Creative Wealth Media.

Production began on February 25 on location in Hungary and is scheduled to wrap in New York in spring.

Previously announced Ben Foster stars in the title role on the true story about a man driven by his love of a woman to survive Auschwitz in the Second World War where he is...

Unforgettable alum E.J. Bonilla is set as the male lead opposite Olivia Thirlby in ABC’s Until the Wedding, a romantic drama pilot from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly, Alon Aranya, Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios.

Based on the Israeli series of the same name (Ad Hatuna in Hebrew), Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends/family as Adrienne (Thirlby) and Danny (Bonilla) are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage.

Bonilla’s Danny Garcia is a serious mensch, warm, funny, wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s not afraid to say what he thinks or express emotion. He’s...

Olivia Thirlby is set as the female lead in ABC’s Until the Wedding, a romantic drama pilot from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly, Alon Aranya, Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios.

Based on the Israeli series of the same name (Ad Hatuna in Hebrew), Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends/family as they are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage.

Thirlby portrays Adrienne, the one all her friends go to first for advice. She’s super empathic and warm with a biting sense of humor. Idealistic, ambitious and really smart, Adrienne has an especially high Eq. She’s a...

Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant had been tapped to direct and executive produce ABC’s Until the Wedding, a romantic drama pilot from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly, Alon Aranya, Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios.

Based on the Israeli series of the same name (Ad Hatuna in Hebrew), Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends/family as they are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage.

The original series, created by Avner Bernheimer and Anat Weizman and produced by Ami Amir’s Matar Productions, aired on Israel’s Reshet 13.

Mode is executive producing the adaptation with Grant, Timberman and Beverly via Timberman-Beverly Prods.

ABC has given a pilot green light to Until the Wedding, a romantic drama from writer Becky Mode (Smash), producers Sarah Timberman & Carl Beverly (Elementary, Seal Team), Alon Aranya (Betrayal, Hostages), Israel’s Reshet Media and ABC Studios where Timberman-Beverly Prods. is under a deal.

Prashant Gupta/FX/Timberman/Beverly

Based on the Israeli series of the same name (Ad Hatuna in Hebrew)., Until the Wedding is the story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends/family as they are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage.

The original series, created by Avner Bernheimer and Anat Weizman and produced by Ami Amir’s Matar Productions, aired on Israel’s Reshet 13.

Mode is executive producing the adaptation with Timberman and Beverly via Timberman-Beverly Prods.

Federation, Pascal Breton’s Paris-based company which has just raised $18.4 million to expand its footprint, has signed a joint distribution agreement with leading independent production banner Elephant.

Created by Emmanuel Chain and Thierry Bizot, Elephant is the company behind French drama hits such as “Desperate Parents,” “Killer by the Lake” and WorkinGirls.”

The partnership with Federation will allow Elephant to develop shows for the global market, tapping into Federation’s experience working with international talents, co-producers, broadcasters and streaming services.

Elephant recently hired Sandra Ouaiss, a former high-ranking executive from Newen, to came on board as executive producer and head of international.

With offices in Paris and Los Angeles, Federation Entertainment is one of the market’s most dynamic independent distributors, boasting international drama hits such as “The Bureau,” “Bad Banks,” “Hostages,” “Marseille” and “Find me in Paris.”

“When it comes to bringing together indie European talents, what better partners...

The upcoming Netflix series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” has found its leads.

Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever have been cast in “Unbelievable,” which examines the true story of Marie (Dever), a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed a twisting path to arrive at the truth. Collette and Wever will play the detectives, whose lives become intertwined in their mutual pursuit of a possible serial rapist.

Collette is also set to star in the TV series “Wanderlust,” which is a co-production between BBC One and Netflix. Her other regular TV roles include “United States of Tara” and “Hostages.” Collette is primarily known for her film work, with the Australian actress earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role in “The Sixth Sense” and has also starred in popular films like “Little Miss Sunshine,...

If Nordic Noir hits like The Killing have taught us anything it’s that some of the best television doesn’t come from places like America or the United Kingdom but further afield. When you take the time to look a little further there are difference styles out there and for a lot of viewers burnt out by the same old shows, something like the Israeli show Hostages (Bnei Aruba) comes along and shows just how to get a grip on an audience and not let go.

When Dr. Yael Danon (Ayelet Zurer) gets the chance to perform surgery on the Prime Minister (Shmil Ben Ari) it should just be another day for her. When her home is invaded by Adam Rubin (Jonah Lotan) and his small group of masked thugs and her family held hostage, she soon finds she is given the job of killing her patient to save the people she loves.