Excel Entertainment

History

The company's first production was the critically acclaimed, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), which marked the directorial debut of Farhan Akhtar. The film received a National Award in the category of Best Feature Film Hindi and was also screened at IFFI The company then went on to produce the war-drama, Lakshya (2004). While it was critically acclaimed, it did not fare well at the box-office. Over the years, it has developed a huge cult following and is considered to be one of the greatest coming-of-age films in Hindi cinema. Excel also produced Don (2006).

On 16 July 2021, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's sports drama, Toofaan, released directly on Amazon Prime Video. It starred Farhan Akhtar, Paresh Rawal, and Mrunal Thakur. It opened to highly mixed reviews. Bollywood Bubble stated Toofan, literal meaning ‘storm’ lives up to its name in all honestly. It is a film about life and choices.

The second collaboration of Farhan Akhtar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra happened after their first successful film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. An action sports drama entertainer Toofaan released on 16 July 2021, on Amazon Prime Video starring Farhan Akhtar, Paresh Rawal, Mrunal Thakur. The film was directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

On 15 February 2021, Yudhra, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan and Raghav Juyal was announced. The film is being helmed by Ravi Udyawar, of Mom fame. Initially slated to be released in 2022, it was mired in reshoots and is now planned for a 2024 release.

On 11 August 2021, Jee Le Zaraa, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt was announced. The female-centric road film will be directed by Farhan Akhtar, from a story written by Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and himself.

Filmography

Television series

Film distribution

References

References

1. (29 December 2021). "EXCEL ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LIMITED". zaubacorp.com.
2. (27 October 2021). "Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani Celebrate 20 Years of Excel Entertainment". variety.com.
3. (10 August 2021). "'All we wanted was to make Dil Chahta Hai': Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Zoya celebrate 20 years of Excel Entertainment". indianexpress.com.
4. (20 October 2018). "Remembering Shah Rukh Khan's Don as the film clocks Twelve Years". freepressjournal.in.
5. (15 July 2018). "7 things that Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara taught us". filmfare.com.
6. (8 December 2017). "Fukrey 2 movie review: Varun Sharma and Richa Chaddha shine in this toilet-humour driven comedy". indiatoday.in.
7. (21 September 2019). "Oscars: India Selects 'Gully Boy' for International Feature Film Category". hollywoodreporter.com.
8. (30 July 2002). ""Dil Chahta Hai", "Chandini Bar" to be screened at IFFI". outookindia.com.
9. (18 June 2019). "As Excel Entertainment's Lakshya'completes 15 years, Twitter saw a strong trend #15YearsOfLakshya". ibtimes.com.
10. (20 October 2020). ""Don" clocks 14 years, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani look back". outlookindia.com.
11. (2021-07-16). "Toofan Movie Review: Farhan, Mrunal starrer interlaces love and sport while throwing a flurry of punches on bigotry".
12. (16 July 2021). "Toofan Movie Review: Farhan, Mrunal starrer interlaces love and sport while throwing a flurry of punches on bigotry".
13. Shah, Jigar. (2024-03-20). "Siddhant Chaturvedi and Malvika Mohanan's Yudhra went through reshoots, to FINALLY release soon: Exclusive!". The Times of India.
14. (2021-08-10). "Jee Le Zaraa: Bollywood's leading ladies Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif come together for one of the biggest ensemble film".
15. (24 July 2019). "Preity Zinta celebrates 18 years of Dil Chahta Hai; Calls it one of her favourite films". Pakistan News & Entertainment News by Ebuzztoday.
16. (31 Jan 2008). "After film festivals, Mira Nair's AIDS 'Jaago' goes online".
17. "'Rock on!!' - International Friendship Day 2017: Bollywood movies that gave us some real friendship goals".
18. "Karthik Calling Karthik Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Karthik Calling Karthik by Times of India". The Times of India.
19. "Talaash Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Talaash by Times of India". The Times of India.
20. (13 Nov 2017). "Fukrey Returns Trailer: Richa Chadha As Bholi Punjaban Returns To Haunt Varun Sharma And Co In A Hilarious Misadventure".
21. "Movie Bangistan Review 2015, Story, Trailers | Times of India". The Times of India.
22. "Movie Dil Dhadakne Do Review 2015, Story, Trailers | Times of India". The Times of India.
23. "Movie Baar Baar Dekho Movie Review 2016, Story, Trailers | Times of India". The Times of India.
24. "PressReader - Khaleej Times - City Times: 2018-05-09 - Rock on 2".
25. "Raees Review {3.5/5}: Shah Rukh Khan has never looked better; he's full of fury and for once, isn't spreading his arms, but breaking others'". The Times of India.
26. "Fukrey Returns Review {3.5/5}: This film will crack you up for sure". The Times of India.
27. "3 Storeys Movie Review {3.5/5}: Watch it because fact is stranger than fiction, but fiction when narrated well, can make movie watching an immersive experience". The Times of India.
28. (27 August 2018). "Excel Entertainment marks hattrick of 100 crore films with 'Gold', after 'Raees', 'Fukrey'". newindianexpress.com.
29. (18 June 2019). "The journey of Gully Boy". indianexpress.com.
30. (14 February 2020). "On 1 Year Of Gully Boy, Excel entertainment shares unseen stills of Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Siddhant Chaturvedi among others".
31. (17 March 2021). "Hello Charlie teaser: Aadar Jain and his furry buddy promise an entertaining film, watch".
32. (16 July 2021). "Farhan Akhtar in the ring". thehindu.com.
33. (26 November 2021). "Katrina Kaif-starrer 'Phone Bhoot' to release in July 2022". newindianexpress.com.
34. (4 August 2023). "Friday Night Plan Arrives on Netflix - Streaming from 1st September". Netflix.
35. (24 January 2023). "Fukrey 3 to release on Janmashtami 2023; Laali, Hunny, Choocha, Bholi Punjaban return with laughter dose". India TV News.
36. (16 September 2021). "New Film Alert: Kho Gaye Hum Kahan - In Which Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Adarsh Gourav "Disconnect To Reconnect"". NDTV.
37. (31 August 2022). "Kunal Kemmu announces his directorial debut Madgaon Express, Hansal Mehta says: 'Welcome to the other side'". Hindustan Times.
38. Anirudh Bhattacharyya. "Indian director Lakshmipriya Devi's 'Boong' premieres at TIFF". Hindustan Times.
39. (15 February 2021). "Yudhra teaser: Farhan Akhtar announced next film starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Malavika Mohanan". Hindustan Times.
40. (20 September 2019). "Farhan Akhtar announces Fukrey animated series, to be titled Fukrey Boyzzz".
41. (19 December 2018). "Excel Entertainment presents the poster of KGF and it releases on December 21".
42. (4 August 2019). "Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy: Chiranjeevi's film to be distributed in Hindi by Excel Entertainment, AA Films". firstpost.com.
43. (26 January 2021). "Price re-negotiation for Yash's KGF 2; Excel Entertainment acquires Hindi rights for a bomb".