Indian entrepreneur Prasanna Ajarekar has launched Anashwar Media and Leisure, marking the corporate’s debut with director Nikhil Mahajan’s “Taxi Driver” on the ongoing Movie Bazaar challenge market.

The movie follows a taxi driver and a thief whose lives intersect throughout one fateful evening, revealing an sudden connection from their previous. Manufacturing is about to start in early 2025, with a focused launch in early 2026.

“I’ve at all times been fascinated by the enterprise of cinema,” says Ajarekar. “When Shrirang Godbole launched me to Nikhil and Suhrud, I felt that this was the suitable affiliation for me, their physique of labor. I noticed that this enterprise is about long-term engagement and collaborations, and my eyes are set for the subsequent few years the place I need to create an ecosystem for contemporary, cutting-edge Indian cinema. ‘Taxi Driver’ is simply the beginning.”

For Mahajan, whose newest movie, environmental thriller “Raavsaheb,” is competing on the Worldwide Movie Competition of India (IFFI), Goa, “Taxi Driver” represents a style shift following his household drama “Godavari.”

“‘Taxi Driver’ is one in all my dream tasks,” Mahajan notes. “I’m grateful to Prasanna for understanding the potential of this story and for supporting it with a lot conviction.”

The movie continues the partnership between Mahajan and producer Suhrud Godbole, marking their fourth collaboration following “Pune 52,” “Baji,” and “June.” Godbole, who has labored with Mahajan since 2009, emphasizes their dedication to increasing the boundaries of Marathi-language cinema. “We’re thrilled that in Prasanna we have now somebody who understands our inventive imaginative and prescient,” says Godbole, noting that Ajarekar can also be an investor in “Raavsaheb.”

The challenge’s launch at Movie Bazaar builds on the group’s historical past with the platform, which has supported their earlier ventures within the Marathi movie trade.

Movie Bazaar (Nov. 20-24) is the challenge market part of IFFI (Nov. 20-28).