Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar had earlier worked together in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag which was an amazing movie. The actor-director duo has now teamed up for Toofaan which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Toofaan is about a local gangster Ajju Bhai (Farhan Akhtar) who gets interested in boxing. However, he starts taking it seriously after he meets Dr. Ananya (Mrunal Thakur), and she explains to him that he wants to be Ajju Bhai or the boxing champion Aziz Ali.
Aziz starts training under Nana Prabhu (Paresh Rawal), a veteran boxing coach and Ananya’s father. He becomes a state-level champion, but things don’t go as planned, and Aziz is banned from boxing for five years. After five years, the boxing federation lifts the ban, but Aziz is not interested in returning to the ring. But, he later decides to make a comeback, and how and why he makes a comeback forms the rest of the story…
The basic concept of the film is quite regular. We have seen many films that showcased that the guy was good for nothing; he meets a girl, falls in love, and decides to achieve something in his life. Toofaan also has the similar concept.
So, when you have a very basic concept like this, the screenplay and the narration have to be wow, and that’s not something we get in Toofaan. The screenplay of the film is not up to the mark in the first half, and it fails to keep us engaged. Also, there are a few scenes in the movie that will remind you of Mary Kom and Sultan.
However, the movie picks up well in the last 60 mins. There’s an emotional scene that touches the right chords of our hearts and makes our eyes moist, and the boxing matches are very well shot.
Talking about performances, Farhan Akhtar is the saving grace of Toofaan. He has given one of the best performances of his career in the film, and we won't be surprised if he wins awards for it. Mrunal Thakur is damn good in her role and leaves a strong impact. Paresh Rawal and Hussain Dalal also impress us with their act.
Coming to music, the songs in Toofaan are strictly average. The only track that leaves a mark is Star Hai Tu.
Overall, Toofaan is a run-of-the-mill Bollywood film, but if you are a Farhan Akhtar fan it’s a must-watch for you.
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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