In a chat with indianexpress.com, Durgesh, who was also seen in small roles in Kiran Rao’s Lapataa Ladies and Bhumi Pednekar starrer Bhakshak, said, “I would say I am still not getting good projects. I wouldn’t say that there are no projects coming my way at all, but they are mostly independent films. I am not receiving offers for big commercial films, but I am trying to work my way out in whatever roles I have been getting.”
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Durgesh Kumar, who will be next seen in Junaid Khan’s debut film Maharaj, also shared that he has signed projects in movies starring Saif Ali Khan, Shatrughan Sinha, and Ashutosh Rana, among others.
He said, “I will be seen in a comic role in Maharaj, I just have two scenes in the movie. I have a film coming with Saif Ali Khan — Kartavya, there’s another independent film titled Ratanpura which I am part of. Apart from these, I will also be seen in the film Gangs of Ghaziabad, starring Shatrughan Sinha, Ashutosh Raina, and Mukesh Tiwari. The film will be headlined by Pradeep Nagar and Jatin Sharma.”
Panchayat, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, began streaming its third season on May 28. The show also stars Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Pankaj Jha, and Sunita Rajwar, among others.
Jyothi Jha is an incisive Copy Editor and multi-platform journalist at The Indian Express, where she specializes in high-stakes entertainment reporting and cinematic analysis. With over six years of diverse experience across India’s leading media houses, she brings a rigorous, ethics-first approach to digital storytelling and editorial curation.
Experience & Career
Jyothi’s career is characterized by its breadth and depth across the media landscape. Before joining the editorial team at The Indian Express, she honed her expertise covering the entertainment beat for premier national broadcasters, including NDTV, Republic Media, and TV9. Her professional journey is not limited to digital text; she has a proven track record as an on-air anchor and has successfully managed production teams within the high-pressure segments of Politics and Daily News. This 360-degree view of newsroom operations allows her to navigate the complexities of modern journalism with veteran precision.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Guided by the Orwellian principle that "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want you to do," Jyothi focuses on transparent, accountability-driven reporting. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Deconstruction: Analyzing the social subtext of mainstream Bollywood and South Indian cinema (e.g., Kantara, Masaan, Dabangg).
Toxic Masculinity & Gender Studies: A vocal critic of regressive tropes in Indian cinema, she often highlights the industry's treatment of women and social progress.
Box Office & Industry Economics: Providing data-backed predictions and analysis of film performance and superstar fee structures.
Exclusive Multimedia Coverage: Conducting deep-dive interviews and long-form features that bridge the gap between archival history and modern pop culture.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Jyothi Jha has established herself as a trusted voice by prioritizing substance over PR-driven narratives. Her background in hard news and political production provides her with a unique lens through which she views the entertainment industry—not merely as gossip, but as a reflection of societal values. Readers rely on her for "Journalism of Courage," knowing her critiques are rooted in a deep respect for the craft and a refusal to settle for superficiality. Her ability to pivot between daily news and specialized entertainment analysis makes her a versatile and authoritative pillar of The Indian Express newsroom.
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