Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was prevalent before streaming platforms came to dominate the TV and movie distribution markets.
Ashok Kumar, was an Indian actor who attained iconic status in Indian cinema. He was a pioneering actor who introduced natural acting to Hindi cinema. He is considered the first superstar of Hindi cinema in the black-and-white era of the 40s and 50s as well as the first lead actor to play an anti-hero. He also became the first star to reinvent himself, enjoying a long and hugely successful career as a character actor. He was a member of the cinematic Ganguly family. He was honoured in 1988 with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for cinema artists, by the Government of India. He also received the Padma Bhushan in 1999 for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Prem Nazir was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. A popular cultural icon of Kerala, Nazir is often referred to as Nithyaharitha Nayakan. Nazir began his career as a stage actor and made his film debut with the 1952 film Marumakal. He took on the stage name Prem Nazir on the sets of his second film, Visappinte Vili (1952).
Konidela Chiranjeevi is an Indian actor, film producer and former politician. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, he starred in over 150 feature films predominantly in Telugu, as well as some films in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. Chiranjeevi won the Andhra Pradesh state's highest film award, the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, three Nandi Awards, and nine Filmfare Awards South including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2013, CNN-IBN named him as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema".
Fardeen Khan is an Indian actor who mainly works in Hindi films. Born to actor and film producer Feroz Khan and part of the Khan family, he is the recipient of a Filmfare Award.
Vivekanandan, known professionally as Vivek, was an Indian actor, comedian, television personality, playback singer and social activist who worked in the Tamil film industry. Introduced in films by director K. Balachander, he won three Filmfare Awards for Best Comedian in Tamil for his performances in the films, Run (2002), Saamy (2003) and Perazhagan (2004) and six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, where five are Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Comedian for the films, Unnaruge Naan Irundhal (1999), Run (2002), Parthiban Kanavu (2003), Anniyan (2005) and Sivaji (2007) and Kalaivanar Award as Honorary Award. His comedy style consisted of one-liners and wordplay that featured social and political satire, which led to critics comparing him to N. S. Krishnan and earning him the nickname Chinna Kalaivanar.
Mustafa Qureshi is a Pakistani film and television actor.
Manoj Kadampoothramadam Jayan, also known as Manoj K. Jayan is an Indian actor of Malayalam and Tamil films. He has also done a few Telugu and Kannada films and has also acted in a Bollywood film. Manoj has won three Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for his portrayal of Hariharan's "Kuttan Thampuran" in Sargam (1992), "Thalakkal Chandu" in Pazhassi Raja (2009) and "Kunjiraman" in Farook Abdul Rahiman's Kaliyachan. He has played "Kuttan Thampuran" (Sargam), "Thirumangalath Neelakandan Namboothiri" (Perumthachan), "Kunjunni Namboothiri" (Parinayam), "Unnikrishnan" (Venkalam), "Ananthakrishna Warrier" (Sopanam), "Digambaran" (Anandabhadram) and "Thalakkal Chandu". He is the son of singer Jayan of Jaya-Vijaya combo. He is also a singer.
Mohideen Abdul Khadar, known by his stage name Rajkiran, is an Indian actor, producer and director, who has acted in more than 30 Tamil films.
Siddique (born 1 October 1959) is an Indian actor and producer, who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. Along with appearing in over 350 Malayalam films, he has also acted in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language films. He is known for having played a wide range of starring and supporting roles, including comic characters, romantic leads, anti-heroes and villains.
Sindhi cinema refers to the Sindhi language film industry in Sindh, Pakistan and among the Sindhi diaspora specially in India.
The Nigar Awards were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The Nigar Awards are Pakistan's version of the Academy Awards.
Ajit Vachhani was an Indian film and television actor. He had worked in many Hindi films as a character actor, including Mr. India (1987), Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), the two latter being some of his most popular and well-earning movies of all time. He acted in over 50 Hindi films, one Marathi cinema 'Eka Peksha Ek' besides three Sindhi movies. He also acted in television serials including Hasratein, Daane Anaar Ke and Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka. and Mitti ke rang
Shero Feroz is a Pakistani film released on 18 October 1968. Produced by Khadim Films, it was directed by Shaikh Hassan and launched the career of two famous Sindhi actors, Meh Parah and Mushtaq Changezi.
Yasir Nawaz Baloch is a Pakistani director, producer, screenwriter, actor and former model.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Black Manta in the superhero films Aquaman (2018) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), Bobby Seale in the Netflix historical legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), and Morpheus / Agent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections (2021). For his portrayal of Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan in the HBO limited series Watchmen (2019), he won a Primetime Emmy Award. He also starred in episodes of The Handmaid's Tale (2018) and Black Mirror (2019).
Chakori a.k.a. Chakori Begum; was a film actress from Sindh, Pakistan. She worked in Sindhi, Punjabi and Urdu films till the 1990s.
Rubina Qureshi, TI was a Pakistani Sindhi language folk singer. She was popularly known as Nightingale of Sindh as she performed most of her songs in Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi and Saraiki languages.
Ekta is a 1942 Sindhi film directed by Homi Wadia and produced by Karim Bux Nizamani in Bombay at Wadia Studios. This black and white film holds the distinction of being the first Sindhi film and was entirely financed by Karim Bux Nizamani. The movie starred Nizamani and Kaushalya in the lead roles, with a central theme revolving around Hindu-Muslim unity.
Abdul Latif Baloch, better known by his screen name Saqi, was a Pakistani film and television actor. He is known for mostly playing supportive roles in the Lollywood movies. He starred in more than 500 Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Pashto films.
