EXCLUSIVE: Vinod Bhanushali is getting into business with Ali Abbas Zafar and Himanshu Mehra.

Bhanushali Studios and AAZ Films have struck a strategic partnership deal to co-produce a slate of films out of India. Vinod Bhanushali and AAZ’s Mehra will jointly produce the pics, which will span “heartfelt romances to gripping dramas,” with director Zafar onboard as creative director.

The first film from the pact is set to lens in June. According to the partners, each pic will place “a strong emphasis on storytelling that balances scale with substance” and will reflect “a shared vision of cinema that bridges India’s heartland with its urban centers.”

Further detail on casting, film titles and release timelines will follow in “coming months,” the partners said.

Mehra said films would focus on “heartland cinema” and “opens doors for young, fresh storytellers to bring their vision to the big screen.”

“Ali, Himanshu and I have always admired each other’s work,” added Bhanushali. “When the opportunity to collaborate came up, it felt like the perfect time. These films will tell compelling stories and create a strong connect between heartland and urban audiences.”

For Bhanushali Studios, the agreement comes weeks after it struck a three-film pact with director Hansal Mehta and after it hired former Sony exec Neeraj Vyas as CEO. The company, led by former T-Series marketing chief Bhanushali, is behind films such as Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam, Luv Ki Arrange Marriage and Bhaiyya Ji.

Zafar – known for directing the likes of box office smash Tiger Zinda Hai, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Sultan and Bharat – launched AAZ in 2022. More recently, he directed Bloody Daddy and the big-budget Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, the latter of which underperformed in cinemas last year.