Zee Studios enters Gujarati cinema with Siddharth Randeria's 'Tom and Cherry'
Synopsis
Zee Studios has planted its flag in Gujarati cinema with Tom and Cherry, fronted by Siddharth Randeria — a man with 12,000 live performances, a record-breaking theatre run, and the highest-grossing Gujarati film to his name. This is not a one-off production; the studio has signalled a full slate, betting that Gujarati cinema's diaspora pull and growing domestic audience make it the next regional market worth owning.
Key Takeaways
Zee Studios has made its Gujarati cinema debut with Tom and Cherry , starring Siddharth Randeria .
Sujal Parekh , CBO of Zee Music Company , described the move as a long-term strategic investment in regional filmmaking.
Siddharth Randeria has been active in theatre since 1970 and holds a record of over 12,000 live performances .
His Chaal Jeevi Laiye! remains the highest-grossing Gujarati film of all time .
The studio plans a broader slate of Gujarati films beyond this debut production.
Zee Studios has made its debut in Gujarati cinema with Tom and Cherry, starring veteran actor-playwright Siddharth Randeria, marking a strategic expansion into one of India's fastest-growing regional film markets. The announcement signals not just a single production but a long-term commitment by the studio to scale Gujarati language storytelling to national and global audiences.
A Strategic Bet on Regional Cinema
Sujal Parekh, Chief Business Officer of Zee Music Company, described the move as a deliberate investment in the future of India's entertainment landscape. 'Regional cinema is driving the next phase of India's entertainment story, and Gujarati cinema represents an incredible opportunity with its rich storytelling legacy and growing audience base. Our foray into Gujarati films is a strategic investment in the future of the industry,' Parekh said.
He added that the studio intends to build 'a strong slate of culturally authentic stories with mainstream appeal,' with Tom and Cherry serving as the first step in a broader vision to take Gujarati cinema and music to wider national and global audiences.
Who Is Siddharth Randeria
Siddharth Randeria is one of the most celebrated figures in Gujarati theatre and cinema. Active in theatre since 1970, he holds a record for the most live performances by an actor, having crossed 12,000 live performances to date as a writer, director, and lead actor — a mark recognised across multiple award platforms.
His landmark Gujjubhai series began with Gujjubhai E Gaam Gajaavyu in 2002. The subsequent production Lage Raho Gujjubhai completed 800 shows across three years on stages worldwide, setting a new record in Gujarati theatre.
A Decorated Career in Gujarati Film
Randeria made his Gujarati film debut in 2015 with Gujjubhai The Great, which performed strongly at the box office. He reprised his role in the sequel GujjuBhai — Most Wanted and appeared in a cameo in Wrong Side Raju. He later played the lead in Natsamrat, a Gujarati remake of the acclaimed 2016 Marathi film of the same name.
His most commercially significant credit remains Chaal Jeevi Laiye!, which became the highest-grossing Gujarati film of all time — a benchmark that underscores both his box-office pull and the expanding appetite for Gujarati content.
What This Means for Gujarati Cinema
Zee Studios' entry follows a broader trend of major production houses and OTT-linked studios recognising regional language markets as high-growth territories. Gujarati cinema, long driven by theatre crossovers and diaspora audiences, is increasingly attracting mainstream investment. With a figure of Randeria's stature anchoring the debut, the studio is positioning itself for credibility and commercial viability simultaneously.
Details on the release timeline and format for Tom and Cherry are yet to be announced, and further titles in Zee Studios' Gujarati slate are expected to be revealed in the coming months.
Point of View
Not a vanity project — and Siddharth Randeria is the shrewdest possible anchor for it. He is not just a star; he is the institution that built modern Gujarati popular culture across theatre and film. The harder question is whether a studio with a national distribution and OTT infrastructure can preserve the cultural specificity that makes Gujarati cinema work for its core audience, while simultaneously chasing the wider reach it is promising. Regional cinema's graveyard is full of productions that lost both bets. The slate announcement will matter more than this debut.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tom and Cherry, the new Gujarati film?
Tom and Cherry is Zee Studios' debut Gujarati language film, starring veteran actor-playwright Siddharth Randeria. It marks the studio's formal entry into the Gujarati film market as part of a stated long-term regional content strategy.
Why is Zee Studios entering Gujarati cinema now?
Zee Studios has cited Gujarati cinema's growing audience base and rich storytelling legacy as key reasons. Chief Business Officer Sujal Parekh described it as a strategic investment in what the studio sees as one of India's fastest-growing regional film markets.
Who is Siddharth Randeria?
Siddharth Randeria is a celebrated Gujarati actor, writer, and director who has been active in theatre since 1970. He holds a record for crossing 12,000 live performances and is best known in cinema for Chaal Jeevi Laiye!, the highest-grossing Gujarati film of all time.
What are Siddharth Randeria's biggest films?
Randeria's major Gujarati films include Gujjubhai The Great (2015), GujjuBhai — Most Wanted, Natsamrat, and Chaal Jeevi Laiye!, the last of which became the highest-grossing Gujarati film ever. He also appeared in a cameo in Wrong Side Raju.
Will Zee Studios make more Gujarati films after Tom and Cherry?
Yes, according to statements by Zee Music Company's CBO Sujal Parekh, Tom and Cherry is the first step in a larger slate of culturally authentic Gujarati stories. The studio has signalled plans to take Gujarati cinema and music to national and global audiences.
