Beware Ekta, here comes SRK

Shah Rukh Khan has bought stakes in a company that will produce content and serials for a glamour channel.

The Badshah and his Begum, have together bought a 10 per cent personal stake in a new company about three months ago, say company sources

"The Khans are very choosy about picking business associates. Besides, the superstar plans to expand his production house and also has plans to produce TV serials," says a source.

Khan, who first forayed into business through his film production company - Red Chillies Entertainment, is currently in the process of building up a FX company that he launched after seeing the film 300.

His other business interests include membership of the board directors of a major airline.

He will now become the first actor to have a stake in an entertainment company.

"When it comes to business, SRK is very choosy and knows what he wants," the source said.

My god, what a punishment!!!

Sanjay Dutt's sentencing to six years in jail has sent shock waves through the Hindi film industry, with producers of at least three films involving the actor wondering about the fate of their incomplete projects, pegged at around Rs.1 billion (Rs.100 crores).

And whether people get to see a third sequel of the much-loved Munnabhai series remains a big question mark.

The actor was sentenced Tuesday to jail by a court for possessing illegal arms in the 1993 Mumbai terror bombings.

"I think film producers must be in a state of shock. Apparently Rs.1 billion was riding on his shoulders. It is too early to predict anything about his career after six years," trade analyst Taran Adarsh told.

"The films he was working in are 'Mr. Fraud' (Abbas Mustan), 'Kidnap' (Sanjay Gadhvi) and 'Alibaug' (of close friend Sanjay Gupta). He had also started working in 'Mehbooba'. But right we can't say anything. We will have to wait and watch," added Taran.

If Sanjay Dutt was taken unawares over the quantum of sentence as he had hoped the judge would heed his plea for probation, his producers are in a dilemma - especially those in the middle of shooting for films starring Sanjay.

The minimum budget for a Sanjay starrer is said to be Rs.150 million (Rs.15 crores).

However, most producers refused to comment when contacted for their reactions.

Close associates and friends of the star are unhappy with the sentence given to the 48-year-old actor.

Veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty, expressing sadness over the verdict, said in Thiruvananthapuram: "Even though before the law all are equal, I sincerely feel that this should not have happened to Sanjay Dutt. We all hope that since he has been given permission to appeal in the Supreme Court he has still hope, and so do all his well wishers."

Yesteryear's popular actress Saira Banu, a close family friend of the Dutt family, was quite emotional. "I am heartbroken. Whatever punishment has been meted out far exceeds the error. People have forgotten the atmosphere at the time of error (the riots that followed the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992). We were under constant threats," Saira was quoted as saying after the sentencing.

"Sanju rescued injured people from the streets even when bullets were flying and took them to the hospital. People make errors in such situations. My god, what a punishment!" she added.

Kunal Kohli, a prominent filmmaker, told a TV channel: "Sanju is a nice person. He has already paid for what happened. It's really sad and upsetting as some one as kind hearted as Sanju is going through this. He has suffered a lot and we can't even imagine what he is going through right now."

Sanjay was one of the top heroes in 1993. But after his arrest then, no big producer wanted to cast him as they feared he would be in and out of jail and it would affect their films.

However, after coming out of jail in 1995 Sanjay scaled new heights in Bollywood. He gave hits like "Dushman", "Vaatav: The Reality" and the super hit "Munnabhai" series. His recent hit "Shootout At Lokhandwala" was a box office winner.

Sanjay starrer "Dhamaal" is ready for release.

Unless the Supreme Court intervenes in his favour, his incomplete projects might well not see the light of day.

Upen, Govinda's new partner!

Upen Patel is all set to do a comedy for Suniel Shetty's Popcorn Entertainment.

It will star the youngster with Suniel Shetty and Govinda.

"It would be very different from what one would expect three of us to come together for. Am I scared of matching satirical steps with a stalwart like Govinda? You bet I am! But I've been working with another maestro of mirth Paresh Rawal in 123.So I'm being trained by the best."

Upen,in fact, is preparing for his part in what he expects be a significant move forward. "I'm working in big banners.It's the only way to ensure a film gets released." For the last one month Upen Patel has been shooting in Pondicherry for his first comic role. "We're shooting on a set opposite a promenade next to the open waters. It's lovely. It's a film produced by Kumar Mangat where I've one of our comic virtuosos Paresh Rawal to take me through my comic paces.

Comedy, let me tell you, is the toughest form of acting. And thank God for Pareshji. I want to take up the most challenging kind of acting so I can prove my versatility. "

123 is directed by Ashwini Dheer who has done the sitcom Office Office on television. "Ashwini's experience with comedy is of great help. I'm doing comedy for the first time and that too an out-and-out comedy."

At the mahurat of 123 in Mumbai while shooting the introductory song with Tanissha, Upen had a bit of a stress situation.

Upen's costume got delayed.

Explains Upen, "Narendra Kumar who's doing my clothes in 123 lives on the other side of town.We were all waiting for the clothes to arrive. It was the last shot of the day.It was getting very late.We had to somehow finish the shoot. Although we had lost a good two hours I completed my solo performance of about 45 seconds in one take, thanks to my choreographer Ganesh Acharya."

Though Suneel Darshan's Shaka Laka Boom Boom didn't do well, Upen has cut a 3-film deal with Kumar Mangat.

"It was the first of my three releases where people saw much more of me. I was very happy I was appreciated. I want to do films only with the people who can help me grow as an actor. And yes, I'll be doing one more film with Suneel Darshan. Considering my non-film background I've made a good start. I'm working with big banners."

How to make a Balaji soap?

There is no doubt about the fact that Balaji Telefilms is the most envied and successful soap churning factories in our country. Even though there are many pretenders to the throne, absolutely no one has been successful in dethroning them.

On the contrary, the wannabes have accepted their style of functioning as nothing less than a ‘genre’. We wanted to make things somewhat simple for the countless aspirants and decided to put together a common recipe using some very clichéd and trusted formulas that go into the making of a Balaji style soap.

1.The K-Title: This is the first and the foremost requirement needed to make a successful Balaji soap. Never mind if your title runs into several hundred letters or sounds very weird, but it has to start with a K, a letter believed to be extremely lucky in the entertainment world here. It’s also important to register the title before anyone else ( read Ekta Kapoor, Karan Johar, Rakesh Roshan etc) takes over your lucky name.

2.Docile Bahu: Once the title is finalized, pick up a bechari looking, suppressed and homely middle class girl from the market. Never mind if she is dumb and can’t act, because she doesn’t need to. All she needs to do is, shed gallons of tears in every second scene.

After all, she has to play a good docile woman who takes all the possible injustices in the world lying low. She will be hardly into revenge as she believes in the concept of forgive and forget.

3.Spineless Son: Once you have a heroine in place, you also need to get a male counterpart who would be ready to suspect her all the time and will believe everyone in the world except her. However he would never take centerstage and would play the perfect second fiddle to your good old ideal heroine.

He would be involved in making her life miserable and causing her unhappiness by an untimely death or an extra marital affair. Being good looking, fair and handsome is not a criterion. In fact, even if he is middle-aged with salt-n-pepper hair a la Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy, with a track record of flop films, it would not lessen his appeal.

4.The Vicious Vamp: If there is a hero and a heroine, a vamp is a must. Otherwise how would the scheming, plotting and planning (the staple diet of soaps) be complete!

One, who is ready to put cakes of loud makeup on her face, colored lenses, artificial eyelashes, stylized bindis, dark kohl and eyeliner, weird hairdos, dark red lipstick etc would be the perfect choice.

She doesn’t even need to act, but a unique style of dialogue delivery and a mind sharper-than-Einstein (otherwise, how would she come up with fool-proof plans) is a must. For all that, writers are of great help as they are the ones who would give her the best of the bitchy dialogues.

5.Weirdo Villain: Next in the list of essential ingredients for a daily soap is a very strange looking and weird male villain who would be the right hand to your always-scheming vamp.

He would be sporting the strangest haircuts and worst dressing styles which make him look more like a cartoon character than a human being. He would always be free (after all, he has no other work) to carry out any of the evil plans of the vamps.

6.Sick Minded Writer: Once your key players are in place, you also need someone to give them their activities in order. That’s where your script writer comes into action. He would be some one, who would have the best mind to think of almost impossible (mostly unrealistic) twists and turns in your story.

He would also double up as God (almost)here, killing the characters and bringing them back from the grave whenever he gets stuck with the story. A writer need not be a very learned person; he can even be a layman with the most imaginative mind.

7.Remarriages, love triangles and illegitimate children: These are the most important aspects of a serial making, without which, the show would never be complete. Love triangles and squares with 3 to 4 persons pursuing a single lead actor is common.

Polygamy can be safely practiced, which gives all the required masala (never mind the law of the land). Re marriages can happen in the family too, like a woman divorcing her husband and later remarrying his younger brother and staying in the same house etc.

Your heroine can keep getting married and separating from her number of love interests,umpteenth number of times. And if there are remarriages, can illegitimate children be far behind? Such children can remain scattered across the globe for years.

But, at a crucial juncture, they can make a comeback into their protagonist parents’ lives and turn them into hell. Sometimes these children’s sole purpose in life is to destroy the parents who never took care of them and they leave no stone unturned to accomplish this mission of theirs!

8.Plastic surgery: This is one formula which seems to hit a chord every time. The person presumed dead can undergo a plastic surgery (when there is requirement of changing the actor due to date issues or fights, tantrums etc) and come back with a totally different persona! And surprisingly the audiences have mostly welcomed him/ her with open arms. That’s why the favorite plastic surgery formula simply rocks!!

9.Formula Director: Having completed your planning, next you need is – someone to execute the so-called drama for you. He is not really the captain of the ship here. He is just a technician who knows how to yell ‘action’ and ‘cut’ and how to take the same shot 3-4 times from different angles for effect.

He doesn’t even need to explain the actors how to act because actors have their own set of expressions (2 or 3, more than enough in this scenario) which they keep rotating as per requirement.

10.Noisy Music Director: Once your serial is written, shot and edited, you need to use some garnishing in order to make it more delicious. And your music director would be doing this for you. Television music directors don’t need to have great knowledge of music. He just needs to know where to put those ear-deafening bangs whenever some actor says some punchy lines.

And now the delicious dish –a Balaji Soap Opera is ready to be served hot and spicy!! – Sneha Hazarika

Abhiash on Koffee With Karan

The current season of 'Koffee With Karan’ is coming to an end with a grand finale episode which will feature Bollywood’s currently most sought after couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan.

Karan Johar, who has been getting honest confessions out of his guests on his shows this season, is expected to have a frank, heart-to-heart conversation with the newly weds in which he will touch upon numerous subjects from their love affair to their marriage and Bollywood career.

It would be interesting to see who will win the rapidfire round, Ash or Abhi.

Although there is no confirmation, it is being speculated that Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan may also make an appearance in the second segment of the episode featuring Ash and Abhi.

Whatever the case, one thing that is sure is that Karan wants a grand finale. He plans to give away special Koffee awards to the Best guests of this season in various sections like best rapidfire contestant and best supporting guest.

Reports have it that he is roping in celebrities like Malaika Arora, Rahul Bose, Rohit Bal and Cyrus Broacha to be the jury for these awards.

The episode will be shot in the coming days and will be aired in August.

After wrapping Koffee with Karan, Karan will start working on his next movie, which, needless to say, will star his best buddy SRK again.

I am attracted to older women: Tusshar Kapoor

1. What ideal qualities would you want in your woman?
She should be beautiful, intelligent, and above all, have a charming personality.

2. Hottest getaway with her?
I have heard a lot about the happening beaches of Europe, especially the romantic French Riviera. That would be it.

3. Would you enter into a live-in relationship if needed?
I have no qualms about a live-in. It would all depend on the girl and our equation at that point of time.

4. Would you cook nice candle-light dinners for her?
I would always try to keep a balance --- sometimes take her out for dinner, and cook for her at other times. Such variation and spice is essential to keep her guessing.

5. Hottest chick in Bollywood?
Somehow, I find senior women like Kajol and Tabu the most attractive.

6. If you found your partner having a fling, what would you do?
I would simply walk away, as infidelity is something I just can't accept, period.

7. How much importance do you give to personal space in any relationship?
Very much, I need space to do my own thing. That could be the reason why I am still single. Anyways, post-shooting, I hardly get any time. So to have a woman invading my privacy is not something I would take kindly to.

8. If most women don't like the supposed dominating nature of men, what is that one trait in women that turns off men?
Women whine a lot. Though men also do, but not as much as the females.

9. How much importance do you give to family consent in your choice of girl?
Very much, as I know they would always want my best. Having said that, it's not that I would blindly follow their dictates.

10. Are men from Mars and women from Venus?
Yes, and thank God for that, as this difference is very essential. This is what makes life interesting.

Trishala Dutt is totally shattered!

Sanjay Dutt's controversial past caught up with him on Tuesday when a special court sentenced him to six years' rigorous imprisonment for being in possession of "dangerous weapons" in the 1993 Mumbai bombings case - bringing the curtain down on one of the world's longest-running terror trials.

Those who witnessed Dutt's sentencing in court say that an emotional Sanjay tried pleading for time - a chance to talk to his family - but to no avail.

"Though the crime was not brutal, cruel, ghastly, inhuman, not anti-social, and not immoral and did not result in any harm to anyone, it was still a serious offence as the accused had encouraged others to break the law," Kode told the courtroom.

The actor, who turned 48 on Sunday, made a last-ditch attempt to plead with Judge P.D. Kode to give him a couple of days to surrender before he starts serving his six-year long prison term for possessing "dangerous weapons".

"I have several family responsibilities to take care of and one of my sisters is pregnant. I have some family obligations to take care of," Dutt pleaded with Kode adding, "You too are a family man and you know me better than anyone else seeing me for the last fourteen years."

"I am helpless. Please understand me. I have no power now after pronouncing the sentence. I have been very considerate with you and allowed you to be on bail since you were convicted on Nov 28 last year." Kode said.

The actor, the most high profile among the 100 convicts who were sentenced, then pleaded that he should be allowed to take one phone call from his teenaged daughter.

"Will it be a collect call or will it be a billed call," Kode asked attorney Satish Manesinde in a lighter vein, granting permission before the actor was taken into custody."

Kode however, warned that the actor was not permitted to speak to the media or give any interview while he was waiting for his daughter's call.

" I have given permission for one overseas call, but ensure that you don't give any interview to the media or interact with them on phone," Kode warned before Sanjay was escorted out of the court room.

In no time, he was ordered to be lodged at the Arthur Road jail a stone's throw away from the TADA court.

Trishala Dutt, Sanjay’s 18-year-old daughter, told the Indian media she can’t believe ‘an honest man’ like her father has been given such a harsh sentence.

Currently in New York, she expressed deep distress over her father’s fate minutes after the verdict was announced.

"I am shattered and speechless. I’ve been in constant touch with dad since early morning. In fact, we almost broke down last night on the phone. He even spoke to me before he entered the court," says Trishala.

She adds, "He was stressed out but made a point of not showing it to me. I can’t imagine what he must be going through at this moment. I am scared and worried for him."

A shaken Priya Dutt was also seen following her brother after the sentencing, and her face said it all - the grief and crippling disappointment.

Astrology: 'Sanjay will be free by 2010'

“Sanjay Dutt’s star sign is Leo. And Leos are inherently good people. However, Saturn (which brings sorrow and suffering) is passing over Leo and hence Sanjay’s stint with misfortune. However, the phase will pass in the next three years and he will be released from all his trials and tribulations. Besides, Sanjay’s parents were both Gemini which combines reasonably well with Leo. So, I am expecting some of Sunil and Nargis Dutt’s luck to also influence their son’s life”.

Snippet: Sanjay Dutt's Sentence May Reduce!

People's opinion and the sources from the side of law say that Supreme Court may not acquit Sanjay Dutt completely but reduce the punishment given to him by TADA court.

As TADA sentenced him for 6 years he has to suffer 4.5 years from now as he already spent 18 months earlier. It is being said that Supreme Court may reduce the punishment up to half of the present. If that happens, Sanjay should consider that he has won the case, says an advocate.

But hardly people are confident that Sanjay will be acquitted completely.

International project on hold?

So what’s the latest on Vishal Bhardwaj’s international project with Hrithik Roshan and a leading lady from Hollywood? “Hrithik isn’t doing the film anymore. The role isn’t substantial enough, that’s one of the reasons,” Vishal informs me. What about the leading lady? Reportedly, the fee quoted by her agents was almost 70% of the film’s budget? “No, we didn’t talk money. Actually, we never reached that stage,” Vishal reveals, “We merely had discussions and more discussions.”

So what is he making now? “I haven’t zeroed on any script. It sounds strange, but when I plan something, it never materializes. For instance, I was supposed to direct MANTRA for Shekhar Kapur, but it never took off. Or TIMBAKTOO, but it never got made. And MR. MEHTA & MRS. SINGH, but it got aborted. All I know is that I want to start something before December this year,” he states with utmost honesty.

'Naya Daur' premiere called off

While the industry is in a state of shock and the producers of Sanjay Dutt starrers are inaccessible to the media [especially those whose films are in the under-production stages], the one family, not remotely associated with the Dutts, which has decided to call off all celebrations is the Chopras.

Ravi Chopra had planned a grand premiere of his father’s all-time classic NAYA DAUR at a suburban multiplex on Wednesday [today], but he decided to call off the premiere and the post-premiere celebrations the moment he heard the judgment. In fact, veteran Vyjayantimala, the leading lady of NAYA DAUR, specially flew to Mumbai to partake in the premiere, but eventually caught the film at a private screening.

Numero Uno star's ambitious plans

The Numero Uno star has ambitious plans to make an empire. While he’s setting up a special effects division in the suburbs, there’s talk that he’s planning something bigger now. According to sources, he’s on the lookout for a massive property in Mumbai or outskirts of Mumbai to build a colossal studio complex, with readymade sets to cater to the needs of film producers. Wow!

Meanwhile, the other star, who has delivered a huge hit, has hiked his fees. He’s quoting 12 now. Interesting!

Upen to whoop it up with Govinda & Suniel Shetty

Upen Patel is all set to do a comedy for Suniel Shetty's Popcorn Entertainment .It will star the youngster with Suniel Shetty and Govinda.

"It would be very different from what one would expect three of us to come together for. Am I scared of matching satirical steps with a stalwart like Govina? You bet I am! But I've been working with another maestro of mirth Paresh Rawal in 123 .So I'm being trained by the best."

Upen, in fact, is preparing for his part in what he expects be a significant move forward. "I'm working in big banners. It’s the only way to ensure a film gets released."

For the last one month Upen Patel has been shooting in Pondicherry for his first comic role. "We're shooting on a set opposite a promenade next to the open waters. It's lovely. It's a film produced by Kumar Mangat where I've one of our comic virtuosos Paresh Rawal to take me through my comic paces. Comedy let me tell you, is the toughest form of acting. And thank God for Pareshji. I want to take up the most challenging kind of acting so I can prove my versatility. "

123 is directed by Ashwini Dheer who has done the sitcom Office Office on television. "Ashwini's experience with comedy is of great help. I'm doing comedy for the first time and that too an out-and-out comedy."

At the mahurat of 123 in Mumbai while shooting the introductory song with Tanissha, Upen had a bit of a stress situation. Upen's costume got delayed. Explains Upen, "Narendra Kumar who's doing my clothes in 123 lives on the other side of town. We were all waiting for the clothes to arrive. It was the last shot of the day. It was getting very late. We had to somehow finish the shoot. Although we had lost a good two hours I completed my solo performance of about 45 seconds in one take, thanks to my choreographer Ganesh Acharya."

Though Suneel Darshan's Shaka Laka Boom Boom didn't do well, Upen has cut a 3-film deal with Kumar Mangat. "It was the first of my three releases where people saw much more of me. I was very happy I was appreciated. I want to do films only with the people who can help me grow as an actor. And yes, I'll be doing one more film with Suneel Darshan. Considering my non-film background I've made a good start. I'm working with big banners."

If Bollywood can, why not India? Click here to add this article to My Clips

Watching cine awards functions on TV is like having éclairs.
You pick one and decide not to have another,
but by the time it has begun to melt in your mouth, you hear yourself saying:
Ok, one more and that's it. Then one more, and one more.
Similarly, when you run into an awards function - there are a dime a dozen these days - while channel surfing, you say: "Oh no, not again!"
But when they announce one winner,
you instinctively wait to see the next winner, and the winner after that, and so on.
And even before you realise, you've spent about six hours in front of the television, switching it off only after the Best Actor has collected his trophy.

I spent the entire day watching the Filmfare awards, even though I knew, courtesy Filmfare magazine, who had won all the big awards. And I am glad I did so, or else
I would have missed Javed Akhtar's beautiful acceptance speech on getting the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The film industry, he said, served the country like no one else.
"We don't engineer riots, we don't blast bombs," he said.
"We only give dreams to people. We also make them laugh.
And at times, we let them unburden themselves by crying in the darkness of the theatre."

How true!
No other industry champions national integration more than Bollywood.
Workplaces throughout the country, accept it or not, are divided between cultures and religion.
In states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, caste is the wall that often separates cubicles.
In Tamil Nadu, the divide is often between Tamilians and non-Tamilians; and among Tamilians, between Tam Brahms and non-Brahms.
In Kerala and West Bengal, the divide is mainly political.
Forget workplace, I know a family in Kerala where the father and son don't get along because the father is an admirer of Indira Gandhi while the son is a communist-sympathiser.

But in Mumbai, all differences melt.
Even as I write this, the song playing on my Winamp playlist is Kitne bhi tu karle sitam.
It is a hit song from the 1981 film, Sanam Teri Kasam.
The singer? Asha Bhosle, a Marathi.
The composer? R D Burman, a Bengali from Tripura.
The lyricist? Gulshan Bawra, a Punjabi.
The heroine? Reena Roy, a Muslim.
The hero? Kamal Hassan, a Tamilian who could barely speak Hindi then.
Together, they have given an unforgettable song that has no region, religion or caste.

Time was when Muslim actors assumed Hindu screen names
so that the Indian audiences could identify with them.
So Yusuf Khan became Dilip Kumar
But today a real Dilip has become a Rahman, and that has not prevented him from becoming India's No. 1 composer.
As for the Muslim actors, they proudly flaunt the 'Khan' in their names.
Fathers can't tell their daughters not to be crazy about them just because they are Muslims.
Ask yourself: does it ever cross your mind,
when you are watching Rang De Basanti, that Aamir is a Muslim?
Or
that, Mohammad Rafi was a Muslim,
when you listen to the songs of the 1950's and 1960s?

If we choose to be blind to such divides in day-to-day life,
imagine what a paradise India would be.
The previous sentence might sound like a Sunday Sermon,
but then, how many of you know that one of the most popular
Hindu devotional songs in Hindi cinema,
Man tarpat hari darshan from the film Baiju Bawra, was created by three Muslims?
Shakeel Badayuni wrote the song, Naushad set the tune, and Rafi sang it.
If a small nation called Bollywood can do it, why not India?

Ram Gopal Varma sings for Darling

In Ram Gopal Varma's latest movie, Darling, starring Fardeen Khan, Esha Deol and Isha Koppikar, there was a scene where a ghost is supposed to sing in the background. The shooting was being held in Versova and the scene, which was a serious one, was progressing smoothly.

Everyone was in their positions, the camera was rolling and suddenly out of the blue, Ram Gopal Varma started singing the background song!!! The crew stood around shell-shocked!!! He was so immersed in the scene, that it came out spontaneously and sincerely.

But since the camera was rolling, no one dared to break the shot. But the instant the shot got over, everyone exploded laughing on the sets!!! Looks like Ramu can get carried away like everyone else!

Subhash Ghai's 'Yuvraaj' to start

Producer-director Subhash Ghai’s YUVRAAJ, starring Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Zayed Khan, Katrina Kaif and Boman Irani, will roll on 3rd September with a 35-day schedule in Europe. Music: A.R. Rahman. Lyrics: Gulzar. Screenplay: Subhash Ghai, Sachin Bhowmick and Kamlesh Pandey. Cinematographer: Kabir Lal. Production design: Omung Kumar. YUVRAAJ is being produced by Mukta Arts Entertainment.

Studio 18 to distribute Cash in CP / Berar territory

Studio 18 is distributing Anubhav Sinha’s action packed multi-starrer film Cash in the CP / Berar territory set to release this Friday on August 3. The film has been in news for an interesting star cast that includes Ajay Devgan, Zayed Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sunil Shetty, Esha Deol, Shamita Shetty and Dia Mirza.

Studio 18’s distribution team has planned the widest ever release seen for a Hindi film in the CP / Berar territory.

Says Utpal Acharya, National Head Domestic Distribution, “We plan to aggressively release in 45 theatres across the territory. We have already booked prime location single screens as well as digital UFO’s screens. The idea is to capitalize on the hype the film has generated. We strongly believe that the content is good and has a great appeal in this market.”

Earlier Studio 18 has released Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, Kya Love Story Hai and Awarapan. In India, the company distributed Vipul Shah's Namastey London in the Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad territories and 1971 (all India). Vipul Shah's Namastey London has done good business at the box office and is one of the very few movies that have been declared a hit this year.

Studio 18 is also co-producing Raj Kumar Santoshi's Halla Bol with Sunrise Pictures Pvt. Ltd. and Ravi Chopra's Bhootnath.

Additionally, Studio 18 has inked a two-year co-production deal worth Rs. 1 billion (Rs. 100 crore) in November last year with Shree Ashtavinayak Films for four movies. The filmmakers that have been signed in this deal are Priyadarshan, Abbas-Mustan, Rohit Shetty and Neeraj Vora.