Posts tagged Eros International

Superstitious Tusshar forces a change in title of Bhajate Raho

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The actor got his next film renamed to Bhajhate Raho because it is ‘numerologically right’

Soumyadipta Banerjee and Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 19, 2013)

 

That Ekta Kapoor doesn’t move a finger without consulting her trusted band of astrologers and numerologists is well known. Lately though, her superstitious streak seems to have rubbed off on younger brother Tusshar too.

This was demonstrated by the way the actor stuck to his guns and forced the makers of his forthcoming film to change the title from Bajate Raho to Bhajhate Raho because the former was numerologically wrong. What’s more, he insisted they consult the numerologists he had suggested to get the title right.

Tusshar admitted he has started believing in numerology but denied being influenced by his sister. “The title of the film was Bajate Raho, which I was told was numerologically wrong. So, I asked the makers to consult an astrologer and a numerologist and get it right. The film is important for me and I don’t want it to not score at the BO because of a faulty title. The title has now been changed to Bhajhate Raho, which is numerologically right,” he told Mirror, adding it was his mother Shobha Kapoor who told him he should start believing in numerology like Ekta. “It was a bit of a hassle renaming the film but I felt we had to do it,“ said he.

Bhajhate Raho marks Sony’s foray into film production. The film will be co-produced by Sony and Eros International. N P Singh, CEO of Sony, said: “We are More >

Dabangg producer arrested for non-payment of dues; out on bail

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Dhillin Mehta was wanted in Rajasthan over a case of unpaid dues worth Rs 1.58 crore

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 19, 2013)

 

The head-honcho of one of Bollywood’s biggest production houses was arrested at the international airport on Wednesday night and whisked away to Jaipur where he had a case of unpaid dues registered against him.

Dhillin Mehta, who heads the now troubled Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd, producers of block-busters like Dabangg, Jab We Met and the Golmaal franchise, was picked up by the Rajasthan police just hours before he was scheduled to board a flight to Dubai.

Mehta, against whom a look-out notice was issued a week back, owes Rs 1.58 crore to Jaipur-based line-producer Surender Kalra for Ashtavinayak’s under-production ‘Sher’ that stars Sanjay Dutt. He was stopped at the immigration and the Rajasthan cops, who were in Mumbai looking for him, were tipped off.

Mehta was flown to Jaipur on an early morning flight and taken to the Jalupura police station, where he was formally arrested. However, before Mehta could be produced in a court for remand, one of the directors of the company had reached Jaipur and paid Kalra Rs 40 lakh in cash and handover post-dated cheques of Rs 80 lakh.

Based on the payments made to Kalra and Mehta’s undertaking that the outstanding would be cleared soon, the magistrate’s court gave him bail. Mehta’s passport, however, was seized.

Mehta’s arrest is a new low in the dipping fortunes of Ashtavinayak. Film More >

I’m happy to have launched Dhanush in Bollywood-Krishika Lulla

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; January 17, 2013)

 

Producer Krishika Lulla is confident about her forthcoming film Raanjhanaa, starring Sonam Kapoor, the Kolaveri Di sensation Dhanush and Abhay Deol. She states, “Raanjhanaa is a love story and I loved the script. I am very passionate about what I do. I do offer creative inputs when needed and discuss ideas with director Aanand Rai. Filmmaking is team work. I am very happy to have launched Dhanush in Bollywood. He rarely needs retakes. The story needed a guy who looks simple, someone people can identity with and Dhanush fit the bill. Sonam plays a simple girl from Banaras. Abhay has a good role, too. The film has been shot in Delhi and Banaras. This movie will give a new meaning to love stories in Hindi cinema.”

Raanjhanaa, produced by Eros International, releases June 28, 2013

Bollywood film producers call for shutdown

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Taking a cue from the Tamil film industry, the Guild wants to stall Hindi film shoots from February if the service tax is not rolled back

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 15, 2013)

 

Taking a leaf from the day-long fast on Monday, January 7, 2013, called by film and TV actors, filmmakers, technicians, theatre owners and distributors down south, the Film and Television Producers Guild of India has informed the Government that unless the 12.36 per cent service tax is rolled back, they will be forced to stop all film shootings February onward. They will not allow any film to release during this period either.

A source close to the development told Mirror, “Not many actors pay their service tax from their pocket. Most of them openly tell the producer that he has to pay them 12.36 per cent over and above their acting fee. This in turn is burdening the producers.”

Producers have evaluated the cost of every project to be 12.5 per cent more, thanks to this additional service tax passed on to them by a majority of actors.

“The latest findings have put the Hindi film industry on the back foot. First of all, there is no guarantee of films doing well these days. Add to that the burden of service tax even before you start rolling the cameras. This is grossly unfair,” pointed out the source.

When contacted, President of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India, Mukesh Bhatt, confirmed the news and said, “We have spoken to the I & B Ministry and the State Government. We More >

Eros International: A mix of masala movies and new-age cinema

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; January 15, 2013)

 

The year 2012 saw Eros International come up with a mix of potboilers and outof-the-box films. While there was masala entertainment like Housefull 2, Cocktail and Khiladi 786, there were thought-provoking films like Chakravyuh, Vicky Donor and English Vinglish, too.

Says Sunil Lulla, MD, Eros International, “We want to cater to all kinds of audience and therefore the diverse mix of films, across scales, genres and budgets. We aim to be a true studio model by not only co-producing films, but also acquiring and distributing Hindi and other regional language movies. For instance, last year we acquired the worldwide distribution rights of Son Of Sardaar and Ferrari Ki Sawaari and the overseas rights of Dabangg 2. This year, we have an eclectic blend and also plan to launch new faces.”

On her association with the company, filmmaker Gauri Shinde says, “I showed them English Vinglish and after watching it, they instantly decided to be involved. For me, as a director, it was a very satisfying association.” Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is currently shooting the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone-starrer Ram Leela, feels this film corporation has the network to take his film to its deserved potential. “Together we hope to present some great cinema on the global platform,” Bhansali adds.

The corporate house began 2013 with the Paresh Rawal-Rajeev Khandelwal film Table No 21. Now, they plan to pursue their new-age concept with co-productions More >

Now Akshay Kumar ends ties with Eros International?

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

After SRK, he ends his association with the banner over a sour deal

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 28, 2012)

 

Recently, Shah Rukh Khan snapped ties with close friends Sunil and Kishore Lulla of Eros International because he was upset they had pitted Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar against his Jab Tak Hai Jaan. And now Akshay Kumar has followed suit and severed bonds with Eros, with whom he had worked closely until just a few days ago in Khiladi 786.

Apparently, Eros ticked off the actor rather badly by initially promising to present his AR Murugadoss film, remake of Thupakki, co-starring Sonakshi Sinha, and later backtracking on the deal. The original deal with Akshay was for around Rs 80 crore but surprisingly, Eros refused to pay up. They wanted to first see how the original South flick fared at the BO. A source close to the project said, “They felt they would rather check the fate of the original before issuing payment. This annoyed Akshay but he kept quiet.”

However, it didn’t end there. Even after the original film hit theatres down south, Eros kept dragging its feet. “This infuriated Akshay no end. He had been getting several offers but had chosen to go with Eros on the film. He had had enough. That’s when he took his venture to Reliance Entertainment,“ said the source.

According to insiders, Reliance got a back-door entry by offering Akshay more than what Eros had agreed to cough up. Reliance was also happy with the way Khiladi 786 has fared. Asked about the More >

Shah Rukh Khan snaps ties with Eros?

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

He is reportedly upset with his former friends for pitting Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardar against Jab Tak…

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 12, 2012)

 

The box-office battle between Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn over their last releases may be over, but the war is still on. A fresh wave of offensive has been mounted, and this time it is SRK who has decided to snap ties with Sunil and Kishore Lulla of Eros International.

Apparently, he is upset with them for pitting Ajay’s Son Of Sardaar against Jab Tak Hai Jaan and has signed up with UTV Motion Pictures for Chennai Express and while talking to Reliance for Happy New Year. SRK and Eros have worked together in Ra.One and Om Shanti Om. And over the years the actor has maintained very warm ties with the Lulla brothers.

According to sources, the seeds of discontent were sown when Ra.One failed to generate the kind of returns Eros had expected and the distributors inked a deal with Ajay in London for Son oO Sardaar. “SRK would have shrugged it off, had it not been for the aggression with which Eros and Devgn went for Yash Chopra’s swan song,” says the source, adding, “The nail in the coffin was the complaint they tried to lodge with the Competition Commission.”

A source close to Eros has a slightly different take on the issue. “When Ajay pitched his film to Kishore Lulla, he could not refuse him, even though he was only mildly interested. Ajay and the Lullas go back a long way. They had worked with his most trusted lieutenant More >

Salman Khan’s Dabangg 2 valued at 180 crore

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Most territories already sold, while some key territories have been kept with Salman’s family

Meena Iyer and Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; December 2, 2012)

 

Salman Khan’s Dabangg 2 is valued at 180 crore. Bollywood trade pundits are still reeling under the prices this film is being marked at, per territory. Eros International hold the overseas and home video rights, while a general entertainment channel has paid a whopping 45 crore for the satellite rights. The lion’s share of the territories — Mumbai, Delhi-UP, East Punjab, CP-CI and Rajasthan — are with Salim Khan and he has several sub-distributors queuing up. Trade consultant Amod Mehra says, “This is the highest valuation for a Bollywood film till date. Obviously, it is the Salman Khan factor, the success of the earlier Dabangg, the rise in satellite prices and the increased number of cinema halls playing Hindi films across the globe, that gives the sequel an edge.”

Also Salman’s last release Ek Tha Tiger did business of approximately 187 crore. So, obviously, this valuation seems to make business sense.

Trade sources also point out that deals that were sealed six to eight months ago, were comparatively under-valued because there was a satellite slump earlier. So if you check out the prices at which Shah Rukh Khan’s Chennai Express and Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish 3 were sold around that time, you will see that their figures are lower when compared to that of Salman’s Dabangg 2.

Talaash and Khiladi 786 may fight for shows from Dec 7?

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2012)

 

Three weeks after Ajay Devgn and Aditya Chopra battled it out for theatres for their respective films; Son of Sardaar and Jab Tak Hai Jaan, trade sources predict that a similar fight may ensue between Talaash and Khiladi 786, with both asking for an equal number of shows in single screens and multiplexes for the week starting December 7.

Talaash is the solo release on November 30, while Khiladi 786 releases solo on December 7. As of today, both films have approximately 2,200 screens across India in the first week. So there is no issue in the first week. However, in the second week, things stand to change.

According to a trade source, “The makers of Talaash are reportedly asking the exhibitors to allow them to continue a specified amount of shows in week two also. At least three distributors from across India have confirmed that the Talaash agreement covers two weeks and that Talaash wants as much prominence in the second week as it is getting in the release week. This could take away shows from Khiladi 786 whose release coincides with Talaash’s second week.”

Sunil Lulla, MD, Eros International who is distributing Khiladi 786, says, “I’m confident we will get around 2,300 odd screens.”

Meanwhile, the Talaash team maintains that there is immense pressure from exhibitors asking them for more theatres. Further, their distribution strategy is in place and they’re sticking to it. All this is true for the first week. But what More >

Yash Chopra’s demise: Industry pressurises Ajay to postpone SOS release

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6 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The ball is not in Ajay’s court because there are two film corporations involved

Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; October 26, 2012)

 

Yash Chopra’s sudden demise (on October 21) has put some Bollywood A-listers in a quandary. A minimum of 500 crore could be at stake, because some of Yashji’s well-wishers want some films to be postponed as a mark of respect to the departed industry doyen. Sources inform us that phone calls have gone to Ajay Devgn, asking him to postpone Son Of Sardaar. It is releasing on November 13, alongside the late filmmaker’s Shah Rukh Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer.

Ajay, however, is not in a position to comply with this request, because the film is being co-produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, while Eros International is its worldwide distributor. Both companies have shareholders to answer to.

One hears from sources close to Ajay that the actor is quite shaken by Yashji’s death. Though he has not worked with the veteran, his wife Kajol is very close to Aditya Chopra, having done Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Fanaa with Yashji’s company. Ajay apparently did try to talk to the two film corporations representatives asking what would be the best way forward.

Vikram Malhotra of Viacom18 Motion Pictures, said, “The Indian film industry has lost one of its leading lights. Yash Chopra was a pioneering, path-breaking and trendsetting filmmaker on whose films, a nation grew up. We are deeply grieved at this loss to our fraternity. Among various things that the industry More >

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