Posts tagged overseas

Jimmy challenges Deols; bags biggest ever deal

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Joginder Tuteja, February 5, 2011 – 15:13 IST

Is Jimmy Sheirgill turning out to be the closest threat that Deols have in their own home ground, Punjab and other territories where their films more often than not do well? Well, if the battle of supremacy when it comes to bagging the biggest deals of their respective films in Punjabi domain is concerned, it is well turning out to be the case.

The latest development is that overseas rights (excluding UK) of Jimmy’s next outing Dharti, a Punjabi-Hindi bilingual, has been sold for a handsome amount of 1 million Australian dollars to Dreamworld Entertainment, Australia. There are bids in UK (a hot territory) for the rights to be sold to the best buyer. Meanwhile the producers have retained rights in India and would be distributing films themselves here.

“There are multiple reasons behind such big money coming into picture”, says a trade source, “Jimmy is a numero uno superstar in Punjabi films today after the all time blockbuster success of his last release Mel Karade Rabba (which is busy fetching awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best film and Best Music already). It went on to even smash the records of Sunny Deol’s Gadar – Ek Prem Katha at number of places in Punjab. In overseas too it was a huge success, especially in Australia, UK and USA.”

Prior to that, Jimmy has enjoyed worldwide blockbusters in Tera Mera Ki Rishta and Munde UK De. For the audience who either swore by Deol films all this while or were More >

SRK has major role in Student Of The Year?

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in ,

Not only will King Khan co-produce Karan Johar’s next Student Of The Year,he will also play a major role in the film

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 26, 2011)

In our report dated November 29, 2010 on Karan Johar launching Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter in his next film, we told you that SRK was likely to play a cameo in the film. Not only will SRK co-produce KJo’s film Student Of The Year, he will also play a significant role in the film. In fact, Karan, who is taking a monthlong break to go overseas and finish the script of this film, plans to work on SRK’s character.

So all rumours about KJo working without his best friend Shah Rukh Khan for the first time in his next directorial, can now safely be put to rest.

Our source said, “Rumours about SRK acting in KJo’s next had been doing the rounds but Karan’s constant silence about the film started giving people the impression that SRK was only planning to produce the film. But actually, both SRK and Karan are co-producing the film, which will launch newcomers Varun Dhawan, Siddarth Malhotra and Aaliya Bhatt. SRK will play the role of one of the professors in the college. The role will not be limited to a cameo; it will be full-fledged one.”

Apparently, a perfect outline of Shah Rukh’s character in the film will only be ready by the time KJo returns from his month-long trip. We sent a text message to Karan but he chose not to reply.

BT presents the record breakers of Bollywood

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; January 4, 2011)

Twenty years after they made their debut, the three Khans — Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman respectively — continue to dominate the marquee. As Ajay Devgn rightly put it, “A superstar is only worth the numbers he generates.’’

While Salman (Dabangg), Aamir (3 Idiots, Ghajini) and SRK (MNIK, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi) are still considered the best bets in showbiz, Ajay with two record holders (Golmaal 3, Rajneeti), Akshay Kumar with three (Tees Maar Khan, Housefull, Singh is Kingg), Saif Ali Khan with one (Love Aaj Kal) and Ranbir Kapoor with one (Raajneeti) are superstars who are very much in demand.

The advantage SRK and Aamir have over the rest of the star-pack is that both of them are very big in the overseas market. Most of SRK’s movies are huge grossers abroad, while Aamir has the 3 Idiots record to brag about.

The names against the figures say it all. Figures are very close approximations. Interestingly, all box office figures in Bollywood are close approximations because there is no foolproof tracking system as yet. While multiplexes offer some amount of transparency, single screen collections especially from the smaller towns are just approximations. Also, like no two doctors agree on the same medical advice, no two trade pundits will agree on the figures.

Trade guru Taran Adarsh points out that, “Constant arguments on why Dabangg that has had the highest weekend figures and More >

Only those with vested interests are challenging TMK success-UTV

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Joginder Tuteja, December 31, 2010 – 14:16 IST

UTV Motion Pictures has confirmed that they are in the profit making zone for their recent release Tees Maar Khan. Though certain sections of industry as well as trade didn’t quite acknowledge the terrific start of the film and were only way too pleased to label the film as a ‘barely coverage’ affair or even a ‘flop’ as weekdays progressed, an official confirmation from UTV with facts and figures intact pretty much tell a different tale.

Though the film didn’t quite turn out to be the festive extravaganza that it was touted to be, it is way beyond the claims of being a loosing preposition and has actually turned out to be a profitable venture for its investors.

“Well, all I can say is that only those with some vested interests could be challenging the success of Tees Maar Khan“, says Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO UTV Motion Pictures, “The film has been a profitable venture for us.”

There are different stories floating around in the trade though with murmurs of the production house actually loosing money here.

“Okay, let’s do the maths here”, Siddharth explains the equation, “The entire cost of acquisition for Tees Maar Khan was 50 crores. We further spent 10 crores the print and publicity worldwide. This makes the total cost as 60 crores. Now we have already recovered 30 crores from satellite and music rights. Balance 30 crores has to be recovered from India box office collections, overseas collections, home video More >

My Name Is Khan is Bollywood’s first global blockbuster

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; December 27, 2010)

As 2010 draws to an end, Karan Johar — whose February release My Name Is Khan has been Bollywood’s first global blockbuster, is sitting op top of the world and says proudly, “I am overwhelmed, the film was made by Dharma Productions with a global perspective to connect with audiences in India and overseas in a way that no film has ever done before. And it has exceeded expectations and broken box office records in most markets.”

Of this, there is no doubt; not after MNIK released in 70 countries over nine months and across 2,600 screens, to also become the first Indian film to make inroads in China and Italy. In China, its theatrical release in over 350 screens in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dalian since its launch on November 30, is a landmark achievement. And Shah Rukh Khan as Rizwan Khan – a man affected by Asperger’s syndrome, made his way into the hearts of the Chinese.

Of Fox Star Studios’ phased distribution strategy, its CEO Vijay Singh explains, “This is in unique contrast to existing Bollywood practices where the theatrical life of a film is limited to four weeks. MNIK has opened many new territories for Bollywood. This success would not have been possible without the amazing connect of global audiences with SRK and Karan, coupled with our worldwide distribution strength.”

It is true, MNIK is the first Bollywood film to have a theatrical release in Egypt, More >

Priyanka blasts Kareena

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bollywood babes in cat fight

Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; December 8, 2010)

Mercifully these two don’t pretend to be friends. Of course, when asked direct questions about each other, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra — who bonded during Aitraaz and fell out over Shahid Kapoor — normally say innocuous things like, “Oh, we have no issues with each other. Blah, blah…”

But the fact remains that they do have very strong issues. And these came to the fore recently when Kareena bared her fangs on Koffee With Karan on Star World and said, “I wonder where Priyanka got her accent from?” Not to be outdone, Priyanka who is coming on the same show shortly with none other than Shahid Kapoor, had people at the shoot in splits when she said, “I want to tell Kareena that I got my accent from the same place where her boyfriend (Saif Ali Khan) got his.” PC reminded show host Karan Johar (and all those who tune in) that she, too, had studied overseas and therefore had access to an accent just like so many others in Bollywood. Of course, having been given the opportunity to take a dig at Bebo, Piggy Chops wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass with just one direct hit. Later, PC made it known that people in the industry didn’t take Kareena too seriously. “I’m flattered that Kareena thinks I am a good actress,” she is said to have remarked. “But otherwise I don’t think people take Bebo too seriously,” is what PC reportedly said. And she hit one More >

Allah Ke Banday stuck for censor issues

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 05, 2010)

It’s a never-ending road for Faruk Kabir, who is struggling to release his film Allah Ke Banday.

At first, it was postponed for three weeks and now it seems that the film may not be released on November 12. The film is stuck at the censorship level.

The censor board has passed the film with four major cuts, which Kabir feels affects the flow of his film. Plus, according to him, incorporating the cuts in his film may delay the film by a week more.

When contacted, Kabir said, “The film has got an ‘A’ certificate with four cuts. I think that the censor is very progressive and the chief Miss Pankaja Thakur was very understanding; she had to go by the rules of the book.

My problem is that the prints are ready and the overseas delivery goes tomorrow and I have to make these major cuts now. Also, as a director, I feel that the flow of the film gets affected with the cuts.

I don’t want it to look like a continuity jerk and it doesn’t work for me. I hope that they reconsider my film. I am fine if they give an ‘A’ certificate to my film.”

MAMI: Stone leads the way on Day 7

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

It was a day that highlighted the importance of the longevity of cinema — how the power of a film stays long after it has “died”

Satyen K Bordoloi (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 28, 2010) Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (standing) introduces Oliver Stone (seated, left) to an audience comprising mostly filmmakers such as Sudhir Mishra (seated, right, leaning forward)

(Pics: Satyen K Bordoloi)

The rolling stone that has gathered no moss in his decades of cinematic career, dominated proceedings on the seventh day of the 12th Mumbai Film Festival, albeit behind closed doors.

The top guns of the Indian film industry got to interact with acclaimed and controversial director Oliver Stone at a round table organised especially for them. And it was very interesting to see them turn students before the master.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra looked as nervous as a student standing before an audience for the first time while introducing him. But his recital of a searing poem by Subramaniyam Bharti moved Stone.

When the sound was not audible in the back, Zoya Akthar, Ayan Banerjee and Chetan Bhagat among others eagerly rushed in to sit on the floor to listen closely to Stone.

There were many tips, many lessons for the veterans as well as the kids of Indian Cinema: Ramesh Sippy, Vishal Bharadwaj, Sudhir Mishra, Kunal Kohli, Santosh Sivan, Bharatbala and a host of other filmmakers and actors.

Yet the strongest learning of them all, if anyone cared to listen, was the fearlessness of

More >

Anjaana Anjaani economics: Eros to book good profits

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

-By Taran Adarsh, October 1, 2010 – 15:50 IST

Eros and producer Sajid Nadiadwala are expected to book good profits with ANJAANA ANJAANI. The economics of the film is as follows:-

Cost of production: Rs. 38 cr. + P & A: Rs. 6 cr. to Rs. 7 cr. Total investment on the project: Rs. 45 cr.

Money recovered:-

Satellite Rights: Rs. 22 cr. Music Rights: Rs. 8 cr. Money received from sale of various territories, other than Mumbai, Delhi-U.P., Punjab, Overseas and Home Video: Rs. 13 cr. Money recovered so far: Rs. 43 cr.

Eros is distributing the film in Mumbai, Delhi-U.P., Punjab and Overseas and the revenue generated from these territories, besides Home Video, will add to the profits of the film. The above chart clearly indicates that at least 50% of the receovery has been from sale of Satellite Rights itself.

BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM

Here’s why Tyrewala is travelling around the world with Rahman

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

So that Jhootha Hi Sahi releases on time, Abbas Tyrewalla is burning the midnight oil with Rahman

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 25, 2010)

A R Rahman might be the toast of the Indian music industry, but Abbas Tyrewalla has had to face the brunt of working with the Academy Award winner.

His film, Jhootha Hi Sahi, will be releasing in a couple of weeks. However Abbas is travelling with Rahman to finish the background score all over the world.

Our source said, “Rahman left for his world tour, which started on the 11th of this month. However, the background score of Abbas’s film, Jhootha Hi Sahi is yet to be completed. So Rahman called Abbas over to Boston, where he was doing a show and then travelling all over.

Rahman finishes his concert and in the night goes to a local recording studio and records the background score for the film. Imagine travelling all over the world and recording a score in bits and pieces? They have already visited around seven cities, which include London, LA, Boston, New York and Vancouver, apart from Mumbai and Chennai, where work on the soundtrack had initially started.”

When contacted, Madhu Mantena, the producer of the film, said, “I don’t think Abbas is complaining at all. I am. He is having a ball travelling all over and working with a world-class talent.

However, for me as a producer, it is touch-and-go as the film is releasing on October 15, and the overseas delivery has to go on the 7th of October. The More >

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