'Neerja' made in Rs.21 crore budget

In the age of big budget films, "Neerja", a biopic starrer has been made in Rs.21 crore, including marketing costs. The producer of the forthcoming film is glad that things "turned out pretty well" without compromising on the quality of the content.

The Ram Madhvani-directorial features Sonam as Neerja Bhanot, a Pan Am chief purser who was gunned down by terrorists when Flight 73 was hijacked to Karachi in 1986. She saved a number of lives but lost her own.

"At a cost of Rs.21 crore, inclusive of marketing and distribution, we have been able to make 'Neerja' as we wanted to, without compromising on the treatment of the film and covering all the facts and minute details of the historic event.

"It is good to know that things have turned out pretty well for us till now and all the content put out by us has been well received," Atul Kasbekar, who has produced the film under his banner Bling Unplugged, said in a statement.

"Neerja", presented by Fox Star Studios, is all set to release on February 19.