Reliance Big Entertainment, Bachchan firm join hands

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) Anil Ambani's Reliance Big Entertainment (RBE) is planning to venture into Bollywood in a big way and has joined hands with superstar Amitabh Bachchans's AB Corp.

The company, keeping all other competitors at bay, has planned an ambitious slate of 100 movies to be made by different directors over a period of time.

'We already have a slate of 70 films and are planning to up it to 100 which will be made by different directors,' a senior RBE official told IANS Wednesday evening, without mentioning the time frame.

The company has already signed a joint venture with AB Corp for film production, television series, reality shows, internet and mobile content besides live shows.

'Six directors have already been signed for the joint venture,' said the official.

As far as number of movies are concerned, he said: 'It all depends on the budget and amount of money spent on each movie. We cannot come to a conclusion at this stage.'

Declining to divulge the details about the finance involved in these projects he said the company would disclose them at an appropriate time.

Earlier in the day, AB Corp CEO P. Ramesh said: 'We have entered into a deal in which we will be producing films with RBE.'

Bollywood director Rohan Sippy, who has made films like 'Bluff Master' and 'Kuchh Naa Kaho' with Abhishek Bachchan, will again be working with the junior Bachchan, according to the deal.

Amitabh Bachchan will work with Sujoy Ghosh, who is making the much hyped movie 'Alladin' with him. Chandraprakash Dwivedi of the 'Chanakya' fame will also direct Big B in his ambitious project.

Finally, the father-son duo will be seen in adman R. Balakrishna's project. The director had worked with him in the critically acclaimed movie 'Cheeni Kum'.

Asked about the presence of Amitabh Bachchan in other films, Ramesh said: 'It will depend on the demand of the script.'

RBE said the joint venture is in line with its strategy to tie up with leading Indian and international creative talent for transforming itself into a global media and entertainment company.

RBE officials said Amitabh Bachchan is one of most creative persons in Bollywood. His creative genius and business acumen of Reliance will take entertainment to a different level, they added.