Virgin Produced India Unveils First Bollywood Coproduction With Anil K

Virgin Produced India has announced its first Bollywood project in partnership with actor-producer Anil Kapoor and his producer daughter Rhea Kapoor.

The currently untitled comedy - which will be coproduced by the actor's banner Anil Kapoor Film Company - marks the directorial debut of Karan Boolani and revolves around teenagers who meet during their freshmen year at an American university.

Boolani's earlier credits include short film La Fourchette and documentary That Healing Feeling.The project also features Oscar winning composer A. R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours).

"With the film, we look forward to taking Virgin Produced's unique and successful business model, expanding it here in Bollywood and building a significant partnership that will cater to the youth through a film that will truly be on par with global standards," Kapoor said in a statement.

"We are delighted to join forces with Anil and Rhea on the film and look forward to a long and productive relationship," added Virgin Produced India partner Jas Mann. "They are as passionate and dedicated to filmmaking as we are."

Among its film projects, Kapoor's banner also produced the Indian adaptation of Fox's 24 series which aired on Viacom18 India's Colors channel. As one of India's well-known stars, Kapoor has also featured in films such as Slumdog Millionaire and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. In addition to co-starring with Kiefer Sutherland in the season finale of 24, Kapoor also played the Indian Jack Bauer in the show's local adaptation.

Virgin Produced India was launched in November 2013 as a partnership between Sir Richard Branson's LA-based Virgin Produced and India's Cinema Capital Venture Fund. VPI's strategy is to develop, produce and distribute Bollywood films in addition to remaking Hollywood content for Indian audiences. The company recently distributed Divergent: Insurgent in India.

Cinema Capital India earlier produced and distributed Bollywood hits such as 2012's Dabangg 2and Krrish 3 in 2013. CCI managing director Samir Gupta will also serve as a producer on the Anil Kapoor coproduction.

Launched in 2010, Virgin Produced is the film and television development, packaging and production arm of Branson's Virgin Group. Some of its productions include Limitless, Machine Gun Preacher, Immortals and biopic Jobs, among others.

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