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BIG BUYS WELCOME HOME VIDEO

By Businessofcinema.com Team- 12 January 2008, 11:44 PM

MUMBAI: The home video rights of Studio 18-distributed Welcome have been acquired by BIG Home Entertainment. Sources inform Businessofcinema.com that the deal has been struck for an astronomical amount of Rs 35 million (Rs 3.5 crores). This makes it the highest ever deal on home video for any movie.

Studio 18 associative vice president home entertainment and music Sajjad Chunawala refused to confirm the amount, but says, "Yes, the deal between Studio 18 and BIG for Welcome home video rights is the highest ever in the home video business."

When contacted by Businessofcinema.com, BIG Music and Home Entertainment CEO Kulmeet Makkar refused to comment on the same.

Om Shanti Om, which was the highest grosser for 2007, is said to have been picked up by Eros for Rs 30 million (Rs 3 crores). While Welcome is second to Om Shanti Om in India's theatrical collections, it has surpassed Om Shanti Om in its home video price.

VCDs and DVDs of the movie will be released by 15 February.

AKKI AND SRK ON A DREAM RUN

Akshay Kumar and Shahrukh Khan are on a dream run at the boxoffice. Both actors are giving consecutive outright hits like very few before them.

Akshay Kumar is on five consecutive outright hits with Bhagam Bhag, Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Welcome.

Shahrukh Khan has a run of four consecutive outright winners starting with Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and then followed by Don, Chak De India and Om Shanti Om.
The star they trail is Rajendra Kumar who gave a record six consecutive hits starting in late 1963 till 1966. The films were Mere Mehboob, Zindagi, Sangam, Aaye Milan Ki Bela, Arzoo and Suraj. Both Akshay and Shahrukh have chances of matching this record or even amazingly surpassing this 40 year old record.

Akshay has Tashan and Singh Is King as his next releases while Shahrukh Khan will most likely star in untitled ventures from Dharma Productions and Yashraj Films.

http://www.boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&artic leid=53&nCat=news

AKSHAY - BACK IN ACTION



Akshay Kumar is back doing what he does best. The actor is playing a gritty NRI stunt man in his next, Kambakht Ishq. Apparently, the actor is devoting extra hours to weight training at the gym as part of his preparation. He heads to Los Angeles this April with leading lady Kareena Kapoor and the rest of the crew, where the entire film will be shot in a start-to-finish schedule at various Hollywood studios.

The story goes that the actor, who has been playing comic roles lately, is urging producer and director friends to get him more action-oriented roles. Akshay, who was a martial arts instructor in his early days, rose to fame with his Khiladi series. In an attempt to change his 'stubborn action-hero' image, he took up a few romantic and comic roles. Now, he will be seen doing some muscle-rippling acts in Kambakht Ishq, which will be directed by Sabir Khan.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who left for Los Angeles early this morning, intends to rope in an international physical instructor and stunt master for the actor. He says, "I've short- listed a few action masters who will train Akshay. I hope to make a decision during my trip."

With Hollywood as a backdrop, the film revolves around an NRI stunt man (Akshay) who falls for a sought-after Indian model and popular cover girl (Kareena).

http://www.mumbaimirror.com

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW



Akshay Kumar is at the top and no questions asked. He has reportedly signed a three-film contract with a company for the heart-stopping figure of Rs. 41 crores. His looks are smashing, he is versatile to slip into action, suspense, comedy, drama, thrills, the works like no actor among his peers can. And that is a fact. But what clinches his stakes in this competitive market is the economic viability of his films. He has been delivering thumping hits without a break with producers and financiers laughing all the way to the bank. In this rat-race where no one spares even Shahrukh Khan for a flop, Akshay Kumar has performed a hat-trick of hits in a continuous series - NAMASTEY LONDON, HEYY BABYY and BHOOL BHULAIYAN. His film WELCOME has just released and is still counting the gate money... Shoma A Chatterji pins him down for a conversation

Are you happy with the string of successes over the past two years?

Absolutely. It is always great to know that the audience has put both its money and its faith on a film I have chosen to work in. As I have never wearied of repeating - hits and misses always matter and a good Friday keeps the home fires going.

Tell us something about your new film MADE IN CHINA, directed by Nikhil Advani.

It marks the Hindi film debut of Warner Bros and that is exciting enough for me. In the film, my role is that of a lowly Mumbai cook who is mistaken for a martial arts hero - close to my life story because I began as a cook in Bangkok and became a martial arts expert. I have Deepika Padukone opposite me. The film will give me a platform to showcase my expertise in Parkour - a physical activity that focuses on efficient movement of the body in getting across obstacles in one's path. I first did this in a Thums Up ad last year. I am really excited about action flicks because I have returned to action after a long time.

But you had almost given up action, hadn't you?

That's right. But that is mainly because people thought I could do only action till I did YEH DILLAGI and DHADKAN with dramatic roles followed by a comedy like HERA PHERI. It is like reinventing yourself each time. That is precisely what the audience is looking for. It wants you to keep offering interesting and varied stuff, which can only happen with a bit of planning and a lot of hard work. I want to be someone to look up to and make oneself believe that - if he can do it, so can I.



Did it ever occur to you to become a sportsman?

To be very frank, not really. I grew up in a large family in Delhi's Chandni Chowk and though I excelled in sports in school, I always wanted to be an actor. I am lucky to have been able to convert some of my dreams to reality. It was difficult. After doing my stint in Bangkok, I did several things before getting a break as a model. My first film SAUGANDH (1991) failed miserably. But I did not have to wait very long because the very next year, KHILADI was a big hit and set the chain of Khiladi films one after another.

Your portfolio is spilling over with some exciting films lined up this year.

I recently completed a grueling schedule with Saif Ali Khan for Yashraj Films' TASHAN. We then flew away to the Australian Gold Coast to shoot for Vipul Shah's home production SINGH IS KING being directed by Anees Bazmee. This month, we are about to begin the shoot for MADE IN CHINA. Then there is Sajid Nadiadwala's KAMBAKHT ISHQ, Nagesh Kukunoor's EIGHT BY TEN, Feroz Nadiadwala's INTERNATIONAL HERA PHERI with Priyadarshan, one David Dhawan film and one more Yashraj film directed by Shaad Ali.

They say you have been insisting on casting Katrina Kaif with every film. Is this true?

This is news to me. I am more amused than angry. How then do you explain the fact that almost all my under-production films do not feature Katrina at all? I am working with different actresses in these films. So, how these rumours have got to you God alone knows. Just because we happened to act together in several films and all of them were hits, does not mean that I will become insecure about acting with other actresses.

When and how do you ever relax if at all you do?

I love spending time with my family. Twinkle and I have a very good comfort level as she has worked in the industry as well. So we understand each other well. I began to understand what fatherhood is all about only after Aarav was born. I also work out in my Parkour gym. That gives me the time and space to introspect, reflect on how it is going, what needs to be done and what needs to be changed. I keep out of discussions that debate on whether I am counted with other superstars and all that stuff. It takes you away from focusing on more necessary things like finding out ways that will not bore my audience.


- Shoma A. Chatterji, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network

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By me 😉


Akshay Kumar Signature

WOWWOWOWWWWOOWOWOWWOOWOWOWOOWWO wer'd u get that awesome pic from yaar????really wow!!fantabulous! 👏 👏 👏

Helloooo Guys! 🤗🤗 Okay, okay you can scream at me all you want for being inactiveee here. I knoww.. i knoww I've just been sooo busyy.. ugh! How's everyone though? 😳 I saw "Welcome" last Fridayyy.. it was theee bestt 😃 😃

hey Shelly 🤗 🤗

WELCOME TO SURPASS OSO'S COLLECTIONS


Friday, January 18, 2008 - BO Report

The race for 2007 top grosser of India has had a surprising finish as cumulative figures of Welcome are fast catching up to the totals of previous top grosser Om Shanti Om [Shahrukh Khan & newcomer Deepika Padukone].

In fact outside of Mumbai & Delhi, Welcome has already surpassed the combined totals of Om Shanti Om in most of India. In centers like Nagpur, Kota, Indore, Ajmer, Agra, Dehradun the collection totals are a good 20-25% over OSO's cumulative totals.

If it holds on without disappearing in the next 2 weeks, Akshay Kumar's Welcome will have surpassed Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om to pipe the top grossing film across India in the year 2007, making it the first time in Akshay Kumar's career that has happened.

KUNAL LOOKING FORWARD TO KAMBAKHT ISHQ
IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 19, 2008]



Kunal Kapoor did become an overnight sensation with the success of Rang De Basanti and the actor did feature in a couple of big banner films this year. Unfortunately, Kunal's run at the box office has been quite a misery.
First came Milan Luthria's Hat Trick –a film that had various stories revolving around the cricket world cup. Though the film carried all the buzz of cricket and an assemble star cast, it didn't do well at the box office.
Then came Kunal's films under the prestigious Yash Raj banner. Pradeep Sarkar's Laaga Chunnari Mein Daag had all the elements that called for a hit, be it the likes of Abhishek Bachchan , Rani Mukherjee , Jaya Bachchan , Konkona Sen ; music by Shantanu Moitra and you name it , they had it all. But the movie didn't fare too well at the box office.
Reports suggest that the clash with Priyadarshan's Bhool Bhulaiya is what cost them.
Next in line was Aaja Nachle which was more of a Madhuri Dixit film with not much scope for Kunal or Konkona. The Madhuri comeback vehicle bombed at the box office and even the songs couldn't console collections.
Finally, Kunal has his eyes set on Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakth Ishq which is one of the most talked about films of 2008 for it also stars Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor.
Let's hope that Kunal makes his presence in this love story and may he find success this year.

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/36000.html

CHANDIGARH LUCKY FOR ME : AKSHAY
Aneesha Sareen-Tribune News Service-


Actor Akshay Kumar in a still from "Singh is Kinng".

Chandigarh, January 15

The year 2007 has especially been great for this versatile actor who has been shooting non-stop around the city beautiful for over eight days now.

With three of his movies, "Namastey London", "Hey Baby" and "Bhool Bhulaiya", hitting the jackpot last year and this year's "Welcome", too, topping the charts, he ardently hopes to repeat the success string this year too.

"Last time I came to Chandigarh for the shooting of 'Namastey London' and the film was a success. The city is perhaps lucky for me," beams Akshay Kumar as he talks to The Tribune off the sets during the shooting of "Singh is Kinng".

Flaunting a blue turban, a multi-coloured bright kurta and a white salwar, wearing a Punjabi jutti for the shot, the actor seemed to be enjoying every moment of his Sikh look in the movie, and he speaks fluent Punjabi too. "The script demands this get up and I am living up to it," he says. His movie, costarring Neha Dhupia and Katrina Kaif, has generated enough curiosity, but the actor prefers to remain silent when asked about the theme. "That will leak out the secret, wait for August for the film's release," he says, adding that they will be shooting here for a day more.

So, has our action hero, who has always been known for his great stunts, shifted to the comedy arena altogether? "No, not at all," he says. "Its not comedy, its entertainment," he asserts. "The movies I have done cannot be called complete comedy ones. These are a blend of emotion, drama and deal with the day-to-day problems of life."

His fans will get to see a lot of action from him this year and of course comedy too, he adds.

Immensely bowled over by Chandigarh's planning and infrastructure, Akshay calls it the best city in the country. "The city beautiful has indeed lived up to its name," he says. "Its good to see so many rules and regulations being adhered to. The people wear helmets, there is so much cleanliness and there are interesting campaigns like smoke-free to go by," he says, adding that he visited Rose Garden during his stay here.

His coming projects, "Chandni Chowk to China", "Tashan" and "Singh is Kinng" will be released this year, he says. An altogether different venture by Akshay will also be seen in a movie titled "8 by 10" being directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. "The name itself sounds interesting and the script struck me for it's very different from the usual stuff. The role will satisfy all those fans, who have been yearning to see me in a unique role," he says. The movie will be a psychological thriller.

Its been 18 years into the film industry for this actor who has made it the tough way. With no film background, the going was definitely not easy and Akshay attributes it to his fans, who have always been honest and stayed with him always. "All these years have been fruitful and I owe it to them. There have been trying times, but that's the only way to success" he adds.

A doting father to a five-year-old, its Tom of "Tom and Jerry" that is his son's favourite actor, he says in a lighter mood. "I do take time out for him," he signs off.

tribune.com