Disney Brand Success
Disney's ABCD 2, which released on June 19 has rocked the box office with its massive opening. The film is the first home grown Disney franchise in the true sense. As not only did the film have a dance based reality show titled Naach launched around it, the Disney brand was also extended towards merchandise around the film and an ABCD 2 game too.
The 3D dance extravaganza was appreciated by the youth, kids and family audience and was a fun, family film which grossed the highest day one for any Hindi film this year. It also recorded the highest weekend collections for any Hindi movie as well as was Varun Dhawan's highest opening film. The movie is still experiencing a healthy run across cinemas in the country and is racing towards completing a lucrative lifetime too!
Believe us, Disney brand will be surprising all the audiences next with Jagga Jasoos, Mohenjo Daro and Dangal...and we hear there are many more being developed. Here's to the BRAND that does the right marketing and distribution!
Bazmee Turns Producer
Writer -director Anees Bazmee has directed more than a dozen films and it was just a matter of time before he ventured into production. But, no, he will not produce his own directorial films; instead he plans to give new talents a chance and produce their films. A source close to the director reveals, "Anees Bazmee has signed Bilal Khan to direct a comedy, for which he has signed Sharman Joshi for the lead role. They are looking for a new face to cast opposite the actor. The film will start rolling by the end of this year."
The director did not deny the news but played safe. "It's too early to talk about the project as we have just started the talks. But if the script turns out to be great, I will surely produce it," he said.
Dabangg 3 On Eid 2017
Eid is that time of the year when Salman Khan's fans look forward to his films. And the actor has never let them down. Last year, it was Kick, which went on to become a blockbuster. This year, it's Bajrangi Bhaijaan, where Khan will be seen in a completely new avatar. The trailer has caught on really well and there's no doubt that this Eid, Salman Khan will rewrite box-office history.
That's not all. Yash Raj Films recently announced that their next film, Sultanfeaturing Salman Khan will release on Eid 2016. And, get this. Yes, Arbaaz Khan's Dabangg 3 will release on Eid 2017. We've heard that the basic idea has been locked and Arbaaz will direct the film. With all three Eid slots booked by Salman, his fans have a hat trick in store.
Saket Chaudhary's Next
Saket Chaudhary made his debut as director in 2006 with Pyaar Ke Side Effects. Then he made a comeback in 2014 with a sequel to his film, Shaadi Ke Side Effects. The director was signed by Illuminati Films to direct but now we hear he will direct a film for Dinesh Vijan under his banner Maddock Films. The makers are currently looking for a fresh pairing to cast in their film.
John Abraham To Co-Produce
John Abraham has his hands full. The actor will have a few back-to-back releases like Welcome Back (September 4) andRocky Handsome (October 2), and he is shooting for Hera Pheri 3 before he also starts Dishoom, followed by Force 2.
Given his chock full calendar, it's a miracle he finds the time to breathe but it looks like he can't get enough. Abraham is also looking for fresh scripts to produce. When Vipul Shah approached him with Force 2, he was bowled over by the idea and decided to not only feature in the film but co-produce it under his JA Entertainment banner. The film starts rolling in the first week of August.
Madari Postponed
Nishikant Kamat is busy with the post-production of Drishyam, which releases on July 31 but after that film, the director will soon have another release, Rocky Handsome, on October 2. The Kamat was making another film titled called Madari which was to release this year but he has asked his makers to postpone it to next year. Kamath told Box Office India, "Three releases in six months will be too much and that's why we have decided to release Madari early next year. It becomes too much when a director has three back-to-back releases, that too in just six months." Madari toplines Irrfan and Jimmy Sheirgill.
Nawazuddin In Sultan
It seems like Nawazuddin Siddiqui has become a favourite of Salman Khan. After playing a villain in Kick, the actor will be seen in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Now we hear that Yash Raj Films has signed Siddiqui for Sultan, where he will don the role of a commentator. It appears, he will be playing a character never seen before. We also hear that Siddiqui has started meeting YRF head honchos to prepare for his roles.
Guess Who?
A new honcho was recently appointed at this film production house and, understandably, the senior staff were all ears when the first group meeting took place, where the new boss was to unveil his grand vision for the company.
The film business, the new chief explained, was a business of marketing beauty' - audiences pay good money at the ticket counter to see beautiful people in beautiful visuals. Well, this may not exactly be a life-altering revelation but it isn't entirely untrue. So the staff nodded in approval and someone said that henceforth, they should green-light only films that are glossily shot and feature successful, good-looking lead actors.
The person who suggested this, as well as the others present at the meeting, were in for a huge surprise when the bossman retorted that he wasn't referring to actors; he was talking about the staff and consultants the company worked with! We need to hire good-looking people (read: women) as staff and consultants. If we don't see beauty, how can we create beauty?' the head honcho asserted.
Last heard, half the people in the production house were booked for facials and other beautifying treatments, while the other half were updating their resumes!
Guess Who?
Offence, it is said, is the best form of defence, and that's what seems to be playing out in this so-called clash' of two superstar films scheduled for release on the same date next year.
On the face of it, the obvious victim is the film that had announced its release date first and one would feel that with the much-coveted date taken, the production house behind the second film should have refrained from choosing the same date. However, sources tell us, the truth is not as simple as that.
Apparently, much before the first film made its announcement, the producers of both films had already had a phone conversation wherein, among other things, the likely release dates of their major films was also discussed. The head honcho at the production house behind the second film shared in confidence that he was looking to block the big date but wasn't going to announce the same till the time was right. The big producer (and he is as big as they get!) asked the partner-producer of the first film whether they had locked their date and was told that no decision had been taken yet. That being so, the solo producer went ahead with planning his production so as to be ready by the earmarked date.
Imagine the producer's surprise, therefore, when subsequently, the other production house publicly announced the very release date that had been discussed during their phone call. Hurt aside, cast and crew dates as also shooting schedules had already been locked and so this producer decided to stick to his guns and also announced the same date recently.
That set the cat among the pigeons and the trade is agog with various theories about what the hidden agendas are. On their part, the production house that announced the date first has quickly assumed the role of martyr and is making hurt noises about how the spirit of fraternity and cooperation is dead in the industry. Obviously, there is no mention of the phone call that preceded their announcement! Worse, some are also trying to present this as a personal battle between the two superstars in the respective films when neither of them was involved in the discussions nor the decisions, given that their primary role is to perform and both films have experienced producers backing them.
Of course, with more than a year to go for the contentious release date, one would assume that the last has not been heard on this kissa clash ka. Hmmm...given all this drama, intrigue and action, maybe some enterprising producer can make a film on these behind-the-scenes twists and turns... and also release this third film on the same date!
Anupamaa
Naagin 7
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