Clash Of The Titans
The news about Excel Entertainment's Raees featuring Shah Rukh Khan, and Yash Raj Films' Sultan featuring Salman Khan clashing on Eid next year is the talk of the film trade these days. And why not? When two biggies clash with each other, it's bound to be BIG news.
Interestingly, this year, we will be witnessing some interesting clashes: Come July 31 and we will see Ajay Devgn's family thriller Drishyam clashing with Riteish Deshmukh-Pulkit Samrat's comedy film Bangistan. Come August 21 and Abhishek Bachchan's family entertainer All Is Well might clash with Madhur Bhandarkar's next Calendar Girls, based on the real lives of calendar girls. Come September 4, Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty's debut film Hero will be clashing withWelcome Back, the sequel to the hit film Welcome, starring John Abraham, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar in the lead. The most interesting thing about this clash is that both films are backed by the same corporate house, Eros International.
Two sequels that are polar opposites of each other, like Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, an adult comedy, and Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, a youth comedy, will be clashing on September 11. October 2 will see not two but four films with different genres releasing together - Wazir, Rocky Handsome, Talwar and Singh Is Bliing. Diwali, that time of the year which is booked usually a year in advance, will see one big clash that is, Sooraj Barjatya-Salman Khan's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo releasing alongside Sunny Deol's Ghayal - Once Again, a sequel to the '90s superhit Ghayal. And during Christmas, we will see Rohit Shetty-Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale clashing with Sanjay Leela Bhansali-Ranveer Singh's Bajirao Mastani. Phew!!!
Mangat Signs Dhir
Ashwni Dhir, the man behind superhit films like Son Of Sardaar andAtithi Tum Kab Jaoge?, has been signed by Kumar Mangat's production house Panorama Studios. The makers are currently finalising a script and will soon start rolling.
The production house, which is planning to expand the number of films they produce each year, is in talks with many other directors too. But, right now, they want to do a film with Dhir. Abhishek Pathak of Panorama Studios confirms, "Yes, we have signed Ashwni Dhir but it is too early to talk about the film."
No More Villain, Please
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who has become the talk of the town, is taking his own sweet time to select films. The actor is being bombarded with films from not only new directors but even big production houses who want to bank on the actor. Recently, we heard that Vijay Krishna Acharya, aka Victor, who is making his next with Yash Raj Films, had approached Siddiqui to play the main villain.
Now no one turns down an offer from Yash Raj Films but Siddiqui did. Reason: After Kick, he has been inundated with offers to play the negative lead and he doesn't want to get typecast.
PS: We're told that in all probability, Hrithik Roshan will play leading man in this film.
Raghavan To Start His Next
After the massive success of Badlapur, Sriram Raghavan decided to start working on his next film with Tips Industries. The film was to start rolling in April but Raghavan took his own time to finish the script. It's a thriller and the makers are currently in talks with some of the young stars. We also hear that they are planning to shoot the film in Goa and Pondicherry and will wrap it in three months.
Rai To Produce Horror?
After the success of Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Aanand L Rai is taking his own sweet time to decide what to direct next. Currently he is planning to expand his production house Colour Yellow. We hear that Rai, who believes in telling stories that are rooted, wants to try all kinds of genres when it comes to producing films. Yes, the filmmaker has signed Gaurav Sinha, who has approached him with a horror story. No, the director doesn't want to direct a horror film himself but is happy to produce it.
It's Eros International Now
Raj Kumar Gupta made his debut as a director with Aamir, which was backed by UTV Motion Pictures, after which he did two more films with the production house - No One Killed Jessica and Ghanchakkar. Now the director, who is making his next film Section 84 starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, will be produced by Eros International. Once Khan finishes with the promotions of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, she will juggle between R Balki's next with Arjun Kapoor and Gupta's Section 84.
Gupta confirms this, saying, "Yes, my film will be produced by Eros International and we will start shooting next month. We are currently working on the pre-production."
Sneha To Direct Who?
Tips Industries Ramesh Taurani's daughter Sneha will soon make her debut as a director. And the father is leaving no stone unturned to make the film grand. It's a new-age rom-com. Initially, we were told that they were keen on signing Ranbir Kapoor but he had date issues. Lately, we heard they had approached Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan, who is becoming a favourite among Indian filmmakers, to play the lead. But Khan is busy with Dharma Productions' Kapoor And Sons and he also has a few more films in his kitty. So he too seems to have rejected the offer politely citing date issues.
Taurani says, "No that's not true. We have spoken to a big actor and he liked the script. We will make an announcement once he signs on the dotted line."
Guess Who?
There used to be a time when a producer would make a film and depend on corporate houses to promote, market and distribute it. Every filmmaker believed they had achieved their goal if they were able to hand it over to a corporate house.
Well, the story is still the same, barring this one particular corporate house. No filmmaker wants the marketing head of this corporate house to be actively involved in marketing and promoting their films.
Although they are more than happy to work with this corporate house, they don't want to involve the marketing head of the company. We've seen this in the past and will probably see it in future too, that although the film has been given to this corporate house, the producer has hired a marketing genius and is promoting it on their own minus the marketing head of this corporate house. Hmm.
Current Affairs
4