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Tag: Balaji Motion Pictures

  • Balaji Motion Pictures ropes in Sujoy Ghosh

    Balaji Motion Pictures ropes in Sujoy Ghosh

    Balaji Motion Pictures has acquired the Hindi film adaptation rights to the book, The Devotion of Suspect X to be made into a major motion picture.

     

    The Devotion of Suspect X, a novel by Keigo Higashino, is the third in his cult Detective Galileo series and his most acclaimed work so far. The novel won the 6th Honkaku Mystery Grand Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the mystery novels category in Japan.

     

    The English translation of the novel was nominated for the 2012 Edgar Award for Best Novel and the 2012 Barry Award for Best First Novel. More than a jaw-dropping two million copies of the best-selling book have been sold worldwide so far.

     

    Acclaimed director Sujoy Ghosh, whose previous release was the blockbuster Vidya Balan starrer Kahaani, has been signed to direct the feature.

     

    The writing is underway and the cast is still to be finalised. The principal photography is expected to commence in early-2014.

  • Shaadi Ke Side Effects to release on Valentine’s day

    Shaadi Ke Side Effects to release on Valentine’s day

    MUMBAI: It seems Shaadi Ke Side Effects starring Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar is facing a tough time with no free slots available for the film’s release. Initially, the romantic movie was slated to release on 6 December, but now it has been postponed to 14 February. The duo is sharing the screen space for the first time.

    It is said that the producers of the movie are playing safe, taking into consideration that the much hyped Dhoom 3 has occupied the slot for December release.

    However, yet again, the February release is not a clean release for SKSE considering the fact Yash Raj‘s Gunday starring Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor too comes out on Valentine’s day.

    Shaadi Ke Side Effects is produced by Balaji Motion Pictures along with Pritish Nandy Communications and is directed by Saket Chowdhary.

    Chowdhary ventured into direction with his directorial debut Pyaar Ke Side Effects which became a surprise success in the multiplexes.

  • Balaji Motion Pictures signs Bhushan Patel to helm Ragini MMS 2

    Balaji Motion Pictures signs Bhushan Patel to helm Ragini MMS 2

    MUMBAI: Bhushan Patel, who recently stirred 1920 – Evil Returns has been selected to direct Ragini MMS 2, the sequel of Ekta Kapoor‘s Ragini MMS that released in 2011.

    Confirming the same, Balaji Motion Pictures CEO Tanuj Garg says, “What started off as a humble experimental film has turned into a huge franchise. We took a leap of faith in signing Bhushan even before his first release. Given the film‘s impressive film‘s box office performance, it was the right decision in hindsight.”

    Patel said, “To add to the excitement of delivering a hit, is the opportunity of directing another hit franchise for the Balaji banner. I am looking forward to Ragini MMS-2.”

    Balaji Motion Pictures head of acquisition and distribution Girish Johar said, “We have signed Bhushan Patel to direct our Ragini MMS 2 with Sunny Leone. We loved the promos of 1920- Evil Returns. For a debut director, Bhushan has done a great job in the film. We are confident that he will do justice to Ragini MMS 2.”

    Ragini MMS 2 is expected to be a supernatural and horror film too.

    The original movie, directed by Pawan Kripalani, featured Kainaz Motivala and Raj Kumar Yadav. In the sequel, Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone will add spice.

  • Once Upon a Time… first Bollywood film shot in Oman

    Once Upon a Time… first Bollywood film shot in Oman

    MUMBAI: Ekta Kapoor‘s Balaji Motion Pictures recently shot parts of its much-awaited film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai-2 in the Sultanate of Oman. This marks the first time that a major Bollywood film has been shot in Oman.

    The sequel to the 2010 blockbuster, that has stars like Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan and Sonali Bendre among others, is slated for 8 August worldwide release.

    Speaking about the destination and the experience of shooting in the country, Balaji Motion Pictures CEO Tanuj Garg said, “Oman is a stunning country with varied landscapes. We required a good mix of retro and contemporary for the part we wanted to shoot there, and Oman gave us a lot more. It has a lot to offer visually, which worked well for us as film-makers.”

    “There are so many beautiful locations across the globe but little did we know that a country of such stark yet stunning beauty is a neighboring country.

    We needed a location of pristine beauty in the Middle East, and Oman, a relatively virgin location, worked for us like a charm. It‘s a rich mix of sea, sand and mountains,” added director Milan Luthria.

    The film was shot at the Qantab Beach, Qurum Corniche, Central Business District and The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa.

  • Mumbai HC relief for Sanjay Gupta

    Mumbai HC relief for Sanjay Gupta

    MUMBAI: In a case of cheating and forgery against filmmaker Sanjay Gupta for allegedly copying the letterhead of the Mumbai Police Commissioner registered by the Mumbai police, the Bombay High Court has granted him anticipatory bail against a bond of Rs 10,000. Earlier, the Sessions Court had rejected anticipatory bail for Gupta.

    Soon after, Gupta approached the HC for justice. Justice A V Nirgude, who was officiating in the matter, said in his order: “This is an innovative invitation, that’s it. The police officers who registered the offence have lost their sense of humour,” he observed.

    It was alleged that Gupta Wadala carried the rubber stamp of the Mumbai Police that was used on invites sent out for the unveiling of his film Shootout At Wadala for a press conference at Mehboob Studios last week.

    The court observed that no intention to commit fraud was disclosed by the police in the case. The police could not prove any wrongful gain or loss on part of the producers of the movie, the court remarked.

    However, additional public prosecutor Rajeshree Gadhvi said that the invitation was misleading and the producers had not taken prior permission from the CP to issue it using the seal of his office.

    Shootout at Wadala, based on the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police who shot dead gangster Manya Surve at Wadala in 1990s, is being produced by Balaji Motion Pictures along with Gupta’s White Feather Films. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, John Abraham and Tusshar Kapoor.

  • Mumbai police book Sanjay Gupta of cheating and forgery

    Mumbai police book Sanjay Gupta of cheating and forgery

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has been booked on charges of cheating and forgery by allegedly misusing the name of Mumbai Police Commissioner‘s Office in the invitation card sent for the press conference to announce the launch of his forthcoming film Shootout at Wadala that was held at the Mehboob Studios.

    The invites sent by Gupta for the launch of Shootout at Wadala carried the rubber stamp of the Mumbai Police. The police chief would be present at the event and would also brief the media on the current status of crime in the city, the invitation read.

    Shootout at Wadala is based on the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police who shot dead gangster Manya Surve at Wadala in 1990s.

    “Sanjay Gupta, Balaji Motion Pictures (Producer) and Glamsham.com (Bollywood movie portal) were booked for cheating and forgery as they misused the name of the office of the Mumbai Police Commissioner by using the rubber stamp of police to promote their film,” senior inspector at Versova Police station has been reported to have said.

  • Ramesh Taurani complains against Deepika Padukone to CINTAA

    Ramesh Taurani complains against Deepika Padukone to CINTAA

    MUMBAI: Angry with Deepika Padukone’s quitting Tips Films‘ Race 2 at the eleventh hour, producer Ramesh Taurani has filed a complaint against the actress with the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) and Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producer of India (AMPTPP).

    CINTAA has confirmed having received the complaint against Padukone and in turn has informed the actress about the complaint filed by the filmmaker.

    According to the rules and regulations of CINTAA, if an artiste fails to respond to a complaint, the case gets forwarded to FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees). And then, if the artiste turns a blind eye to FWICE‘s decision, he/she is liable to face a NCD (Non-Cooperation Directive).

    “ I respect Taurani a lot and would not do anything that upsets him. The only paper he had given ma mentioned that the film would be completed by September 2011 and we are in now February 2012. I have my own commitments. I would reply to the CINTAA in due course of time,” averred Padukone.

    It is believed that Padukone will soon meet FWICE President Dharmesh Tiwari and CINTAA General Secretary Dharmesh Tiwari. After the two parties are heard, Padukone doesn’t mind returning the signing amount and as for the compensation, she is open to discussions.

  • Balaji to expand screens showing The Dirty Picture

    Balaji to expand screens showing The Dirty Picture

    MUMBAI: Production house Balaji Motion Pictures will expand the number of screens showing The Dirty Picture to 100 in a bid to penetrate deeper.

    Said Balaji Motion Pictures, Distribution and Acquisition head Girish Johar, “The movie is doing well. We have almost thrashed a deal to increase the number of screens the film is showing from around 40 to 100 from this Friday.”

    To a question as to why was the home video rights given at a time when the film was still going strong, Johar quipped, “ Normally, the home video rights are given away after the fourth week and our film is already six weeks old. We decided to bring out the film on home video for we knew that people will lap it up and in the process, we would be able to monetise on that front too.”

    The Dirty Picture, which released worldwide on 2 December in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, has Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor among others.

  • Lootera to rub shoulders with Ek Tha Tiger this Eid

    Lootera to rub shoulders with Ek Tha Tiger this Eid

    MUMBAI: Of late there is a craze to release films during Eid-ul-Zuha period as Salman Khan’s Wanted (2009),‘Dabangg (2010) and Bodyguard (2011) managed to cash in on the festival hype and rake in the moolah at the box office.

    Producers Balaji Motion Pictures and Vikramaditya Motwane’s Phantom have decided to release their Ranveer Singh-Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Lootera this Eid along with Yash Raj Film’s Ek Tha Tiger on 26 October.

    Sinha, who made her acting debut opposite Khan in Dabangg, also finds Eid lucky for her. Reportedly, the actress asked the makers of Lootera to release the film on Eid as she considers it an auspicious day.

    Lootera is a classic love story set in the 1950s.

  • Qatar bans release of The Dirty Picture

    Qatar bans release of The Dirty Picture

    MUMBAI: ALT Entertainment‘s Vidya Balan-starrer The Dirty Picture has been banned in Qatar.

    Confirming the same Balaji Motion Pictures CEP Tanuj Garg said, “Our distributors applied for a censorship certificate in Qatar and they received a notice saying that the movie can‘t be released there. The film is currently being screened in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Middle East countries, but it will not go to Qatar.”

    However, the filmmakers are upset and fail to understand what the authorities found objectionable in the film. “The film was supposed to release there either this week or the next, but we were informed that it has been deemed unsuitable for theatrical exhibition,” Garg said.

    According to Garg, Qatar is not a huge market. “It‘s not about the incremental revenue but it‘s very disheartening and unfortunate that we couldn‘t release the film there,” he observed.