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Tag: Ritesh Sidhwani

  • Farhan Akhtar-Abhishek Kapoor back together for Rock On! sequel

    Farhan Akhtar-Abhishek Kapoor back together for Rock On! sequel

    The fall-out between Farhan Akhtar and director Abhishek Kapoor seems to be over finally as the duo is ready to rock the big screen once again. They have reportedly reunited for the sequel to their 2008 musical film Rock On!

    The script has been finalised by Abhishek and it will be produced by Farhan and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment. Reports reveal that Farhan has also been persuaded to take up the microphone for the second time. The friendship between Farhan and Abhishek turned sour after their fall-out over the latter’s Kai Po Che! project.

    According to sources, Farhan was the initial choice for Ishaan’s role which was later played by Sushant Singh Rajput. Farhan also gave a miss to the star-studded premiere of the film. To amend the differences Farhan later congratulated the Kai Po Che! team via Twitter and also made a special appearance at the success party of the film.

     

    Presently Abhishek is busy working on Katrina Kaif-Sushant starrer Fitoor which will go on floors in 2014.

  • Excel Entertainment lines up six films

    Excel Entertainment lines up six films

    MUMBAI: Head honchos of Excel Entertainment, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, have gone ahead and announced the making of six films in the coming 10 months for an investment of Rs 3 billion.

    Sidhwani said Zoya Akhtar‘s next after Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara would go on floors by the yearend. The production house has almost finished the Aamir Khan-Kareena Kapoor-Rani Mukerji starrer Talaash that will release in November. The director Reema Kagti is already planning her next film jointly written by her and Zoya.

    Farhan‘s next after Don 2 will go on floors in early 2013; he is translating the idea he has in mind into a script. Abhishek Kapoor has completed the script of Rock On 2, and has started working on its screenplay along with Pubali who wrote Rock On!

    The fifth film is a story submitted by Abhinay Deo of Delhi Belly fame to Farhan and Ritesh. This film, about two friends, will have two stars in the lead.

    The script by a new writer-director has been approved but Sidhwani refused to divulge the name, saying that a formal announcement will be made later.

  • Harvard to screen Delhi Belly

    Harvard to screen Delhi Belly

    MUMBAI: Aamir Khan’s Delhi Belly will be screened at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government next month.

    The film’s director Abhinay Deo has also been invited to participate at the Harvard India Conference 2012 and speak on the new age of cinema.

    Delhi Belly is the story of three struggling room-mates who unknowingly become potential prey of a ruthless gangster.

    Incidentally, Excel entertainment head honcho Ritesh Sidhwani has also been invited for the conference. Sidhwani will talk on the business of entertainment panel with the theme The New Age of Entertainment.

    The conference, jointly organised by the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, will be held on 24 and 25 March.

    The theme of Harvard India Conference 2012 is India – The Next Frontier.

  • Studio 18 gears up for first Bollywood release

    Studio 18 gears up for first Bollywood release

    MUMBAI: TV18 group’s film division, Studio 18, is gearing up to make its first foray into Bollywood. It will be releasing Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s romantic comedy Honeymoon Travels Private Limited on 23 February The movie directed by Reema Kagti is will be released worldwide with 50 prints.

    In the pipeline are six other releases namely Raaj Kumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol starring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan and Kya Love Story Hain from VR Entertainment starring Tusshar Kapoor and Ayesha Takia.

    Studio 18 was set up last year by Raghav Bahl, along with Sandeep Bhargava, the former head of Sahara Motion Pictures. Since then it has roped in the likes of Ashoka Holla, Tanuj Garg and Gayatri Batra.

    Talking about the appointments Bhargava says, “The three have had experience in releasing some of the biggest money-spinners overseas including experience in syndication, festivals, new market development and exploitation of emerging media.”

    The international division, with offices in the US and UK, will market and distribute in-house productions and external acquisitions in foreign markets.

    Adds Holla, “The focus will also be on broadening the appetite of the overseas audience by being first-movers in presenting an alternate menu to them. This division of Studio 18 intends to assemble a diverse slate – that is mainstream Bollywood features of viable sizes, genres and set-ups and exploit them through a bouquet of available rights to the maximum.”

  • Hungama Mobile & TSeries release ‘Don’ music on itunes

    Hungama Mobile & TSeries release ‘Don’ music on itunes

    MUMBAI: Hungama Mobile, a popular aggregator of Indian entertainment content and TSeries, have announced the availability of the music of Farhan Akhtar’s eagerly-awaited Don for purchase on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).

    This is the first time in the history of Bollywood that the soundtrack of a movie is being made available online on the same day as the official launch of its music, and prior to public availability of its music on CD. The soundtrack of the film will be featured on the World Page on iTunes, informs an official release.

    The music was released on 26 August at an event, wherein along with Shahrukh Khan, music director of the film, Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy were also present.

    Hungama Mobile MD and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “This provides a great opportunity for Bollywood, as the worldwide popularity of iTunes means we can reach out to the growing Bollywood fan base online, wherever they are. We’re proud to have achieved a milestone by making the Don music available on iTunes.”

    “We are continually working to forge strategic relationships with key digital entertainment players, such as iTunes, to extend Hungama Mobile’s presence in online entertainment globally,” added Hungama Mobile chief operating officer Saleem Mobhani.

    The film is a remake of Amitabh Bachchan starrer Don, which had hit numbers to its credit like Khaike Paan Banaras Waala, because of which expectations are high from Sharukh Khan starrer Don.

    “It’s another step forward in our endeavor to reach the Global consumer and offer them the best of Bollywood through our digital initiative which is the first from the Indian music industry,” said T-Series chairman and MD Bhushan Kumar.

    “We are really excited to be working with Hungama Mobile to deliver exiting and original entertainment content and are working diligently to establish a more comprehensive distribution network in the mobile and digital space.”

    Excel Entertainment producer Ritesh Sidhwani said, “We are excited to be working with Hungama Mobile to release the Music of Don for the First time on the Digital platform via the iTunes Music Store along with the audio release. We are looking forward to increasing the fan following of hindi films by reaching out to the main stream audience through iTunes and welcoming the new era of Digital consumption of content.”