MUMBAI: Race 2 is scheduled to release on 25 January 2013.
The action thriller is produced by Tips Industries and UTV Motion Pictures.
Confirmed producer Ramesh Taurani, “Race 2 releases on January 25 next year. We felt it was just the right date to release our film.”
The film stars Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel.
MUMBAI: Housefull 2 opened handsomely, netting Rs 455 million its its first weekend. The movie ran to near full capacity in multiplexes, peaking on Sunday by adding about 25 per cent more than its opening day collections.
The multi-starrer film maintained a steady business even on Monday.
Bumboo, a nondescript film, fared poorly at the box office.
Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan‘s Agent Vinod added Rs 67.5 million in its second week, taking its total to Rs 433.5 million. The film stands to lose a major chunk of its investment.
Kahaani continues to hold its own despite new releases. The film collected Rs 45 million in its fourth week, taking its net collections to Rs 569 million.
Paan Singh Tomar has impressed at the turnstile, considering none had confidence to release the film for about three years. When it hit the theatres eventually, it released at very limited screens. The film has collected Rs 6 million in its fourth week, taking its net box office collections to Rs 166.5 million.
MUMBAI: Agent Vinod, the Saif Ali khan thriller, has finished its opening weekend score at Rs 273 million. The film failed to improve its box office performance during the Saturday-Sunday weekend due to lack of good word of mouth, as it found audiences mostly from the multiplexes and failed to influence the single-screen theatres.
The new releases, Zindagi Tere Naam, Chaurahe, Akkad Bakkad Bam Be Bo, Say Yes To Love and Love Possible, received tepid response at the box office and in their first week appearance managed to collect just a few lakh of rupees.
Kahaani continued to grip the box office, winning appreciation for its suspense, narration, acting and filmmaking skills. The Sujoy Ghosh movie, with Vidya Balan as the main protagonist, mopped up Rs 189 million in its second week to take its total to Rs 436 million.
Chaar Din Ki Chandni added Rs 10 million, taking its two-week tally to Rs 62 million.
Paan Singh Tomar collected Rs 31 million in its second week. The film has so far netted Rs 150.5 million.
Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya collected Rs 9 million in fourth week. Its total now stands at Rs 182 million.
MUMBAI: After the release of his spy drama Agent Vinod, Saif Ali has Khan has started work on his next assignments.
On top of the list of his prioriities is a 3D sequel of Agent Vinod. “I don‘t understand 3D and don‘t enjoy it, but my son does. So, may be for the larger portion of audiences, one should consider it for a sequel,” Khan said.
Khan is also mulling with the idea of making an action thriller that would be based on a French comic book. He has already procured the rights to adapt the book for a film remake.
Said Khan, “The film is definitely on the anvil. This is a great story and if it is done in the right way, it would be something unique. Beyond that, it would be premature to talk about the director, cast members and other details. Let‘s wait for a while for the complete announcement.”
The film, expected to be mounted on a huge scale, would be co-produced by Khan and Fox Star Studios India and directed by Anurag Basu.
Both Khan and Basu will sit across to finalise other logistics before bringing the film on the floors after the latter finishes his production in progress film Barfi.
MUMBAI: A spy thriller is not a genre often seen in Hindi films and for that reason one thought Agent Vinod was a welcome idea as well as an opportune one. The title betrays director Sriram Raghvan‘s fascination for films he grew up watching. His last film, Johny Gaddaar (2007) was a remake of Gaddar (1973). For this film he opts for the title of a 1977 hit film, Agent Vinod. Further inspiration for the plot and situations comes from 1970s spy thrillers such as That Man In Istanbu
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Producers: Saif Ali Khan, Dinesh Vijan. |
Saif Ali Khan, playing a RAW agent, has lost his close colleague – Ravi Kissen while on a mission to Russia. His last message before he was murdered was just the figures ‘242‘. That sets Saif Ali Khan on a mission to find out what these figures mean as he liquidates anybody and everybody that comes in his path. His search begins in Russia and takes him from place to place; while in Morocco, he meets Kareena Kapoor, a Pakistani, posing as a personal doctor to local Mafioso, Prem Chopra, but who is actually an MI6 agent now working for ISI. Kareena Kapoor has a sad past and dreams of a future with a nameplate describing her as a doctor, children and a husband who loves her more than anything (that is the emotional quotient in the film). Saif Ali Khan‘s trust button for her keeps blinking most of the time; that is till she convinces him that she is on his side and equally anxious to stop any destruction that the villains may have planned. As he goes from Russia to Morocco to Latvia to Karachi, he always outthinks his detractors and draws his gun faster than they do. He reaches Delhi at the same time as a nuclear bomb stolen by an ex-KGB man from the Russian depot is headed there via Somalia in a fishing trawler. The villains‘ grand plan blessed by Gulshan Grover, who is a refugee don under protection of Pakistani authorities (read Dawood), is to blow up Delhi with this nuclear bomb and blame it on some Islamic group. This is when the film provides finally some thrill and excitement. The culprit is killed, bomb traced and defused and Saif Ali Khan heads to South Africa to eliminate one more of a group who actually are behind such terror plots – a promise of a sequel.
Agent Vinod traverses from place to place as Saif Ali Khan follows clues. But because of this it comes across as a totally disjointed film. Nothing makes sense as men are tossed, kicked and shot. You don‘t care after a while since you are not taken into confidence as to who is who and why people are killing each other; no villain is constant or established. One makes an appearance and is killed soon enough. The Indian audience loves dhishum-dhishum and gun shots, not silencer-fitted guns. There is no flow of story, no explanations.
There are no smart one-liners the heroes in such films are expected to mouth; the few that are there are wry and too subtle to be enjoyed. There are no other distractions as the film has no comedy or emotions, songs lack appeal and romance, whatever little there is, is silent.
Yes, the film is beautifully shot and is apt technically, but that is not what attracts the audience as much an interesting story and entertainment. The film makes no demands on actors‘ histrionics as there is no drama; Saif Ali Khan has to survive this film on his charm which, alas, is missing. Kareena Kapoor is a hanger-on, playing an aide to Saif Ali Khan and looking forlorn. All the action and excitement going around never seem to touch her. The rest of the cast-Prem Chopra, Gulshan Grover, Ram Kapoor, Ravi Kissen, Shahbaz Khan-is packed off before you notice them.
Agent Vinod has had an average opening and its prospects from single screen are not bright while prospects at multiplexes are limited and hence far short of being cost effective.
MUMBAI: The Pakistani censor board has banned Illuminati Films’ Agent Vinod from exhibition in the country as the film contains references to the ISI that could hurt the sentiments of the Pakistani people.
A statement from IMGC Global, the Pakistani distributor of the film, confirmed that the film has been banned by the censor board of Pakistan. The importer of the film, Sheikh Amjad Rasheed of IMGC Global, fully agrees with the Censor Board’s decision and has conveyed his feelings of displeasure to the main distributor.
As a key importer of Bollywood films to Pakistan, Rasheed has also conveyed to the main distributors that they will not entertain any such movie in future which hurts either the religious or national sentiments of Pakistanis and decelerate the Indo-Pak peace building process. It is understood that Pakistani Film Distributors have also expressed displeasure to the producers over the anti-Pakistan content shown in the film.
Revolving around two undercover agents played by Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, this film is Khan’s second production venture under Illuminati productions.
Pakistan is an important business territory for any Bollywood film.
MUMBAI: Saif Ali Khan‘s spy thriller Agent Vinod has been embroiled in a legal hassle. An Iranian band has slapped a legal notice on the film’s music director Pritam Chakraborty and its distributors for alleged copyright violation. The film’s song Pungi…has reportedly been lifted from the band’s album titled Soosan Khanoom.
According to the legal notice issued by law firm Vidhii Partners, Barobax Corp had on 16 January 2010 produced and released the album that later became a rage. “On 12 March this year, the band came across the promotions of the movie ‘Agent Vinod‘ on satellite television in Iran. The song Pungi… was being aired. On listening to the song, the band realised that the initial portion of the song is lifted without any change from the title song of their album,” the notice said.
According to the notice, the band is the owner of the copyright of the song ‘Soosan Khanoom‘ which is registered under the Copyright Act in Canada on 30 June last year and, hence, the music of the song cannot be used without the band‘s permission.
Soon after learning about the copyright infringement, the band sent their representative Nargis Kazerooni to India to initiate legal action.
The music band was founded in 2003 by three Iranian nationals – Kashayar Haghgoo, Kevian Haghgoo and Hamid Farouzmand.
Apart from music director Pritam, the notice has also been served to Eros International Media, Illuminati Films and Super Cassettes.
Starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, the film is slated for release on 23 March.
MUMBAI: Illuminati Films’ Agent Vinod, produced by Dinesh Vijan and Saif Ali Khan, has received U/A certificate from the CBFC.
Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film is an action spy thriller that has Khan in the title role with Kareena Kapoor in the female lead.
“Our film has a lot of action but we have worked on keeping it more realistic and less violent. And after censor board‘s screening, we have got a U/A certificate and I am very happy. We wanted more people and even the kids to watch the film,” said Khan who is in the city for the film‘s promotion.
The film releases on 23 March.
Such is Khan‘s excitement about the film that he recently launched a graphic novel of the film. Not only that, he also plans to make five sequels of the film.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that three million game players of the popular game, Mumbai Underworld, on ibibo.com had a surprise when Agent Vinod made an entry into their underworlds.
MUMBAI: Aerated apple drink from Parle Agro Appy Fizz has signed on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan to star in the new television campaign.
The TVC is conceptualised by Creativeland Asia, the communications partner of Parle Agro.
In the new TVC, Appy Fizz (the bottle mascot) is seen hanging out with Saif while he shoots for films or chills with friends and Appy Fizz keeps him in high spirits with his sparkling wit and his famous one-liners.
The TVC will be supported by strategic point-of-sale branding and BTL activities. New table top dispensers and chillers introduced to display Appy Fizz will add to the overall visibility of the brand at retail outlets.
In a major shift in marketing strategy, this is the first time that Parle Agro has used a Bollywood actor for any of its brands. Khan was chosen mainly because of his status as an icon for youthfulness, maturity and fun.
Appy Fizz is a youth brand, mirroring the youth in everything it does.
Parle Agro joint managing director and CMO Nadia Chauhan said, “Saif Ali Khan is a great youth icon who loves his work as much as his life. The actor brings in the cool quotient to Appy Fizz’s friends circle, and both together compliment each other and make a very entertaining duo. We’re sure the two will make a winning pair. We see huge potential in this brand and its massive acceptance has us led us to invest heavily in it. We see a very large growth contribution from Appy Fizz this year and in the years to come.”
Set in a film studio, the ad opens with Khan taking a break with his friends at his cool hang-out pad. When he opens the fridge to offer them drinks, Appy Fizz jumps out screaming ‘Saaaiifffff’ scaring everyone. Khan introduces him to his bunch of friends and in his typical witty style; Appy Fizz exclaims his long-standing friendship with him that takes even Khan by surprise. Appy Fizz recalls his days with Khan since Dil Chahta Hai, Omkara, Hum Tum and Main Khiladi Tu Anadi. His moment comes when the actor isn’t able to place him in those days, to which Appy Fizz snaps, “Next to the popcorn. During the interval!” which is when the gang bursts out laughing.
The TVC ends with one of Khan’s friends asking Appy Fizz what he was doing in the fridge to which Fizz smartly quips “chilling”, setting everyone laughing again.
Creativeland Asia founder and creative chairman Sajan Raj Kurup, who also directed the films, said: “I’m glad we have been able to design a campaign that preserves the sanctity of Appy Fizz communication over the years and yet build in a popularity factor through Saif Ali Khan as a celebrity cast. What makes it even cooler is the fact that it has been able to depict Saif Ali Khan as a hangout buddy and not necessarily a celebrity endorser in the campaign.”
Parle Agro has also used the occasion to introduce Appy Fizz in 300ml packs aiming to attract new consumers to the brand.
MUMBAI: Illuminati Films’ Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor-starrer Agent Vinod will premiere at the seventh edition of the Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF) on 25 March.
The film is about a series of seemingly unconnected events across the world that leads to Agent Vinod undertaking a globe-trotting mission to discover why his colleague was murdered.
“A bit of Tintin, a bit of Bond, a bit of Alistair McLean and well, a little bit of fun and frolic and a lot of adventure…that is what Agent Vinod, the much awaited Bollywood flick is all about,” said producer Saif Ali Khan describing the film in a statement.
Shot in Morocco, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Latvia, besides other countries, the film has been directed by Sriram Raghavan.
Averred MIFF Chairman Dr Khalid Al Zadjali, “This movie‘s entry is ground-breaking as far as the nascent cinema industry in Oman is concerned.” He added that it would be great to have movie stars like Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor visiting Muscat for the MIFF.
Originally set to release in December 2011, Agent Vinod was postponed following a delay in its shooting schedule and will now release on 23 March.