Showing posts with label Aamir Khan Productions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aamir Khan Productions. Show all posts
Aamir Khan's film goes pay-per-view on YouTube, gives OTT giants a miss
10:43 AM
Javed Farooqui & Rajesh Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; July 28, 2025)
Mumbai: Aamir Khan Productions has partnered with YouTube to release Sitaare Zameen Par on a pay-per-view basis in a potentially significant move, said people familiar with the development.
This marks the first time in recent memory a Hindi film featuring a major star has not been licensed to a dominant subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform such as Netflix, Prime Video or JioHotstar, opting instead for a pay-per-view strategy via the world's largest video platform.
Industry sources say Aamir Khan is tapping into the pay-per-view window, which has been a phenomenon globally but remains underutilized in India. However, they noted that it's still unclear how long he will delay the SVOD release following the pay-per-view window.
Aamir Khan Productions and YouTube declined to comment.
The film is likely to move to YouTube early next month. While the industry typically follows an eight-week window for streaming on SVOD platforms, Khan recently said that all his films will follow a six-month theatrical run to protect box office revenues. The film was released on June 20 in theatres.
"It's a bold move by an A-list star, and all eyes will be on how much the film can earn from pay-per-view, as well as how long Aamir Khan plans to keep it there before releasing it on an SVOD platform," said Shariq Patel, former CEO of Zee Studios.
Film is expected to be priced at Rs. 99.
Netflix and Prime Video continue to dominate India's post-theatrical streaming market. According to Media Partners Asia, producers' streaming revenues have grown to 1.5 times their net theatrical share, making it a critical monetisation channel.
However, the FICCI-EY 2025 report shows that streaming rights revenue in India fell to Rs. 3,100 crore, down from Rs. 3,500 crore in 2023 and Rs. 3,300 crore in 2022, as platforms cut back on content spending in pursuit of profitability.
Still, not everyone sees this as a replicable model. Abundantia Entertainment CEO Vikram Malhotra noted that such an approach may work better for mid-budget films than big-budget ones, which often depend on upfront OTT deals for financial recovery. "Therefore, it's unlikely to serve as a viable financial model across the board, especially for films with higher break-even points. That said, it's an interesting and important experiment whose impact and sustainability will become clearer over time," he said.
Suniel Wadhwa, a veteran distributor, cofounder and director of Karmic Films, said: "Film distribution through YouTube may not be remunerative for all actors or producers. It is a long-gestation affair. It will work only for well-established or A-list actors who have a huge or unique following. Besides this, it will be a practical alternative only for producers who have capacity to wait and earn revenues in the long-term."
Sitaare Zameen Par is said to have been made on a budget of under Rs. 100 crore. As an in-house production, Khan has reportedly waived his fee, potentially making the model more viable. The film has collected Rs. 166.2 crore in India and Rs. 263.7 crore worldwide, according to box office tracker Sacnilk.
Malhotra added that while the pay-per-view model has been tried before, it hasn't gained traction, largely because audiences favour subscription platforms offering a wider content library.
Ajay Phutane, a veteran of film distribution and marketing, said digital distribution is becoming increasingly important as theatre footfalls decline post-pandemic.
"The fall in theatrical viewership is directly tied to the rise in digital subscribers," he said. "A Rs. 99 pay-per-view release on YouTube is a significant step, especially given its vast reach. With many single screens shut and limited theatres in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, YouTube offers a more economical and convenient alternative as viewers can watch at their own time, place, and pace."
My jokes at Emmys will be a mix of US election, world events-Vir Das
8:21 AM
Becoming first Indian to host International Emmys, actor-comic Vir Das on how he’ll soon begin writing the material and the pressure of getting it right
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 16, 2024)
Last year, Vir Das bagged the International Emmy for Best Comedy for his special, Vir Das: Landing. Come November 25, the actor-comic will head back to the prestigious gala in New York—this time as the host. With this, he becomes the first Indian to achieve the feat. It’s quite an honour, but Das says he is “pretty chill” about it.
“We just announced it, but I’ve known about it for a few months. The expectations are high and I’ll celebrate if I get it right. I’m now starting to put pressure on myself. I’ll write it myself. The jokes will be a mix of things—it will be a few weeks after the American elections, enough things would’ve happened in the world. Plus, there will be many nominees and content makers in the audience whom I want to talk about. I want to get something like this absolutely right,” he shares.
It has been an eventful month for Das, who also featured in Call Me Bae, led by Ananya Panday. Creating the character of TRP-hungry news anchor for the Collin D’Cunha-directed series was deeply satisfying.
“I’m not the first person you think of when you think of a Dharma show. I didn’t want to make my character a YouTube sketch version of a journalist. So, Collin and I decided to make him a badass when he is in front of the camera; he can deliver lines. But we made him an idiot off camera. I played it with authenticity and a little bit of menace.”
Tell him the references for his news anchor act are obvious, and he says, “My first job was at CNBC. So, I’ve been in the newsroom long enough to know how journalists operate. At the core, he idolizes and resents privilege at the same time. He wants to wear Prada, but he also hates people in Prada.”
His next is a yet-untitled film that he has directed with Kavi Shastri for Aamir Khan Productions. Did he enjoy direction? “This project is the toughest and the most fun thing I’ve ever done. I fell in love with it, like I did with stand-up comedy. Now, I want to try and write the next five things I star in. I want to start doing what an Adam Sandler or a Ben Stiller does, which is creating projects. Also, I want to play a dark villain in a movie.”
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Set to host the upcoming International Emmy Awards, becoming the first Indian to do so, Vir Das just hopes to do his ‘thing and be authentic’
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 16, 2024)
Vir Das is making a grand return to the International Emmys. Last year, he won the Comedy award for his special Landing, but this time, the comedian-actor is set to make history as the first Indian to host the event on November 25.
“I won the Emmy last year, and after about four months, the team got in touch and said they wanted me to do this (host the event). I have known about it for a while, they just did the announcement now. It is a ridiculous privilege, to go from being a nominee, to becoming a category winner, to now hosting it. It is not something I expected. I didn’t even expect a nomination for my work last year. But, I am letting the people around me rejoice for now. I will only celebrate once the job is done,” Das tells us.
The 45-year-old is known for his tongue-in-cheek humour. But while hosting an event like the International Emmys, will he think twice before saying anything on stage, given some instances at such dos when jokes by stand-up artistes weren’t taken well? For instance, actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock during the Academy Awards in 2022.
Das says, “I am yet to start working on my script. But what’s funny is funny, no matter where you are in the world. Sensibilities might change. Anybody who got into trouble never thought they would. You can just do your thing and be authentic. Whatever happens then, happens,” quips Das.
He adds, “Let alone think twice before saying something on stage, I don’t even think once.”
Aamir Khan told me, “I am retiring, why don’t you take over.” So, that’s the phase when I stepped in-Junaid Khan
7:26 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; August 3, 2024)
Junaid Khan made a fine debut with the historical drama Maharaj, directed by Siddharth P Malhotra recently. There was no massive marketing campaign or a tizzy on social media around the launch of superstar Aamir Khan’s son. He quietly and gracefully made an entry, made a mark and left everyone curious about him. On a rainy Sunday morning, he hopped out of a rickshaw and rushed in for an interview with us (minus the entourage and all that jazz).
Refreshing! Between laughs and a few words, our conversation unfolded. He listened more, spoke less and let his charm do the rest. Curious? Read on...
Congrats on an impressive debut with Maharaj! Many people thought it was an unconventional debut. What are your thoughts? Is this the kind of debut you had envisioned for yourself?
I think the story is highly dramatic and that it is a fairly mainstream film. I don’t think it is a niche film at all. I guess different people find different things unconventional. About my debut, I actually didn’t put much thought into it. I have been doing theatre in Mumbai since 2017 and whenever I was called for a reading or an audition, I would go for it. So, I never had any grand plan for my debut film.
Did you hope for your debut film to be a big screen release? Does the medium or format matter to you?
I don’t think it does. What is important to me is that people watch my film, where they watch it is not relevant. In an ideal world, I would say put it up for free on YouTube, but obviously, no one will do that (laughs).
The film is set in a different era, you had a distinct look and a certain dialect, too. How long did it take you to get into the skin of the character?
We spent a year prepping for it. The language in the film is heightened, and there is a slight Gujarati dialect. We worked on that as well to understand how much Gujarati we should include in the dialogues. We also did a lot of look tests and dance rehearsals.
You confessed that you aren’t a good dancer. Are you honing your dancing skills?
Yes, I am not a very good dancer. But at the end of the day, everything is practice, so I will get there (laughs).
Did your experience as a theatre actor prepare you for the big screen?
The craft is the same. However, I didn’t do theatre to prepare for the big screen. There are technical differences in both, but what’s similar is that the more you do it, the better you get. You have to be thorough with what you are doing – whether it is theatre or films. You don’t have the luxury to be unprepared in any medium. That luxury doesn’t exist. Today, no director or producer will appreciate it if an actor comes unprepared.
Was there a certain point in your life when you decided you wanted to be in the movies?
I don’t think there was a point as such when I decided that. I was doing what was coming my way. I had tested for a bunch of roles, like I had auditioned for Laal Singh Chaddha. When I tested for it, the film was in the initial stages, it hadn’t even been budgeted. They were trying to figure out what to do with it, I guess that was one of the reasons it didn’t work.
Maharaj was waiting in the wings for three years to be released. Did you get impatient and restless during that waiting period and have to deal with a lot of questions around its release?
I don’t think I was asked much about what was going on with the film, because I don’t think anyone even knew this film was being made. It wasn’t announced by the producers, and I think it was announced only sometime last September. So, I didn’t feel any pressure during that time, and I trusted that the producers would do what’s best for the film.
All this time, you have been really low-key. Like even your director Siddharth P Malhotra, in an interview, said that many didn’t know you were Aamir Khan’s son. Even now, it’s not like you are spotted much by the paps, nor are you on social media. Was it part of a plan to not overexpose yourself in the media before your launch?
I don’t think there was a plan per se. Most people still don’t know me. I have just been this way (laughs). Long ago, I had a Facebook account, but that was a different time on social media. I haven’t been drawn to Instagram and I don’t think social media is my thing.
You come from a culturally diverse family with creative people who have diverse views and opinions. Has your upbringing shaped your personality and thoughts on life, movies, et al?
I think it definitely has. I think our upbringing and families shape our lives quite profoundly. I have a very supportive and diverse family, and we encourage debate and disagreements. I am thankful for the family that I have.
Did your father’s work have an impact on you and your film choices?
I don’t think so. He’s done some fantastic work and he’s done some work that’s perhaps not all that good also. Everything can’t be the best work ever, as filmmaking is not a science. So, what I have learnt is that you have to take the learnings and move forward.
What was your parents’ (Aamir Khan and Reena Dutta) reaction when they learnt about your debut film? During the release, were they anxious?
Not really (laughs). They weren’t anxious, they were happy for me. They are not anxious people generally, as they have been through all of it and more (being part of the industry for so long). The fact that they weren’t anxious also helped me with everything that was going on with the film. They both liked it. Dad liked it quite a lot He tends to be an easy audience, as he goes in to watch something wanting to enjoy it. My mom is a tougher audience to please.
Did he ever drop in on the set of your film?
He was never on our set. He only came on the first day of the shoot with my three grandparents and then he directly watched the film.
You got a lot of love for your first film, but a huge part of being an actor is about being able to deal with criticism that comes your way, which isn’t always easy. How did you deal with it?
As an actor, you are always learning and growing. Film is an art form, and it encourages diverse opinions. Not everyone will like everything. I know there are a lot of people who didn’t like Maharaj as much as we would have liked them to, but that’s fine. You learn from the good and bad and grow.
Generally, actors step into production much later in their careers. You have already taken on the role of a producer with Pritam Pyaare. What prompted you to do that?
Yes, I have. I have been on film sets and behind the camera on the set of PK. I have assisted in ad shoots as well. After we completed the shoot for Maharaj, there was a film we were working on at AKP (Aamir Khan Productions). At that point, Kiran (Rao) was making Laapataa Ladies and dad was going through this whole ‘I-am-retiring phase’, and he even spoke about that (smiles). He told me, “I am retiring, why don’t you take over.” So, that’s the phase when I stepped in. I think I have a decent understanding of production. It’s probably one of the toughest jobs in filmmaking.
Have you warmed up to the idea of media attention, interviews and the fandom that will follow?
It is definitely a new world, and I am getting used to it.
Mona Singh's next with Aamir Khan Productions is in a similar space as Delhi Belly
11:04 AM
Thrilled to work with Aamir Khan Productions again, Mona Singh’s next project will be in a similar space as Delhi Belly, sources claim
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 21, 2024)
It’s a hat-trick for Mona Singh. For her next theatrical release, the actor reunites with superstar Aamir Khan for the third time after the 2013 campus comedy 3 Idiots and Laal Singh Chaddha (2022). Sources inform that unlike her previous outings, Khan is only involved as a producer this time around. The yet-untitled film is slated to release during Diwali.
“Mona has just wrapped up the film’s shoot. She has a wonderful relationship with Aamir Khan Productions and is excited to work with them for the third time,” says the source.
The film is another comedy adventure in the actor’s filmography, following the success of her last theatrical release, the horror comedy Munjya. While details about the project that will see Singh as a gangster are being kept under wraps, an insider informs, “The comedy adventure will take the audience back to Delhi Belly [2011] days.”
This won’t be the first time Singh plays a gangster on screen. She will also portray the character in her upcoming series, Paan Parda Zarda, which is set against the backdrop of illegal opium smuggling. In an earlier conversation, the actor had emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between OTT and film releases and how she practiced it.
“It’s not easy, but it is great that we have been able to maintain the balance between OTT and theatricals. I am glad to be a part of this beautiful change in the industry,” she said.
Aamir Khan puts out forgiveness post; gets flak for spelling errors
7:51 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (September 2, 2022)
A video appeared on the social media pages of Aamir Khan Productions on the midnight of Wednesday/Thursday, days after a row over the actor’s recent release Laal Singh Chaddha and its failure at the domestic box office. The clip began with the words “Michhami Dukkadam” which roughly translates to “May all my improper actions be inconsequential”. Khan seemed to be following the tradition of Paryushan Parva (the most important Jain religious observance of the year).
In the video, a voice was heard speaking, as words appear on a black screen. Riddled with spelling errors, the theme from actor Shah Rukh Khan’s film Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) played as the background music.
The clip left social media users confused and angry — one of the reasons being that Aamir didn’t give a voiceover to the clip, which to many sounded like someone mimicking SRK. Additionally, the text read “hum sab insane hai” instead of “hum sab insaan hai”, and “kshama” was misspelled as “sama”.
“For someone who produces multi-million films, the apology is low-budget, low quality, and badly produced,” wrote one user, while another commented, “As a Jain, I feel offended by this. Please delete your Twitter account.”
“There are so many errors in this message, purportedly from a North Indian Urdu speaker, that it sounds, and likely is, a parody,” wrote one. On Thursday afternoon, the video was taken down and another version, with some typos corrected, was soon uploaded.
12 years since Dhobi Ghat, Kiran Rao returns to direction
8:39 AM
Almost 12 years since Dhobi Ghat, Rao returns to direction with massy offering; kicks off Aamir-backed film near Pune
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 15, 2022)
Haven’t many of us wondered when Kiran Rao will return to direction as we watched the poignant Dhobi Ghat (2010), several times over? But you can’t hurry filmmakers true to their art; they will rekindle their romance with the camera only when they have a story to tell. And Rao seems to have found hers. Almost 12 years since her directorial debut opened to glowing reviews, the producer-director has quietly kicked off the shoot of her second project. mid-day has learnt that the drama-comedy, backed by Aamir Khan Productions, went on floors in a town near Pune on January 8.
Dhobi Ghat, which was an ode to Mumbai and the lives it witnesses, was dubbed as an arthouse movie. For her second offering, Rao has switched gears. A source reveals, “Kiran’s next is a massy entertainer. Aamir loved the script when she narrated it to him, and instantly agreed to come on board as producer. The two continue to remain friends and collaborators after their divorce.”
The film, written by Biplab Goswami with a screenplay by Sneha Desai, is centred on three characters. After an extensive hunt, Rao found her lead in Sparsh Shrivastav of Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega fame. “Besides the Netflix series, he has acted in several serials, including Balika Vadhu. For the remaining two leads, she has zeroed in on Pratibha Ranta, who was seen in Zee TV’s Qurbaan Hua, and 15-year-old Nitanshi Goel, earlier seen in Peshwa Bajirao and Karmaphal Daata Shani.”
Owing to its subject, the film will be shot across different towns in Maharashtra. The source adds, “The first schedule, conducted in adherence with Coronavirus guidelines, will go on till January 20. Post that, the unit will take a break as per Coronavirus protocol, and resume after a few weeks in the next location. Kiran intends to wrap up the shoot by April. The film will also mark the return of composer Ram Sampath and lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya to the banner after Delhi Belly [2011].”
(From left) Pratibha Ranta and Sparsh Shrivastav front the film
My children are not taking my help-Aamir Khan
8:51 AM
The actor says his kids or anyone else would not be in his films unless they fit the part. He can’t be dishonest
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 15, 2019)
The buzz around Bollywood star kids and their speculated grand debut on the silver screen is perennial. Ask actor Aamir Khan about his kids’ showbiz career and he shares that both Ira and Junaid — his kids from his first marriage — who have decided to do theatre for now, are doing it without his help. Junaid debuted as a theatre actor a while back. Ira, recently, made her directorial debut with the Greek tragedy titled Medea.In the times when nepotism in showbiz is constant talk, the 54-year-old says, “I’m so glad that they’re following what they want to do, and what’s most important is that they’re doing it on their own. They are not taking my help in anything... Which is good, because I think that’s how it should be. Ira had told me (about the play), but she had not asked me for any help, nor did she say, ‘Dad, please guide me’. Junaid is acting in theatre and he’s also on his own.”
However, Khan is quick to add that he does get nervous as a parent. “When I go to see Junaid’s play, I’m like, ‘I hope he has done well’. And now that Ira is directing a play, I hope she does well, too. I’m nervous for her. It’s a natural parental response hoping that your child does well. I guess that there’s no escape from that nervousness,” he shares.
But will the two enter Bollywood? Khan says it would be entirely their call “if they want to” and they’ll “have to find their own way” to do so, for Khan won’t ever be “dishonest” to himself and his craft. “For me, to cast anyone in a film, the main criterion is ‘Are you appropriate for that film?’ If you’re not, it doesn’t matter whether you’re my relative or my child. I can’t be dishonest to my creative belief,” Aamir continues, “So, if I do cast Junaid, it’ll be because I feel he’s right for the role. And if ever it happens that I produce a film that Ira wants to direct, it would be because she’s right for the film not because she’s my daughter.”
On the work front, his production house is in the process of developing a number of “exciting” films and series for the web space. “There are certain stories, which need telling in a way that allows you episodes. We’ll see how it goes because development is an uncertain stage.... Until the script comes out, we won’t say anything,” says Aamir, who will be seen in Laal Singh Chaddha.
Is the urge to venture into digital space a result of the fact that many established names from Bollywood have entered the web? He denies and explains, “No, it’s nothing like that. As a production house, we don’t make content in terms of platforms. In these 19 years of me producing films, I think we’ve only made eight films, whereas production houses conventionally would like to produce multiple films in a year for it to be economically viable for them to run. While for us, until we get a material that excites us, we don’t venture into it.”
Netflix to buy Aamir Khan's films for Rs 500 crore?
8:14 AM
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; April 12, 2017)
Weeks after reports of Netflix offering Aamir Khan Rs 20 crore for exclusive screening rights of his 2016 wrestler biopic Dangal did the rounds, midday has learnt that the videostreaming giant is now aspiring to crack a bigger deal with the actor. A source close to Aamir’s production house reveals that Netflix intends to purchase exclusive digital screening rights of all the films under the banner.
A source close to Aamir’s production house reveals that "Netflix intends to purchase exclusive digital screening rights of all the films under the banner. The deal, which is going to be worth Rs 500 crore, will give the online streaming giant access to almost the entire filmography of Aamir,” the source informs.
Launched in 1999, Aamir Khan Productions has some of the biggest blockbuster titles under its banner, including Dangal, Lagaan (2001) and Taare Zameen Par (2007), among others. Earlier in December, the digital platform had inked a similar deal Shah Rukh Khan’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment. The deal gave them access to 60 films under the banner, 27 among which are SRK-starrers.
Talking about the deal with Aamir, the source further adds, “There are also talks that the contract will include exclusive digital rights to the actor’s upcoming movie Thugs Of Hindostan. It is just a matter of time before the announcement is made.”
Aamir Khan to produce Delhi Belly writer Akshat Verma's next?
8:15 AM
Rachana Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 30, 2014)
Buzz is, he is now ready with a script for a dark situational comedy which requires threefive young faces in lead roles. He has narrated it to the co-producer of Delhi Belly, Aamir Khan. “If all goes as planned, then Disney India and Aamir Khan Productions should produce the film. Aamir laughed throughout Akshat’s narration. From the looks of it, he seemed impressed. He’s likely to have subsequent meetings to take the project forward,” says a source close to the development.
For the last three years, the industry has been talking about a sequel to Delhi Belly which Aamir has been contemplating, but hasn’t green-signalled yet. Our source insists that Akshat’s script might be perfect for a sequel to the laugh riot, which can then turn the title into a franchise with different stories for each outing. “Akshat didn’t discuss his wish-list of actors when he met Aamir but chances are that they may not repeat the cast of the previous film because the stories aren’t connected,” adds our source.
Akshat Verma, Aamir Khan and Siddharth Roy Kapur from Disney India chose not to respond.
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