Last week, after Uday Shankar announced that he will step down as Star and Disney India chairman and Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific president in December, murmurs suggested that all was not well in the power corridors of Disney Star India. This comes barely seven months after Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios — the film studio subsidiary of the parent company — resigned in March.

Over the past four months, the media giant has cut down the studio's 25-member team to five. Sources say that while Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer Brahmastra is the only project currently on floors, the company has held off the greenlighting of new films for the immediate future.

An employee, who was handed the pink slip in August, says, "We had expected [the termination] because the studio stopped sanctioning films in India since the takeover. Brahmastra is our last project. Though they were in talks to back Karan Johar's Takht, the studio decided against it. We were paid our dues with a severance package of three months."

However, another employee, who was let go in September, says that the media giant wants to change business tactics instead of writing the vertical off. "The studio will continue to invest in Hindi series, regional language shows, and direct-to-net films. Over the past two months, close to 18 people have been let go from the unit due to overlapping duties."

Of its six releases last year, Fox Star Studios enjoyed box-office success with Housefull 4, Chhichhore and Mission Mangal while the poor run of Kalank, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and The Zoya Factor apparently put the balance sheet in the red. A Disney employee says, "This year, Chhapaak and Panga did average business, and the box-office run of Baaghi 3 was cut short by the pandemic. The studio was not faring well. The change of plans is necessary, but their commitment to backing films continues. The only unit making money is Disney+Hotstar due to its sports content. We are hoping the platform's subscription base will increase post the release of Bhuj and Laxmmi Bomb." It may be noted that the Star India network, which had 2,400 employees, saw close to 500 people being laid off since Walt Disney's takeover in June 2018.

mid-day reached out to Disney India, which did not respond till press time.

As Lootcase eyes July 31 release on Disney+ Hotstar, maker Rajesh Krishnan on how he had no idea of movie's marketing strategy, including virtual presser
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 14, 2020)

Disney+ Hotstar announced that Kunal Kemmu-starrer Lootcase, one of the seven films that have been picked up by the streaming giant for digital premiere, will drop online on July 31. With this, ad filmmaker-turned-director Rajesh Krishnan's journey with his debut film reaches its culmination point. Ask him why the black comedy — which has been ready for the past two years — took so long to reach the audience, and Krishnan says, "A director makes the film, but he is not in charge of the advertising and promotions. I credit the studio for giving us 100 per cent freedom to make the film we wanted to. I would like to believe that the movie is as important to them as to me. We were shopping for a producer for long; the studio coming on board was a shot in the arm. Kunal had spoken to Vijay Singh [former CEO, Fox Star Studios] and made the film happen."

Fronted by Kemmu and Rasika Dugal, the film has a talented ensemble cast comprising Vijay Raaz, Ranvir Shorey and Gajraj Rao. Surprisingly, the lead actors were not invited to join Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt and Abhishek Bachchan, among others, as they announced the OTT platform's new slate during a virtual press conference last month. Kemmu had then expressed his disappointment on Twitter, noting that Bollywood is not a level-playing field. "This is a homegrown Fox film. Why our film wasn't represented at the virtual press conference is beyond me. They did not even ask us. Kunal and Rasika should have been part of the panel. It was upsetting, but, I don't understand the business of promotions. Kunal, Gajraj, Vijay and Rasika always believe the project is bigger than them. Kunal is the kind of guy who will say, 'This is Rasika's scene, so reduce my dialogues here'. So, I can understand why he wasn't upset," says the director.

Krishnan believes Lootcase will be a departure from the slapstick comedies that the industry churns out. "[As an adman] I knew how to entertain in 30 seconds, but to do it for two hours was not easy."

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 24, 2019)

The makers of the Raj Kumar Gupta-directorial, India’s Most Wanted featuring Arjun Kapoor, reportedly based on the capture of India’s dreaded terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, have adopted an unconventional distribution strategy for the film which releases today. Mirror has learnt that Fox Star Studios have spoken to the national multiplex chains i.e. PVR, INOX, Cinepolis to avoid all early morning shows.

“Our audience will only venture to the theatres towards the evening and taking into consideration the high overhead costs for theatre owners, we didn’t think it is wise to run morning shows with minimal attendance. We are concentrating on shows post noon and towards evening and night. The two-hour run time will also enable us to get more shows despite the delayed start,” revealed a source close to the development. PVR confirmed the news.

When asked why the move is limited to only the national multiplex chains, the source informed that it is a targeted 1100-screen release and will be showcased primarily at multiplexes and limited single screens.

Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, explained, “We wanted to build the film strongly on the perception and positive endorsements. Our distribution strategy has been a judicious mix of showcasing and cinemas, so as to maximize the potential to reach our target audience.”

Mirror had earlier reported that a few cinema chains were kept open round the clock for Avengers: Endgame, to maximize the revenue keeping demand among the audience in mind. So, this decision to screen the film only after noon has comes across as a surprise.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh informed that a festival film like that of a Salman Khan starrer or for that matter a lavishly mounted futuristic adventure fantasy like Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar’s 2.0, bring in the crowds early and collections start coming in from the morning shows. “But this is a film that is expected to grow and if word-of-mouth is positive, business will automatically escalate towards evening. It’s a good strategy,” he asserted.

MID-DAY (September 20, 2018)

Solely being part of a blockbuster film does not qualify one as a Bollywood star anymore. Abhishek Bachchan will discuss the evolving idea of the Bollywood star at the Jagran Cinema Summit at Taj Santacruz on September 21. Junior Bachchan, who has grappled with the ever-changing concept of stardom over the years, and has been a part of different films, will share his insights into the making of an icon.

The Jagran Cinema Summit, an initiative by Dainik Jagran, is a day-long series of events focussing on the future of cinema through conversations, panel discussions and presentations. The afternoon will kick-off with a session that will see director Rohit Shetty in conversation with Jagran film festival director Mayank Shekhar on 'How to become the audience's BFF (Best Friend Forever)?'

This will be followed by a presentation on 'How effects make cinema special' by Rajeev Kumar, founder, Drishyam VFX, and Danny Wilson, VFX supervisor, Drishyam VFX. They will throw light on how visual effects have become an integral part of filmmaking and how VFX has been a game changer for many movies around the world.

There is also a panel discussion on 'Would Cinemas Survive?' with filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane (partner, Phantom Films), Ritesh Batra (director of The Lunchbox), Vijay Singh (CEO, Star Fox India), actor-director Nandita Das, producer Dinesh Vijan, Devang Sampat (director, strategic initiatives, Cinepolis), Tanveer Bookwala (digital producer, founder, Ding), and actor-amateur historian Vivaan Shah.

On the cards is also a presentation on 'Way Forward For Cinematic Virtual Reality' by Chaitanya Chinchlikar (Whistling Woods VR Lab). Updates regarding the summit can be found on www.facebook.com/jagrancinemasummit/ and twitter.com/CinemaSummit. The summit will conclude with a conversation on 'Is it time to go OTT on OTT?' with producer Ekta Kapoor and Mayank Shekhar. With a plethora of high-profile actors, filmmakers, marketers and distributors sharing their insights on the imminent future of cinema, the summit will pave the way for opportunities across all areas in the Indian film industry.

Summit highlights
. One-on-one conversations with Rohit Shetty (on how to be the audience's BFF), Abhishek Bachchan (on evolution of Bollywood stardom), Ekta Kapoor ('Is it time to go OTT on OTT'), hosted by Mayank Shekhar

. Detailed hour-long presentations on VFX in films, and Cinematic Virtual Reality (VR)

. Plenary Panel Discussion with industry heads on the future of cinema

. For registrations, log on to: https://jagrancinemasummit.com/

The actor’s sci-fi romance drama will clash with the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s next this Christmas
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 21, 2018)

After the US schedule of his upcoming sci-fi romance drama Zero, which was followed by a brief family vacation, Shah Rukh Khan dived straight into the Mumbai schedule of the Aanand L Rai directorial. The fi lm’s team is racing towards wrap-up to keep its December 21 date with the box-office. It will be up against Academy Award-winning Hollywood fi mmaker James Cameron and Jon Landau’s upcoming production, Alita: Battle Angel, which has snagged the same date for its worldwide release.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez, the cyberpunk action film features Canadian-American actress Rosa Salazar as a young cyborg Alita who goes on a journey of self-discovery. Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios, who is distributing the film in India, says, “We are releasing Alita: Battle Angel during the Christmas holidays this year. It is the perfect holiday film conceived by James Cameron almost a decade ago and like Avatar, is set in an entirely new and unique world. With some high-end special effects and stunning action sequences, we are sure the film will create ripples at the box-office around the world.” Anupam Kher recently revealed that his biographical political-drama The Accidental Prime Minister, also opens on December 21.

BOMBAY TIMES (April 19, 2018)

Two of Bollywood’s popular pairings are set to return to the big screen with Abhishek Varman’s next film, Kalank. Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt, along with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, will feature in the movie, which stars Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapur. The epic drama, set in the 1940s, is produced by Fox Star Studios, Dharma Productions and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment (NGE).

Speaking about the film, producer Karan Johar says, “I am supremely excited about Kalank. It’s an epic drama with a solid beating heart. The coming together of this formidable and fantastic cast makes this big-event film exceptionally exciting for me. Abhishek Varman’s exemplary vision and our prolific partners, Fox Star Studios and Sajid Nadiadwala, make it even more special.” Sajid Nadiadwala shares, “2 States had released on April 18 in 2014, and Kalank begins its journey on the same date, four years later. This multi-starrer with a fascinating story will cross all borders, under the capable direction of Abhishek Varman. It will be historic in the true sense of the word. I am genuinely happy to be back with Fox Star Studios and Karan Johar. This film is special to all of us.”

Adding to their excitement, Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, says, “Our creative and strategic partnership with powerhouses of the film industry, Dharma Productions and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, has been successful and rewarding. Our association with Dharma gave us an excellent opportunity to team up for hits like Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. With NGE, we have presented back-to-back blockbusters — Judwaa 2 and Baaghi 2. We are proud to present Kalank, a movie with a stellar and power-packed cast. With Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala coming together, it will be a pathbreaker and a great team to work with.” The film is slated to release on Good Friday, April 19, 2019.
-------------------------------
DNA (April 18, 2018)

It is not everyday that one comes across a film announcement that spells EXCITING in every possible way.

One-film old Abhishek Varman, who walked away with accolades and a super-hit 2 States (2014) that starred Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor, has managed to pull off a casting coup for his Kalank. What’s more, the epic drama set in the 1940s is being backed by three powerhouse producers. One is Fox Star Studios, the company that recently presented Baaghi 2. And the two producers on board this new announcement are Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Sajid Nadiadwala’s Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment (NGE).

The film, which rolls in Mumbai today, is slated to release on Good Friday, April 19, 2019, one of the coveted weekends for Bollywood’s big-ticket releases.

The cast includes the timeless beauty, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, along with youngsters, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur and above all, it has the towering Sanjay Dutt.

Karan says, “We are extremely excited about Kalank, an epic drama with a solid beating heart! The coming together of this formidable and fantastic cast makes this big-event film exceptionally exciting. Abhishek’s exemplary vision and our prolific partners —Fox Star and Sajid — make this movie even more special.”

Sajid adds, “On April 18, 2014, 2 States was released. On April 18, 2018, Kalank begins its journey. This multi-starrer has a story that will cross all borders, under the capable direction of Abhishek. It will be historic in the true sense of the word and I’m genuinely happy to be back with team Fox Star and Karan. This film is special to all of us!”

Vijay Singh, CEO Fox Star Studios summed up, “Our creative and strategic partnership with Dharma Productions and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the powerhouses of the industry, has been successful and rewarding. Our association with Dharma gave us an excellent opportunity to be associated with Rs 100-crore hits like Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and with NGE, we presented back-to-back blockbusters — Judwaa 2 and Baaghi 2. We at Fox Star Studios are proud to be presenting Kalank, a movie with a stellar and power-packed cast of today’s era. With Karan and Sajid coming together, it will be a pathbreaker and a great team to work with.”

Produced by Karan Johar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Hiroo Yash Johar and Apoorva Mehta, Kalank, which is written and directed by Abhishek Varman, releases on April 19, 2019.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 8, 2018)

The Hindi adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars, a romantic drama with Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead, has now got AR Rahman on board to compose music, which played a pivotal part in the Hollywood original featuring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

The Hindi film marks the directorial debut of casting director Mukesh Chhabra, while Rahman and the film’s producers, Fox Star Studios, have previously collaborated on Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire which won eight Oscars, including Best Original Music Score.

Rahman confirmed the news, saying, “When I heard the narration of their Indian adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars and especially how music is so beautifully woven into the narrative, I got quite excited.”

Chhabra acknowledged that getting the Mozart of Madras on board is a big boost for a debutant director. “As a casting director I have worked on many films with Rahman sir but it was like a dream come true when he agreed to do the music for thus film,” he exulted.

Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, added, “We have had a special relationship with Rahman over the years and we can’t think of a better project to work on with him.”

The 2014 film revolves around Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley), a 16-year-old cancer patient, who is forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she meets and subsequently falls in love with Augustus Waters, another cancer patient, played by Ansel Elgort.

Dhoni biopic release was pushed back to take a Sonakshi Sinha-starrer to theatres first. What made the makers favour Sona over Sushant Singh Rajput?
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 27, 2016)

The decision to delay the entry of the long-completed Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer MS Dhoni – The Untold Story in theatres by four weeks has set tongues wagging. After the announcement came, the makers, Fox Star Studios, advanced the release date of their other long-completed project, Akira, starring Sonakshi Sinha. The Dhoni biopic, which was slated to release on September 2, was recently swapped with Akira, which was supposed to hit the marquee on September 23.

It has been a while since the two actors had a film release. Sushant’s last outing was Detective Byomkesh Bakshy while Sonakshi’s was Tevar — both in early 2015. The juggling of Dhoni’s date is being attributed to post- production work, while Akira was suddenly brought forward. The makers may claim that it is a business decision as they could not have two of their projects releasing around the same time, but there seems to be more than meets the eye.

Says a source, “The decision to get Akira to the post first is baffling since there has been a lot of speculation about the project seeing the light of the day. Dhoni’s shoot wrapped up early this year. After that, Sushant and his Dhoni co-star, Kiara Advani, have moved on to their other commitments, Raabta and Machine, respectively. Moreover, Dhoni’s teaser was released in March during a T20 match between India and New Zealand. So, what special effects are they still working on?”

On June 20, the makers issued a statement on the biopic of cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni being postponed. In the press release, Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios, said, “It was a unanimous decision to release the film on September 30, 2016. This would give the team some more time to present the film to the audiences in the best way. We, in no way, wanted to compromise on the visual experience that director Neeraj Pandey is set to create with this movie.”

Our source adds, “Early this year, there was speculation about Akira’s release even though the shoot wrapped up last year, so the decision to suddenly release Akira first and push back Dhoni is surprising. There could be another reason apart from the post-production delay behind this.” The film’s makers remained unavailable for comment.

Amit Karn (MID-DAY; June 26, 2016)

Truth is stranger than fiction. Bollywood films are facing tough competition from Hollywood films on their own soil. Several filmmakers, like Mukesh Bhatt, have sounded off an alarm to save Hindi films from dwindling box office collections. It is well known that Hollywood filmmakers and studios work in a monopolistic way. They have realised the importance of the Indian market and sometimes, even release their films here first.

Big bite
The collections of Hollywood films have multiplied in India in the last five years. Initially, they would only play at 400 screens across the country, now it is over 1,500 screens. For instance, Jurassic World (2015) released in over 65 countries worldwide. In the US, it released in only 440 theatres, while overseas, it was running in over 800 theatres. In India alone, it was released in 2,300 screens across the country. No big Bollywood films released a week earlier or a week after after its release. Mohit Suri’s Hamari Adhuri Kahani, starring Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi, took the risk, but paid the price at the box office. In another instance, in 2015, Fast & Furious 7 got double the screens that Detective Byomkesh Bakshy got. While Fast and Furious 7 got 2,800 screens, Byomkesh got 1, 240.

Says Vikram Bhatt, “They have aced the genres of animation, sci-fi and action, due to which the multiplexes favour them. This is not a wrong move as they are raking in the moolah. But the biggest impact is on small budget films. During the festive season, it is difficult to procure release dates as the Khans and Kapoors dominate. During the summer months, they release animation films to target the vacation crowd. The IPL takes care of the rest as filmmakers do not want to release their films during the cricket season. So where do the small filmmakers go?”

Good run
Saurabh Saxena, COO, Carnival Cinemas says, “Our earnings from Bollywood and Hollywood are the same. But what is happening is that Hollywood films are now running successfully even in the second week. For instance, The Jungle Book did phenomenal business in the second and third week. It was a similar situation during Captain America and The X Men.”

Target audience
According to film distributors, Hollywood is making a planned effort to target India. They are releasing their films here before the US. The Jungle Book released worldwide on April 15, but in India it hit theatres on April 8. Commenting about the scenario, Amitabh Bachchan says, “I had started ABCL in 1995 and at that time I had said that we need to look after our production houses. The Americans are coming. In 1990, when I was in New York, I met a Hollywood studio head. This man, in a mere 30 minutes, told me the history of the Hindi film industry. I was shocked. He told me to look after our house as the Yankees are coming.”

Irrfan, who has seen the best of Hollywood and Bollywood, says, “Earlier, we didn’t had to worry about such a situation. If we do not make films that are inspired by our roots, we will not be able to take them on.” Adds Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star India, “It is the survival of the fittest. In the marketplace, only what is really good, sells. For example, Neerja and Kapoor And Sons were our films and ran successfully in theatres for several weeks. The audience has the right to choose what is best for them. If we enforce protective policies, we are stealing the rights of the audience to choose what they want to watch.”

Chinese model
Filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt counters Vijay Singh’s logic. The veteran says, “In China, only 35 foreign films can release in a year. This is a government directive. This is the case even though there are 50,000 screens. We have only 8,000 screens. Healthy competition will happen when there is a fight among equal talents. Their films have a budget of 500 to 1,200 crores, but our films have a meagre budget of barely 50-60 crore. How can we match their quality? Unfortunately, the government is not taking action on this.”

Cine historian Jai Prakash Chouksey says, “In Bollywood, there is no unity among filmmakers. Big stars get their dates and number of screens. The small budget filmmakers are fighting among themselves to get an audience. The late Indira Gandhi had introduced a bill to limit Hollywood releases. She had the foresight and vision even in the 1970s. But since then, no other government bothered to do anything.”

Hollywood distributors no longer worry about competing with Bollywood flicks — and their risk is paying off. We explore the trend
Ria Lawrence (MID-DAY; May 15, 2016)

While India has always been deemed as a niche market for Hollywood to crack, there were some hit franchises which struck a chord with the audience. Apart from the regulars though, Hollywood cinema was never considered a threat daunting enough for big Hindi releases. The trend, however, seems to have undergone a drastic makeover. The surge in Hollywood cinema has almost been theatrical with movies like The Jungle Book, Captain America: Civil War and Deadpool making a remarkable entry into the Indian market and giving tough competition to Bollywood biggies. Maybe, it’s the authentic storylines, larger than life visuals, arresting cinematography or subtle yet striking performances. But whatever the formula, it seems to be working and has definitely raised the benchmark for Hindi movies. Case in point: A much-awaited, big-budgeted affair like Fan starring Shah Rukh Khan suffered visibly because of The Jungle Book. The coming week will see popular franchise X Men going head-to-head with Sarabjit, starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda in lead roles.

Kamal Gianchandani, CEO- PVR Pictures, says, “As film marketers in India, we have observed a rising demand for Hollywood over time. People are always on the lookout for good content, both visually and intellectually. Speaking of Hollywood, it undoubtedly has an upper hand in film technology as compared to Bollywood. In the past, Hollywood distributors would shy away from releasing their films at the same time as big budget Bollywood releases. But with changing demands, this trend is no longer applicable, the best example being the release of Udta Punjab and Now You See Me 2 on the same date.”

While one could argue that movies like Life of Pi and Slumdog Millionare hit the right chord with the audience, thanks to their massive Indian appeal, even past visual spectacles like 2012 and Avatar, not to forget global superheroes like Iron Man and animated movies like Kung Fu Panda, created quite a stir with the audience pouring into theatres and preferring those to big Hindi releases at the time.

Says Vivek Krishnani, managing director, Sony Pictures India, “Hollywood films have particularly seen good growth thanks to an increase in multiplexes and 3D screens as well as changing audience preferences. We have always believed that there is an audience for all kinds of films in India, especially films that have quality content and it’s just a matter of getting space in this overcrowded and under-screened market. For instance, The Angry Birds movie has high awareness among ages eight to 80 years.”


Tim Burton’s Alice: Through The Looking Glass is to release with five Hindi movies (Cabaret, Phobia, Veerappan, Fredrick and Waiting)  but has generated quite a buzz among cinegoers

Amrita Pandey, vice president, Disney Studios, believes that Hollywood movies in India are enjoying their moment in the sun. However, this could be for a few tentpole movies each year. She says, “In 2015 too, three of the top 10 grossing movies were from Hollywood (Fast and Furious 7, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World), which is a big deal, but if you take away the top five English movies each year, the business for the others isn’t at the scale of medium to big Hindi movies. It shows the massive potential that India as a market represents for a few big movies that our audience does take to. For both The Jungle Book and Captain America: Civil War, localisation was given huge priority. We pushed for the right voice talent and that helped bring in larger revenues from the regional markets.”

Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios says the debate has little to do with Hollywood and Bollywood per se. “It’s a battle of good content vs the not so good content. Content is the king eventually and that can come from any industry.”

Grirish Johar from Zee Studios believes the foothold that Hollywood has been gaining along with strict competition with Hindi films has got Indian producers a bit rattled. “Bollywood producers are now keeping an eye out for big Hollywood franchises while fixing their release dates. So, that mental check has seeded itself in their minds,” he explains.

Whether the trend continues being a threat to Bollywood and mid- budget movies also get the recognition they deserve remains to be seen. One can’t, however, argue that Hindi movies are feeling the heat and content-driven films are becoming the need of the hour.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra sums it up, “People want entertainment, whether it comes from Bollywood or Hollywood. This trend will grow further, but that does not mean all English films will work. Those already established franchises will have an upper hand. It’s a wake-up call to our producers.”


Suicide Squad will release on August the 5 and is one of the big Hollywood releases to hit the screens this year

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; April 30, 2015)

If industry sources are to be believed, the box- office debacle of Emraan Hashmi-starrer Mr X has left the Bhatts angry and disappointed with Fox Star Studios, which had marketed the film.

The sci-fi thriller opened to just 10 to 20 per cent occupancy on the first day with collections estimated to be around Rs 4.50 crore. Now for their upcoming movie, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, they have decided to engage a PR agency apart from Fox for the promotions.

Confirming the story, Mahesh Bhatt says: “I am the leader, so I will not blame anyone for my mistake. But, yes, there were voices in my office which said that Mr X was not marketed well. The film’s failure to get a good opening was attributed to the signals that the marketing team was sending to the audience. But as good partners, Fox and Vishesh Films have sorted out all differences and are gung-ho about Hamari Adhuri Kahani,” he says.

He adds that they will constantly review the marketing plan for Hamari. “We have a long association with another agency and they would be giving expert opinions from time to time for the project,” Bhatt reveals.

Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, insists that they have a good partnership. “When a film doesn’t live up to expectations, it rightly forces everyone to understand what lessons one can take away, as our business is about hits and misses. Our next film together is Hamari Adhuri Kahani — a film that we truly believe in. Mohit Suri has directed an absolutely fabulous film that has been written by Mahesh Bhatt,” states Singh.

BOMBAY TIMES (January 20, 2015)

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 23, 2014)

David Fincher's Gone Girl, whose Indian release ran into a roadblock when the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) imposed five cuts and asked the makers to return with a revised version for a second screening (Mirror, October 22), has finally been cleared with an 'A' certificate. "The Censor Board has been very professional and passed the film with just a couple of cuts," says producer Vijay Singh, Though he refuses to elaborate on the cuts, a CBFC official, on condition of anonymity, informed Mirror that three explicit sex scenes, including one in a library, each with a running time of three minutes, have been edited down by almost half.

A scene featuring Rosamund Pike, who plays Ben Affleck's missing wife, has also got the chop because it involves frontal nudity. "No view of a woman's breasts or thrusting movements," says the CBFC source. "A dialogue which referring to male and female genitals in American slang has also been edited out."

Singh insists the cuts will not hamper the narrative or mar the essence of the film. "The film that releases in India is in keeping with the director's vision and will have all the impact of the film viewed worldwide," he asserts.

Buzz is, Fincher who did not allow a mutilated version of his previous film, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, to release in India, was kept in the loop throughout the censorship process.

In an earlier interview to Mirror (October 7), Singh was confident of coming up against Shah Rukh Khan's Diwali bonanza Happy New Year. "The level of interest in India is high, given Affleck's popularity and David Fincher's credibility with films like The Social Network and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. We're confident of getting a good chain of theatres and primetime shows," he had asserted.

But Singh insists that the week's delay will work in the thriller's favour as it give it a free weekend. "Even though it caters to a multiplex audience, there's a huge buzz about the film online. We realised that the film's scope is bigger than what we had imagined and it deserved a biger platform,"he says.

But next weekend they will be up against Ketan Mehta's Raja Ravi Varma biopic, Rang Rasiya, which also has its share of love scenes. "We don't consider Rang Rasiya competition," Singh retorts.

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2014)

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 7, 2014)

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 30, 2014)

There's a tussle on for more eyeballs as rival studios gear up for a box-office clash on October 2 when their productions, Bang Bang and Haider, will be unveiled.

There is a lot of arm-twisting going on, with theatre owners being told that the theatres which won't them give more screens than the other film, will not get their next big film for exhibition.

Nitin Datar, VP, Cinema Owners Association, confirms this, saying, "I have heard that both Fox Star Studios (Bang Bang) and UTV Motion Pictures (Haider) are threatening to withdraw business from us in the future if we do not give in to their demands. We hope to resolve this ugly war soon. Both parties simply refuse to share the shows equally."

Distributor Vinay Choksi, however insists that there is no solution in sight yet. "The single screens are more inclined towards Bang Bang," he insists.

Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety, Galaxy and Maratha Mandir, says that he will give two of three shows in Maratha Mandir to the Hrithik Roshan-Katrina Kaif action thriller. "But I am upset with the film's producer for demanding an extra percentage of profit from ticket sales. That's why I didn't open advance booking on Monday as is usual," he grouses.

Trouble is brewing at the multiplexes too. Arpan Datta, Head of Operations at Cinemax (Andheri West), informs that they had opened booking on Monday morning but later closed it down.

While many expect the impasse to continue till late Wednesday, Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas, says that their chain has decided to give 60 per cent of shows to Bang Bang and 40 per cent to Haider.

Vijay, Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, sounded buoyant when Mirror got in touch: "Bang Bang will be the biggest Bollywood release across the world and the advance bookings validate the strong buzz. Negotiations are on and we will reveal the exact number of screens on Wednesday. As of now, it's releasing in over 4,500 screens worldwide."

Meanwhile, Aparna Pandey, VP and Head of Marketing and Distribution, Disney India, maintained, "We have planned a release across 1100 theatres in India for Haider. Our showcasing will be based on our mapping of the theatre's location and the audience we are targeting." 
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Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; September 30, 2014)

The issue over number of shows to be shared in Mumbai between Disney’s Haider and Fox Star Studio’s Bang Bang is yet to be resolved. Manoj Desai of G-7 shows says, “Advance booking for these films has not yet started in single screen theatres since Fox Star Studios has been asking for more shows.’’ Exhibitor Inder Raj Kapoor confirms this. “As per the deal signed by most single screen theatres with Disney, four shows a day were supposed to be allotted to Haider. But single screen theatres are now okay with allotting two shows to each film. Fox Star Studios, however, is asking for three shows a day. We are still talking to them to resolve the issue.’’ The deal between Disney and single screen theatres for Haider was apparently signed when the former sold Aamir Khan’s PK to the latter. Turns out Haider will be released in around 1,000 to 1,200 screens while Bang Bang will hit 4,500 screens.

A source says, “Bang Bang needs a wider release as it is a costly film and films today do maximum business in their first week.’’ Another source says that in multiplexes, the ratio of screens between Bang Bang and Haider stands at 70: 30. Amrita Pandey, VP and Head of Marketing and Distribution, Studios, Disney India, says that Haider will release in 1,100 screens. “Our showcasing will be based on our mapping of theatre locations and the audiences that we are targeting,” she says.

A Fox Star Studios’ spokesperson says, “It is early to comment on the exact screen count for Bang Bang. It will release in 4,500 screens in India and we are getting more screens.”

Trade analyst Komal Nahta says, “Both films should have had a solo release, but filmmakers won’t get a long weekend anytime soon,” he says.

Vidya Menon (BOMBAY TIMES; August 6, 2014)

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; July 28, 2014)

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; July 11, 2014)

It has emerged that Vikas Sivaraman, cinematographer of Bang Bang, has gone on medical leave. As a result, the last schedule of the film will be shot by Sunil Patel, who earlier worked with Siddharth Anand on his film, Salaam Namaste (2005). But sources say that Vikas left the project because of stunt consultant Andy Armstrong’s highhanded behaviour. It seems that Andy was rude to the crew during an outdoor shoot in Abu Dhabi and this didn’t go down well with Vikas, who decided to leave the project.

When contacted, Vikas denied the story. He said, “I have a cyst and it was quite painful, so I took a break from the film’s shoot. Sunil Patel, who has worked with Siddharth earlier, is completing the film. And no, I never had a problem with Siddharth. But I did not like the behaviour of stunt consultant Andy Armstrong, who was rude to the entire crew. He behaved very badly with the unit.’’

But Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios says, “These are baseless allegations. Andy has done a fabulous job and the breathtaking action sequences that we will see in in the film are a testimony to the work that he put in. Yes, Vikas needed to have an urgent operation and could not continue with the project.”

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 17, 2014)

For the past few weeks, Anurag Kashyap has been miffed with Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani for scheduling the release of PK on the same day as Bombay Velvet—Christmas 2014. He admitted as much to Mirror (March 18), saying, "All it would have taken is a phone call. It hurts, because I respect Raju as a filmmaker and as a person."

Now Mirror has learnt that Aamir and his co-producers, Disney UTV, have asked single screen and multiplex owners to block their screens for PK for two weeks, from December 19 to January 1. The gameplan obviously is to monopolise the festive season.

When contacted, Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas, confirmed this, "Yes, the producers of P.K have asked for an uninterrupted two-week run from theatres. Fun Cinemas will decide its plan of action closer to the date of release."

Nitin Datar, President, Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India, was more forthcoming, "Haan, this is true. Also, they want shows in multiplexes every half hour."

Datar however warned that if PK does not fare well, then exhibitors in agreement with distributors, could pull it out from some screens after the first week.

"I guess, we'll have to make some adjustments for PK since an Aamir film is a big draw. It remains to be seen if Bombay Velvet sticks to its Christmas release. However, we received some feelers late on Wednesday evening that Anurag could shift the release date to November 28. It would be good for the trade if the clash is averted," Datar asserted.

Obviously, he is not firing blanks because Anushka Sharma, Bombay Velvet's leading lady tweeted around 5.30 pm on Wednesday, "What's happening on Nov 28? You will know soon. Wait for my next tweet."

The next tweet was, "Won't be able to attend Bombay Velvet wrap up party tonight. Shooting for NH10 in Rajasthan. Will miss BV gang."

The announcement she was hinting at in the first tweet was connected to the wrap-up party. And at the said party, Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, and leading man, Ranbir Kapoor, reportedly confirmed that the period film will unveil on November 28.

Mirror has it that the think-tank of Bombay Velvet had even discussed the idea of releasing the film on December 12, a week before PK but obviously a three-week headstart is a better option.

This is not the first time that two big films clashing at the box-office have been engaged in a tussle of this kind. Son of Sardar Vs Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Nov. 2012), Talaash Vs Khiladi 786 (Dec-Nov 2012), Once Upon Ay Time in Mumbaai Dobaara Vs Chennai Express (Aug. 2013) are three recent examples.

"It's not fair to ask theatres to run according to a filmmaker or star's whims and fancies. This is nothing but dictatorship and is uncalled for," Datar added.