|
Omkara versus Badshah?
Has the Ajay Devgan-Shah Rukh
Khan war resumed? That’s the buzz in the film industry.
Apparently Ajay Devgan has been telling people in the media
that his film (Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara) did
not do well because of the ill-timed release of Kabhi
Alvida Naa Kehna. The two films were released very close
to each other. Traditionally, Devgan is not known to give
any kind of excuses for the box-office performance of his
films. But his recent statements have stunned film industrywallahs.
The comment hasn’t gone down well with King Khan either.
Tongues in filmland are wagging again on the cold war between
SRK and Devgan that has been attributed to the fact that
Devgan’s wife Kajol shares a good rapport with Khan.
In fact, the Kajol-Shah Rukh Khan pair has delivered a number
of hits.
Money-back guarantee
There is no shortage of innovation in the Indian film industry.
M.H. Chate, a small-time film maker, has come up with a novel
idea to promote his two new films. To drive audiences to theatres
to watch the films, Chate has announced a special incentive
scheme. During the first week of the release of the film,
the producer has promised to refund the ticket to people who
come up and claim that they did not like the film. The offer,
he says, is valid only for the first week.
There are other incentives
too. Prizes have been announced for viewers who are willing
to double up as film critics. They are supposed to write
a 500-word review that will then be published in the print
media. Almost 1,000 such reviews will be selected and published
in newspapers in different Indian languages.
If you are interested, watch out
for Chate’s Friendship starring Tabu, Jyothica and
Sharbani Mukherjee. The film has been directed by Priyadarshan.
The other film, Phir Bhi Rahengi Nishaniyan has been directed
by Mahesh Kothare. It stars yesteryear film star Padmini
Kolhapure and film and television actor Sachin Khedekar.
Tuning off from
Okhla?
In Delhi, at least two FM
radio stations (Radio Mirchi and Radio City) operate out
of the Okhla Industrial Area. A source in the radio business
tells us that the two may eventually have to re-locate their
offices. The reason? According to the city administration’s
rule book “broadcasting” activity is not among
the services and industries that can operate from the Okhla
Industrial Area. Last heard, one of the stations was talking
to a premier upcoming mall in the city to hire office space.
Moving out
Talking of vacating offices,
The Hindustan Times group is said to be moving out of its
multi-storeyed office building in Connaught Place in the
heart of Delhi. It’s not clear if the editorial staff
will also move but departments such as advertising, sales,
circulation and marketing are said to be ready to move out.
The idea is to make money from renting out the vacant space.
Director’s cut
Director Neeraj Vora has had one
flop, Khiladi 420, and one hit, Phir Hera Pheri, as it was
a sequel to a successful film. But the man has already raised
his price to Rs 2.5 crore for story, screenplay, dialogue
and direction. And surprisingly, he’s getting it too!
Wait, there’s more. He’s also asking for 35 per
cent of the profit from the film. The man’s already
in business having been signed on by Ekta Kapoor and Venus
films. Talk about star prices!
|
