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'Shah Rukh is the winner of all hearts'
Shyam Bhatia in London | June 11, 2003 20:40 IST
Eros International, the largest distributor of Hindi films abroad, is now poised to become a major filmmaker. Its first production is the Vipul Shah film Waqt -- Race Against Time, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar. Shah had earlier directed them in Aankhen.
Kishore Lulla, managing director, Eros International, which controls 70 per cent of the Bollywood overseas market, told rediff.com in an exclusive interview, "We are no longer just a distribution company; we are on the model of a studio. We are now going into film finance and production -- just like MGM or Fox or Paramount."
The London-based Lulla, who also co-founded the digital Bollywood movie channel B4U, added, "The idea is basically to control the full value chain from the production of a film till it releases in the theatres. We also have plans to go into digital cinema.
"We know the ins and outs of the film industry. We have been financing films for the last 20 years. This project will be a budget-making exercise -- make the movies under this budget, include these aspects so distributors don't lose money... Obviously, we will retain the overseas rights, which is the major source of revenue for the film industry anyway.
"We will not just be investing in Hindi films," he continued. "We will be going into crossover films. You will hear from us over the next month; it may be something bigger than Bend It Like Beckham."
Lulla is also the overseas distributor for the Shah Rukh Khan-Juhi Chawla-Aziz Mirza production Chalte Chalte. The film stars Shah Rukh and Rani Mukerji. On the eve of its London premiere on Friday, June 13, at Leicester Square, Lulla said, "Shah Rukh called me about the reactions in India. Basically, people are saying, 'We love you, Shah Rukh.' He is the winner of all hearts today....
rediff
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