'Ghajini' already a hit at ticket counters

 

New Delhi, Aamir Khan's much-hyped and eagerly awaited psychological thriller “Ghajini” has set the cash registers ringing in terms of advance bookings, beating Percept Picture Company's animation caper "Jumbo".Both films release after a dry spell of two weeks at the box office after Yash Raj Films' Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" that hit the screens Dec 12.
However, “Ghajini” seems to be the clear winner already, giving the children's film pitted against it a tough competition, say trade experts.
“Considering the hype it has generated with the massive promotion and marketing tactics and looking at Aamir's amazing previous record, the movie is going to have an excellent initial opening vis-?vis 'Jumbo',” Joginder Mahajan, a Delhi-based distributor, told IANS.
“The film ('Ghajini') has got block bookings so far and the paid previews on Dec 24 are already packed. It is expected to sweep in a gross of about Rs.100 million only from north India. Moreover, it has no competition until 'Chandni Chowk To China' hits screens Jan 16,” Mahajan added.
Said Tusshar Dhingra, COO of Big Cinemas: “We are almost sold out on the paid previews of the film. 'Ghajini' has an added advantage as it is opening on Christmas. It also has a bonus of an extended five-day weekend with New Year holidays.”
Written and directed by A.R. Murugadoss, "Ghajini" is the Hindi remake of his 2005 Tamil hit of the same name. The original featured southern actor Surya Sivakumar along with actress Asin Thottumkal, while the remake will see Bollywood perfectionist Aamir Khan taking Surya's place.
“Jumbo”, on the other hand, is a re-dubbed version of the 2006 Thai animated hit “Khan Kluay” directed by Kompin Kemgumnird. Co-produced by Eagle Home Entertainment, the film is about a baby elephant (Jumbo), who embarks on a journey to search for his father.
The main attraction in India are voice-overs form a host of Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Dimple Kapadia and cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
In terms of budget, while the producers of "Ghajini" have invested around Rs.300 million, Percept's “Jumbo” needed a reworking investment of Rs.200 million, including the marketing rights.
So far as the prints are concerned, distributors Geetha Arts, Studio 18 and Big Cinemas are releasing “Ghajini” with about 1,500 prints worldwide vis-?vis the 300 prints of the 90-minute “Jumbo”.
“There has been a high response from overseas exhibitors to 'Ghajini'. Aamir Khan has been off the screen for almost a year and his fan base cannot wait to watch the movie,” said Jawahar Sharma, COO (international distribution) of BIG Pictures.
“Jumbo” hasn't found any slots in single-screens and would be played only in multiplexes.
“Animation is not that successful a genre in India right now and the movie will have a limited audience. But with 'Ghajini' releasing on the same day, it is doubtful whether the movie will even recover its basic costs,” said Mahajan.
Dhingra, on other hand, said that the cartoon film had its own audience.
“Both the films are from different genres and both have different takers. While 'Ghajini' is much hyped because of different reasons, 'Jumbo' also has Akshay Kumar's voice-over to lend it its own standing,” he said.
Shailendra M. Singh, managing director of Percept Pictures, said he was confident about his film doing well.
“We have purposely pitched 'Jumbo' against 'Ghajini' because we feel our film has the ability to stand against a big commercial film. This film is a pure Bollywood potboiler just like a Manmohan Desai movie,” he said.

Madras High Court stays screening of Aamir starrer 'Ghajini'

 

Chennai/Mumbai, The Madras High Court Tuesday stayed the release of the much-awaited Aamir Khan-starred Hindi film "Ghajini", two days before it was to hit the screens worldwide after the producers of the Tamil film on which it is based filed objections.Justice P.R. Shivakumar granted the stay after A. Chandrasekaran, the producer of the original Tamil film of the same name, filed a suit claiming that the producers of the Hindi remake had "fabricated documents to claim ownership over the remake rights".
Senior Counsel A.R.L. Sundaresan who appeared for the petitioner told IANS: "The judge has accepted our plea that Geetha Arts and director A.R. Murugadoss had fabricated documents to claim ownership over the remake rights of the movie 'Ghajini', which our clients had not assigned at all."
"Our matter is not connected to any other matter in any other court," he said, referring to the Bombay High Court order allowing release of the film.
"Our colleagues have filed a caveat to meet any appeal filed during the winter vacation starting tomorrow (Wednesday) in view of the release that was scheduled on Dec 25 - which has now been stayed," Sundaresan added.
"Ghajini", a revenge saga, has Aamir Khan in the lead role and Asin plays his love interest.
In the petition filed in the Bombay High Court, Mumbai-based K.B.C. Pictures had sought a stay claiming "Ghajini" infringed its copyright of a film being made by them on the same subject entitled "Kahani Ghajini Ki".
Film industry circles say an amount of at least Rs.1.2 billion was riding on the Hindi remake.
Mumbai reports said earlier that Rs.140 million had been spent on the Hindi version's publicity alone.
According to the Hindi version's producer Madhu Mantena, various brands being endorsed by actor Aamir Khan have joined hands for the Rs.140-million promotional campaign, the costliest ever Bollywood movie.
"This kind of promotional campaign is necessary to create a hype around the film, so that more people become aware of its release," Mantena said.
Some brands associated with the campaign have come out with their new product lines.
While clothing brand Van Heusen has already launched its new 'Ghajini' apparel, the mobile instrument and accessories' company Samsung has come out with two special edition mobile sets, L700 and M200. These two models are pre-loaded with 'Ghajini' ringtones, songs and pictures.

All my films will star my son Adhyayan: Shekhar Suman

 

Mumbai, Actor Shekhar Suman is not interested in talking about his 20-year-old son Adhyayan's reported affair with actress Kangana Ranaut. Instead, he talks about how all the films made by his production house will star his son.Shekhar launched his production company Windmill Entertainment in association with UTV last year and is planning to produce television shows and films.
"Hopefully, we will be producing a couple of films next year which will have Adhyayan. In fact, all my films will have Adhyayan," Shekhar said.
"Every producer who has an actor-son makes films for him. Rakesh Roshan does it for his son (Hrithik) as well as many other producers. Why shouldn't I?" he asked.
Adhyayan, whose debut film "Haal-E-Dil" was a box office dud, will be trying his luck again in Mahesh Bhatt's "Raaz".
"His first film did not do well but his performance was appreciated," Shekhar said.
Adhyayan's reported love affair with popular actress Kangana has been much talked about, but Shekhar wants his son to concentrate on his career. He does not even see marriage in the near future.
"He (Adhyayan) is just 20. How can he get married? He has to go a long way," Shekhar told IANS.
Refusing to comment on their relationship, Shekhar said: "I think all these personal questions need to be put to them and not me."
Shekhar said he is confident that Adhyayan will get his due in Bollywood after the release of "Raaz" and "Jashn".
"2008 was not good, but 2009 will be good for him as the two films 'Raaz' and 'Jashn' will be releasing in which he has done commendable work. And the praise for his acting came from one of the most able directors of Bollywood like Mahesh Bhatt, which means a lot," Shekhar said.Both films are being produced by Bhatt's Vishesh Films.
As far as his own acting assignments were concerned, Shekhar said he was working for a couple of films with Anand Mahendroo, who produced the hit comedy show "Dekh Bhai Dekh" for Doordarshan in the early 1990s.
"After working with Anand Mahendroo for 'Dekh Bhai Dekh', I am doing two films for him after a long time," Shekhar said.
"Besides, he is planning a film on 'Dekh Bhai Dekh' of which I will be an integral part."

Like Aamir, I'm also quite a perfectionist: Asin

New Delhi, Aamir Khan's perfectionist attitude often sends jitters down his co-stars' spines. But southern beauty Asin, who is set to make her Bollywood debut with Aamir in "Ghajini", says she had no issues matching up to the superstar as she too always settles for nothing but the best."People often call Aamir a perfectionist and a tough taskmaster, but I didn't have any problem matching up to him because I'm also quite a workaholic. We gelled quite well as far as the demand of perfection was concerned. Even I like things to be the best," Asin told IANS over telephone from Mumbai.
Just like any other girl her age, 23-year-old Asin has been a huge Aamir fan.
"I have always admired Aamir and have enjoyed his movies 'Lagaan' and 'Dil Chahta Hai' and also loved 'Taare Zameen Par'. I have danced a lot on 'Dil Chahta Hai' songs with my friends," she said.
After working with the superstar, she says he is unlike what the media and industry project him to be.
"Shooting with Aamir was great fun. He isn't as serious as he is projected to be. He is highly dedicated to his work but is very cool and easy to work with. He's a simple person, very genuine and frank about his opinions despite having such a good stature in Bollywood," said Asin.
The actress, who was brought up in Kerala and debuted in Sathyan Anthikad's Malayalam film "Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka" in 2001, also starred in the Tamil version of "Ghajini" released in 2005. It was in this film that she received her second South Filmfare Award for best actress.
Asin has been kept away from the promotions of the Hindi remake thanks to Aamir's knack for keeping his cast away from the media prior to the release. But she is nonchalant.
"I have not felt overshadowed by Aamir's publicity at all. Actually, I'm not used to all this really because we don't have it in the south film industry. The marketing team for 'Ghajini' has its strategy to promote the film in the right manner. If Aamir is promoting the film in the north, I am doing it in the south," she said.
Besides, Asin believes publicity is something that would only bring people to the theatres. Liking or not liking the film is in the viewers' hands, she said.
According to her, though audiences down south have already seen and appreciated the original "Ghajini", they would surely revisit theatres for Aamir's charm.
"Aamir has got a huge fan following and he is the highlight of the film. In fact, since a lot of people down south have seen the Tamil version of the film, they will now probably come to theatres just to watch Aamir.
"I have no issues about that as 'Ghajini' is the story of Sanjay Singhania, played by Aamir. So the fact that his presence is being highlighted is completely justified," said Asin.
As of now, the actress is "excited but anxious" of how her "new audience" will react to her performance when "Ghajini" hits theatres worldwide.
Her next Bollywood release after "Ghajini" would be Vipul Shah's "London Dreams" in which she stars alongside Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan. She is also a part of Walt Disney's multi-lingual project "19 Steps" and would be sharing screen space with south Indian superstar Kamal Haasan and Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano.

I feel responsible for Anushka: Shahrukh Khan

Anushka Sharma made a dream debut opposite King Khan and has managed to impressed him as her co-star. Shahrukh Khan is mighty impressed with this young girl and this is what he had to say about her -“Anushka in a certain way has helped me a lot with this film. I had to react to this girl who’s so fresh and different. So as an actor, I would say she has kept me on my toes and I think she has done a wonderful job.I feel responsible for her career because she is starting off with me. I hope she does a fantastic job. She kept me on my toes, not just by virtue of being fresh and new, by being taller than me also.I truly from the bottom of my heart pray for her and I hope this film does really good for her and she does some amazing amount of work, so we can feel proud that we started her career on celluloid,” said Shahrukh.Perhaps that’s what makes SRK love his younger co-stars more!

Katrina Kaif is the Goddess of Luck

Katrina Kaif who stole the Nakshatra endorsement deal from Aishwarya’s nose is back with Nakshatra’s new collection of jewelry called the Goddess of Luck. She sizzled on the ramp as she launched the new collection and the shutterbugs went crazy. Check the pictures from the event.

In the best phase in my life: Kareena

Kareena Kapoor is flying high these days. She thinks she is in the best phase of her life both personally and professionally and she just feels lucky. Here are some excerpts from an interview of hers.“It was an exciting phase in my life when so many things rushed down on me at the same time. The last year was a turning-point in my life. But the end result is happy. Both, professionally and emotionally, I think I’ve come out a winner. I’ve tried to be as dignified about my personal life as possible. As for my work, god has been kind.”“There’s absolutely no room for such negativity in my life. I only have place for people who are positive and who make me happy by sharing in my happiness. This is the best phase in my life. And I feel I’m in a place where I’ve never been before. As an actress I feel everyone and that includes me, expects things from me that are not generally expected from Bollywood actresses except maybe Kajol. Or my sister Karisma.”

Talking about Saif, Kareena said,“He’s extremely loving and supportive. He knows how long it’s taken me to get the work that I’m getting now. In fact, the best phase of my career started when Saif came into my life. Now he’s enjoying this phase in my life along with me. That makes this phase even more special. The only thing I miss is time with my family and Saif. When I finish this schedule I head straight to Venice for Sajid Nadiadwala’s “Kambakht Ishq”.” We’re offered a lot of endorsements. But we are not doing any except a shampoo brand (Head & Shoulders). But we’ll soon be signing on for endorsements. And we’re doing another film for Asthvinayak. That starts in April 2009. We want it to be a fast and furious action film. Something larger-than-life. Saif is working very closely with the producers. He’s trying to lock in on the script and director.” Good going girl!