Here's what our filmmakers earn in times of recession:
Anees Bazmee
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 9-10 cr
Prominent hits: Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Deewangee, No Entry, Welcome and Singh is Kinng
Worst flop: Sandwich
Number of projects in hand: 9
Arguably one of the most successful filmmakers in recent times, Anees Bazmee has managed to carve a niche for himself and his kind of films. After the stupendous success of Welcome and later Singh is Kinng, Bazmee has become the most sought-after director in Bollywood.
Anees Bazmee has finished shooting with Ajay Devgan for Benaam and is currently busy with It's My Life starring Hurman Baweja and Genelia.
Also in the pipeline are the sequels to No Entry, Mr India, Hera Pheri and Welcome.
Then there is the Rs 100 crore project for T-Series starring Salman Khan and a comedy called No Problem. Finally the director has in principle agreed to finish a project for which the late Prakash Nichani (a prominent Mumbai hotelier) had paid him Rs 5 crore.
Anees Bazmee had refused to return his money after his death though he promised to make a movie instead. The maker has not committed on the date when he can get the project rolling, though.
PAGE_BREAK
Abbas-Mustan
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 4-5 cr
Prominent hits: Khiladi, Baazigar, Soldier, Badshah, Ajnabee, Humraaz, Aitraaz and Race
Worst flops: Daraar, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Tarzaan, 36 China Town and Naqab
Number of projects in hand: 1
Some said that Abbas-Mustan's time was over. They had in the recent past delivered some real box office duds like 36 China Town and Naqab among other movies.
In fact Naqab tanked so badly, it only added to the long line of flops Bobby Deol delivered in his career.
Then of course there is the thing with them about copying Western flicks frame by frame. Daraar was a copy of Sleeping with the Enemy; Naqab was taken frame by frame from a movie called Dot the I; Dewaangee was a copy of Primal Fear. The list could probably go on.
Yet Abbas-Mustan came back into the limelight last year with Race. The film was one of the first few successes of last year.
Currently they are working on the much-delayed Sanjay Dutt-Bipasha Basu movie called Mr Fraud. And though they are supposed to direct the sequels to Khiladi and Baazigar – these movies are yet to be officially announced.
PAGE_BREAK
Madhur Bhandarkar
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 3.5-4 crore and a share of 50 per cent profit margin in all his projects
Prominent hits: Chandni Bar, Page 3, Corporate and Fashion
Worst flops: Trishakti, Satta, Aan
Number of projects in hand: 5
After having created a special brand of 'realistic' movies in Bollywood, Madhur Bhandarkar is now a much established name who even owns a production house.
Traditionally, Madhur's films revolved around everyday people and sought to expose the sham behind the glamour. Page 3 was the beginning of this journey.
His later films – especially Traffic Signal – earned him a lot of flak from the critics. Fashion, despite its discrepancies, did great business at the box office.
Currently, Madhur Bhandarkar is busy with his most ambitious project so far, Jail starring Neil Nitin Mukesh. A sequel to Chandni Bar is also on the cards and is completing three-film project with Percept Picture Company and UTV Motion Pictures after Fashion and Jail.
PAGE_BREAK
Priyadarshan
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 3-4 crore
Prominent hits: Gardish, Viraasat, Hera Pheri, Hungama, Hulchul, Bhagam Bhag, Chup Chup Ke, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Billu
Worst flops: Saat Rang Ke Sapne, Kabhi Na Kabhi, Doli Saja Re Rakhna, Dhol
Number of projects in hand: 2
They call him the hit machine. If you want to make a comic flick, Priadarshan is the man to go to. It all probably started with Hera Pheri, after which Priyan found his comfort zone.
Ever since he's been making slapstick comedies, many of them remakes of South Indian movies. Most of his films are considered safe bets at the box office and it was his Bhool Bhulaiyya and Bhagam Bhag that helped Akshay Kumar reach the number one spot in the business.
Priyan is currently working on two projects De Dana Dan starring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Suniel Shetty in the lead roles. The second one is a Hindi remake of an acclaimed Oscar-nominated Iranian film Children Of Heaven. Darsheel Safary will star in this one and will release early next year.
PAGE_BREAK
David Dhawan
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 2.5-3 crore
Prominent hits: Hero No 1, Coolie No 1, Biwi No 1, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Partner
Worst flops: Shaadi No 1, Loafer, Yeh Hai Jalwa, Ek Aur Ek Gyarah and Chor Machaye Shor
Number of projects in hand: 3
Before the Priyan wave, David Dhawan was the undisputed comedy king. However after the failure of Shaadi No 1 and the average run of some other films his credibility took a beating.
However David made a comeback with Partner, a movie that was a copy of the Will-Smith starrer- Hitch. The director has plans to direct the sequel to the movie. However he is currently busy making two films – one with UTV and the other with Vashu Bhagnani.
UTV's Hook Ya Crook stars John Abraham, Genelia and Shreyas Talpade in the lead roles and Do Knot Disturb for Vashu Bhagnani is to star Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen.
PAGE_BREAK
Farah Khan
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 7-8 crore
Prominent hits: Main Hoon Naa and Om Shanti Om
Worst flops: None
Number of projects in hand: 1
When choreographer Farah Khan decided to direct a movie, Shah Rukh Khan put all his might behind the film. The result was Main Hoon Na. Farah repeated her success with Om Shanti Om, which went on to do record business at the box office.
Farah then took a break during which she became a mother of triplets.
The filmmaker is now planning to return to her first love and Shah Rukh Khan is all set to support her all over again.
Happy New Year however was supposed to be Farah's second project till Shah Rukh suggested she re-work the script. In the interim Om Shanti Om hit the screens.
PAGE_BREAK
Sajid Khan
Approximate fees for one film: Rs 2-3 crore
Prominent hit: Heyy Babyy
Worst flops: None
Number of projects in hand: 1
Brother of Farah Khan, Sajid Khan was probably born to make movies. A visit to his house will reveal what an avid movie buff he is. The traces of his love for cinema can be traced far back to his television days when he'd host film-based shows without any scripts!
Sajid made his directorial debut with Heyy Babyy, which did great business at the box office.
However, for a year-and-a-half after that, Sajid never really took on any other films. He is currently working on House Full, a movie that will star Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta and Jiah Khan.
And if Sajid is to be believed the movie will stay true to its name. We certainly hope so too!
Comments
0 comment