Aamir beats SRK in numbers game, Ghajini rights sold for Rs 90 crore Meenakshi
Verma Ambwani
The Economic Times
WITHpre-release movie rights becoming hot property, the Hindi remake
ofTamil movie Ghajini, starring Aamir Khan, has earned an estimated Rs 90crore
by selling its distribution rights. Last year, Om Shanti Om wasthe top grosser
in distribution rights, it sold the rights to Eros fora reported Rs 73 crore.
The Indian Film Company has bagged thedomestic distribution rights for the
Aamir Khanstarrer for an estimatedRs 53 crore. IFC is managed by B K
Enterprises a joint venture ofViacom and Raghav Bahl. Producers Madhu Varma and
Allu Arvind have soldthe home video rights, overseas rights and satellite
rights for anotherRs 40 crore.
When contacted, the Indian Film Company’s SandeepBhargav confirmed that
they had bought the rights for the untitledHindi remake of Ghajini. Ghajini has
been the highest grossing Tamilhit. I believe that the remake of Ghajini will
be one of the biggestfilms of this year. It stars Aamir Khan, so it’s a special
film. Wehave acquired it at a value that includes marketing and printexpenses.”
Agreeing that acquisition prices for movies havesignificantly risen this
year, Mr Bhargav added that return oninvestments on movies have also gone up
considerably. “We are workingout a distribution strategy for the movie.
However, our experience withJab We Met and Welcome has been good and
profitable,” he said. TheIndian Film Company would also distribute Akshay
Kumar-starrer Singh isKinng for a reported Rs 60 crore.
An action thriller, theHindi remake of Ghajini will be directed by A R
Murugadoss and starAsin Thottumkal and Jiah Khan as well. The film is slated
for releasein October. A source said that the ADAG-owned Adlabs has most
likelybagged the overseas rights for the film.
The Hindi movieindustry has seen a huge surge in distribution rights from
companieswho were earlier limited to movie production. This is fast becoming
asignificant source of revenue for production houses, believe industryplayers.
