Hindi
’99’ grosses Rs. 49.6 mn in opening weekend
MUMBAI: People Pictures‘ 99, released last week to an overwhelming response. The film had the true word-of-mouth effect that resulted in doubling of ticket sales on 16 and 17 May that saw the box-office collection soar to Rs 49.6 million.
The mid-budget film was released across approximately 400 screens in India.
Says producer Aditya Shastri, “The film is doing well in Mumbai, Delhi, UP, East Punjab, Nizam, Mysore and West Bengal.”
According to co-producer Anupam Mittal, 99 was tracking well in every test screening. “We knew that the film would surely grow on a strong word-of-mouth. We had to overcome the inertia that audiences had with no new Hindi films releasing in cinemas,” he quips.
Mittal notes that the film played true to script and now with the connect and audience reactions being borne out by the box-office results, the performance of the film should keep building.
“We released a few prints in the smaller centres to see the outcome, but 99 being an urban, slick flick has yielded us a better response from multiplexes and bigger cities. We hope this run will continue with smaller cities in the near future. The film started off on a slow note on the first day, but it has picked up pace at the box-office and I think it will continue to do so. That is why we‘re increasing the marketing spends too,” states Mittal.
99 is a story inspired by real events of 1999 and 2000. Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK and produced by Anupam Mittal and Aditya Shastri, 99 promises to be an original concoction of crime, comedy and coolness.
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
