Hindi
Warner Bros unveils slate of four Bollywood films
MUMBAI: Warner Bros is pumping up its movie business in India. In a fresh deal aimed at increasing the Bollywood slate, the company has inked a three-film production and distribution deal with People Tree Films, a production house set up by Mukesh Talreja (producer of Tere Naam) and Nikhil Advani (director of Kal Ho Na Ho).
Warner Bros Pictures India‘s pact is for the films titled Jaane Kahaa Se Aayi Hai, Chandbhai and Basra.
“We will not only co-produce the films but also distribute and market them in India and overseas,” says a Warner Bros spokesperson.
Warner Bros has also signed a film with Vinay Pathak and Rituparna Sengupta. The film, titled SRK, is currently under production.
Jaane Kahaa Se Aayi Hai, directed by Milap Milan Zaveri, stars Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ruslaan Mumtaz. A romantic comedy about a woman from Venus who crash-lands on earth looking for love, the film is slated for a 2009 summer release. The music of the film has been composed by Sajid & Wajid.
Chandbhai is Nikhil Advani‘s second directorial venture with Warner Bros. after Chandni Chowk to China. The film, which casts Akshay Khanna and Vidya Balan as the lead protagonists, tells the story of two characters who change their lives by facing their inner demons and embracing life and happiness in the process. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy are the music directors of the film.
Directed by Navdeep Singh, Basra revolves around the lives of a spy and a cop. The film stars Akshaye Khanna as the central figure.
Says Talreja, “We are looking at releasing Jaane Kahaa Se Aayi Hai in the summer of 2009, Chandbhai during Diwali 2009 and Basra will hit the cinemas by 2009-end.”
Warner Bros forayed into Bollywood film production with Saas bahu Aur Sensex. Chandni Chowk to China, a $12 million budget film which is slated for release on 16 January, is Warner Bros Pictures‘ second Bollywood film.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros Pictures India had inked a multi-movie deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth‘s Ocher Studios. The pact covered the production and distribution of South Indian language films to be released by Warner Bros.
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
