Hindi
Essel Group pumps in Rs 1 bn to set up budget multiplexes
MUMBAI: Essel Group has floated E-City Bioscope Entertainment to set up a chain of budget cinema theatres, for which it has lined up an equity investment of Rs 1 billion.
The Group already operates Fun Cinemas in the premium segment. Talkie Town, Fun‘s value brand, focuses on single screens.
“We have invested Rs 1 billion and are creating ‘economy‘ cinemas. We see viability in the Rs 60-65 ticket model. We will have two-three screens in our multiplexes. Some will also be single screen theatres,” E-City Bioscope Entertainment operating director Gagan Goel tells Indiantelevision.com.
The Bioscope brand of theatres will make their first appearance in the state of Rajasthan. Ajmer will come up in February 2009, says Goel. “Our plan is to have 35-40 screens across 15 centres in Rajasthan over the next 3-4 years.”
Though the multiplex at Jodhpur is already operational, it is not low-priced.
In Rajasthan, Bioscope Entertainment has already acquired land at 10 locations and started construction work in six of them.
Bioscope also plans to launch in other states across B and C class towns. “We are evaluating the land prices. We will have a presence in the Hindi speaking markets,” says Goel.
Bioscope Entertainment will set up malls, food courts, kids zones and multiplexes. “We will sell the retail space and retain the multiplex. We are acquiring land for this, but will also have a model where we take property on lease like in Jodhpur,” says Goel.
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
