GECs
Sony Pictures India crosses Rs 1 billion mark for third time in four years
MUMBAI: The Indian operations of Sony Pictures Entertainment are going from strength to strength. Following a disappointing 2005, the studio has rebounded and has announced that it has crossed the Rs 1 billion mark in ticket sales for the third time in four years.
This milestone was previously crossed in 2002 and 2004 and is a record for Hollywood in India. For 2006, Sony broke its own record. It made Rs 1,056,856,024 compared to Rs 1,019,240,000 in 2002 and Rs 1,001,693,000 in 2004.
The record was helped by the latest Bond film Casino Royale, probably the best Bond film since Sean Connery. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the film opened across 427 prints and 452 screens, largest print and screen count. In the opening weekend it made Rs 149 million almost twice that of Spider-Man 2, which had made Rs 78 million in 2004.
This year Sony also had four films in the top 10 list for opening weekend for Hollywood films. Besides the Bond film, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 made Rs 31 million. Thanks to the controversy surrounding its release The Da Vinci Code made Rs 30 million and The Chronicles of Narnia made Rs 24 million.
Sony also became the first Hollywood studio to foray into local production with Saawariya. The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will be released next Diwali.
Casino Royale was the first Hollywood film to cross the Rs 100 million mark. It did that in two days. Sony anticipates it to be the second largest grosser of all times for any foreign language film in India. It made Rs 330 million as of 29 November 2006.
Sony Pictures releasing of India MD Uday Singh says, “We are extremely proud to be the only studio to ever reach this box office pinnacle and that too thrice in a short span of four years. This inspired performance has been due to a fabulous line-up put together by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Buena Vista International and our partners in India and of course the stupendous efforts put in by our talented and dedicated marketing and distribution teams across India. This is truly a historic and a memorable moment for all of us.
“The future looks exciting with highly anticipated tent pole products like Ghost Rider, Pursuit of Happiness, Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Surf Up, Resident Evil 3 and National Treasure 2. 2007 is also a special year as it marks the launch of our first Hindi title, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Saawariya on 9 November, 2007.”
In a year, approximately 70-72 films are released by the Hollywood Studios in India. Releases from other sources (the Independent Importers) is not known. More and more titles are being released day and date with the US – to kill piracy at one end and to cash in on the global marketing campaign at one shot at the other end.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
