Ashok Kheny, managing director of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) that promotes the Rs 4,000 crore Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, has decided to produce a chain of films through his new entertainment company, AKK Entertainment. He will also set up a film city near Bangalore with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore.
Kheny had hit national headlines for confrontations with former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on issues regarding land acquisition for the project. The BMIC project is yet to be completed with several cases pending in courts. With the infrastructure project, which was originally drawn up to reduce travel time between Bangalore and Mysore, being mired in controversy, Kheny promises to lighten the mood by producing only ‘fun’ movies.
The Bangalore-based infrastructure czar is releasing its debut Hindi movie Prem Kaa Game (PKG) starring Arbaaz Khan and Bangalore starlet Madhuri Bhattacharya in at least 500 theatres across the country on Friday.
Typically, films with heavy star cast release in more than 500 theatres. After a long time, a medium-budget movie like PKG is breaking this rule, industry watchers said. The company is also said to be in talks with Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan and Tamil superstar Rajnikant, sources close to the development said. Talking to FE, Kheny said, ?We are in talks with big stars, but can not disclose the names right now.? However, he confirmed that his entertainment company would produce at least six films in the next two years, primarily Hindi and Kannada movies. ?We are also planning to produce English movies,? he said.
The company has already started working on the second part of PKG. On an average, the company plans to produce 4-5 films a year. “I think the potential of showbiz in India is yet to be realised fully. We have activated our global offices to contribute all their strength to work on international collaborations as well,” he said. He is also planning to set up a mega entertainment city with 20 studios covering 300 acres near Bangalore.
In the entertainment city, he said there would be eight studios each for cinema and TV, two special effect studios and two others for producing advertisement films.