BR Films ramps up production; signs three directors

MUMBAI: Film production seems to be picking pace like never before. Taking a lead is BR Films’ Ravi Chopra, who is getting aggressive on production.

Chopra already has multiple projects in the pipeline namely Bhootnath, Heaven on Earth, Pocketmaar, Mahabharat and an animation film Hum Paanch. Apart from these, he has also signed three more directors – Rahul Dholakia (of Parzania fame), Vivek Sharma (Bhootnath) and Sanjeevan. The three directors will be working on a film each under the BR Films banner.

Dholakia has written and directed the critically acclaimed film Parzania based on the Gujarat riots. Says Chopra, “Rahul will be doing a film, which revolves around two friends. We are currently working on the script, which should be ready soon.” The film will be made on a budget of Rs 250 – Rs 300 million (Rs 25 – 30 crores). However, the star cast has not been finalized yet.

Sharma, who makes his directorial debut with Bhootnath, has been signed for a second film by Chopra. He will be directing a love story with a social message. This movie will also be made on a budget of Rs 250 – 300 million. Both the films will be released around May next year.

BR Films will also kick start the third project with documentary filmmaker Sanjeevan. The film is titled Betiyaan and is based on women trafficking. “Sanjeevan has been making a lot of documentaries; he was the perfect choice for this movie. We will cast two women leads and a new young face,” adds BR Films CEO Sanjay Bhutiani.

On the other hand, BR Films’ Bhootnath starring Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla with Shah Rukh Khan in a special appearance will be released on 11 April, 2008. Work is also on Deepa Mehta’s film Heaven On Earth with Preity Zinta in the lead. Mehta will be co-producing the movie with Chopra. Heaven On Earth is a Punjabi film. The story, which is inspired from a real life story of Mehta’s friend, deals with the lives of immigrants in a foreign land.

Apart from these, the company has also embarked on an animation film titled Hum Paanch, based on the childhood of the Pandavas. The film is budgeted at Rs 125 million (Rs 12.5 crores) and is being worked on by Pix N Trix, an animation studio in which BR Films acquired a majority stake last year.

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