MUMBAI: Salman Khan may not have a film releasing soon but he sure knows how to keep himself in the news. Reportedly, the theatrical rights for his upcoming film ‘Mental’ have been sold for a whopping Rs 150 crore; all this without a single image or trailer being released.
A month ago, there were reports that ‘Mental’ would be sold for Rs 130 crores. At that time, Sohail Khan who is directing the film had said, “I have never quoted this price. The film is growing at every stage and thus these things keep changing,” he said. He had also said that the price would be quoted close to the release of Mental and it would be a transparent figure.
But it does look like things are temporary in Bollywood, with Sohail Khan reportedly selling the rights of ‘Mental’ for more than the amount quoted earlier. In comparison, Salman Khan’s earlier film Dabangg 2 was sold for less than half the rate at Rs 70 crores. Shah Rukh Khan’s film with Rohit Shetty, Chennai Express has been sold to UTV Motion Pictures for Rs 105 crores, while Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One was acquired for Rs 126 crores.
Details of this acquisition have not been made public yet, and there isn’t information as to who has acquired the rights of ‘Mental’. We tried getting in touch with Sohail Khan but he remained unavailable for comment.
‘Mental’ is a remake of the Telugu film ‘Stalin’ and features debutant Sana Khan opposite Salman Khan. Tabu also features in the film as Salman Khan’s sister. The film will release in Januray 2014.