Yashraj Films and multiplex owners at loggerheads over <I>Fanaa</I> : Bollywood News : ApunKaChoice.Com


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Aamir Khan

Yashraj Films and multiplex owners at loggerheads over Fanaa
25th May 2006 14.00 IST
By ApunKaChoice Bureau

The forthcoming Aamir Khan – Kajol starrer Fanaa is rolling into one controversy after another.

Fanaa is already facing release problems in Gujarat and now it is encountering problems of the same kind in Mumbai also.

But while the problem in Gujarat is due to Aamir’s anti-Narmada dam stand, the problem is monetary in Mumbai.

Yashraj Films , the producer and distributor of Fanaa is demanding more profit margins from multiplex owners in Mumbai.

The Mumbai multiplex owners are not comfortable with this and have threatened to boycott Fanaa.

The Film and Television Producers Guild of India on Wednesday condemned the decision of multiplex owners to boycott Fanaa.

"On behalf of the guild, we would like to strongly condemn the action of your members to boycott the release of our member Yashraj Films Fanaa," Guild president Amit Khanna said in a release.

"This uncalled for action is against the spirit of free enterprise and amounts to a cartelisation," Khanna said.

In a veiled threat to the multiplex theatre owners, he said, "If your members decided to go ahead with their blockade, we will too have to advise our members to take necessary steps to safeguard their interests." He further reminded that the producers were the "fountain head" of the film industry and their "confrontationist attitude" would only lead to disquiet in the fraternity.

Meanwhile, PVR Cinema COO (programming), Ashish Saxena termed the letter issued by Guild as "premature" and said "we are still negotiating regarding the actual margin. The negotiations have taken longer time than usual, but we are hopeful of a amicable solution."

He further added that there was still an entire day left before the release date. "Hence the comments by the Guild President in his letter were slightly premature.

Meanwhile, Kunal Kohli , who has directed Fanaa, fears that the troubles in Gujarat and Mumbai will affect his film's business.

Kohli told a news agency, "If Fanaa is not released in multiplexes, it will affect business."

However, while defending Yashraj Films' demand for "better" commission on the movie from multiplexes, he said, "But more than business, it is a matter of principle about the product that we are offering. We are not asking for more. Usually, in the multiplexes, they give 50 per cent commission in the first week, 40 per cent in the second week and 30 percent in the third week. We are just asking a little more than that."

"Talks are on and there is still hope that Fanaa will be released in multiplexes and we will try and resolve the issue. Yashraj films never asked for any money," Kohli added.

However, when contacted, Yashraj Films spokesperson denied any controversy over the issue and said, "there is no problem at all."

Meanwhile, trade analyst Pappu Shah said, "We can't say anything till the meeting (of the multiplexes association) gets over. Let us see till evening, we might have some results."

Cinema halls Maratha Mandir and Gaiety theatre owner Manoj Desai said, "I was not present at the meeting, but, according to rumours, the Yashraj Films has asked the multiplex owners to keep the movie ticket rates from Rs 250 to Rs 300, which the latter have reportedly refused. My theatre Gaiety has the lowest rates from Rs 35 to Rs 55 and Maratha Mandir has Rs 40 to Rs 50. The business will be affected in view of this controversy."

Incidentally, Fanaa is being anxiously awaited by movie buffs and has raised curiosity with Aamir and Kajol being paired together for the first time.

More so, people are expecting Aamir to deliver a hit, particularly since his last movie Rang De Basanti turned out to be a blockbuster.

Fanaa has been extensively shot in Kashmir, Delhi and Poland, and apart from Aamir and Kajol, boasts of a huge star cast, including Rishi Kapoor , Tabu , Kiron Kher , Shiney Ahuja , Gautami Kapoor, Lara Dutta and unconfirmed reports say that Abhishek Bachchan also plays a small but important role in the film.

Fanaa is slated to be released nationwide this Friday.

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Aamir Khan
Kajol
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Yashraj Films
Kunal Kohli
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Shiney Ahuja
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Abhishek Bachchan