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Ekta Kapoor, for lengthy overwhelmed by space problems for her countless serials currently being shot in studio complexes in Mumbai owned by Balajee Films, is now setting up to build her own film city.

Says a source very close to the project, "Ekta has always felt bogged by the lack of physical and creative space. We at Balajee can never capture the mythical 'Magic Hour' from the movies in our serials because we've to ration our time on the roads and public places.
Ekta plans to build a whole studio complex, not unlike Nitin Desai's studio in Karjat, with inbuilt roads and lanes so that we get an epic feel into our soaps, and we can control the lighting.

If you see Raj Kapoor or Bhansali's films you can see the quality and texture of lighting is unique. Ekta wants that quality in her serials."
Ekta is planning to build her own film city on the outskirts of Mumbai near Thane. In fact the land purchase is almost complete.

Ekta chuckles at the dream project that waits realization early next year. "I'll say this much. I'm the greatest Sanjay Leela Bhansali fan in the universe. I've seen Devdas 3,000 times. It's the only DVD in my room.

I know every frame by heart. When I met him for the first time in Anil Kapoor's house I just grinned goofily. I'm in love with him. Mr Bhansali has re-defined screen opulence. Mr Bhansali jokes that every time he makes a serial he knows he's Ekta is going to copy it.

We've two new shows coming on Sony on November 19. And my crew jokes that after seeing Saawariya I'm going to change all the episodes after an urgent meeting in the middle of the night. I'm going to sit with pen and paper and take notes when I see Saawariya."

She adds, "Ever since I saw Devdas I wanted to create a similar aura in the studios. If I want to show Bikaner or New York in my serial I want to create them in a studio. That real feel can never be got outdoors.

So yes, I'm looking at creating that mythical 'Magic Hour' for my serials."

The slick appeal of the Ajay Devgn- and Emraan Hashmi-starrer retro era criminal world saga ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’ managed to carry back the queues and the ‘House Full’ board at the ticket counters this weekend.

”Once Upon…’ has been rocking on the screens in terms of numbers. It has had the major opening overseas ever, especially in Dubai, for any Ajay Devgn- or Emraan Hashmi-starrer,’ Sunny Khanna, senior vice president, Balaji Motion Pictures, told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

‘It has even had the major opening in terms of a Diwali release, like last year’s ‘All The Best’ that had Ajay and Sanjay Dutt,’ he added.

Trade sources claim the movie has grossed over Rs.30 crore (Rs.300 million) in the domestic market in its initial run and is expected to touch the Rs.75 crore gross mark in its overall run worldwide. In the Middle-East, ‘Once Upon…’ grossed around AED 1 million (close to Rs.13 million) in Dubai in four days (as movies release on Thursdays there).

Multiplexes too are going gaga over the movie’s trade.

‘The movie is a super duper hit. We have had an average occupancy of 92 percent for the initial weekend with 15 shows that went housefull on Sunday. The film has been appreciated by one and all and we are expecting a good quality run over the week, and a definite second week run,’ Amit Awasthi, senior manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, told IANS.

Added Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas: ‘It was a rocking weekendwith 80-90 percent occupancy. The content, star cast, story and acting – all has been appreciated. Every actor fits into his or her character. It will sustain this week and it will have a second week run too definitely.’

Co-produced by Balaji Telefilms and Popcorn Entertainment for close to Rs.32 crore (Rs.320 million), including marketing and distribution costs, the starcast of the Milan Luthria directed action drama also includes Kangana Ranaut, Prachi Desai and Randeep Hooda.

Set primarily in 1970s Mumbai, ‘Once Upon…’ traces the changing face of the Mumbai underworld seen through the eyes of a police officer (Randeep).

The crime thriller follows the rise of Sultan (Ajay) and his eventual debacle when his protege Shoaib (Emraan) challenges his supremacy and usurps power to rule the murky underbelly of thecity.

‘The opening for the movie has been really well and it has had a decent occupancy of 60-65 percent. The content has been appreciated and it looks like a promising week. It should definitely have a second week run too,’ said Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas.

Added Amit Shah, chief manager (programming) of DLF DT cinemas: ‘The weekend was good with ‘Once Upon…’ It is a must-watch film. Friday and Saturday were good and steady but it picked up very well Sunday onwards, courtesy reviews and word of mouth. We have had an overall average occupancy of 60-65 percent over the weekend.’

Prachi Desai, the sweet, young actress of bollywood who rocked in Ekta Kapoor’s flick ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’, has been roped in to become the brand ambassador for Goa tourism. 

The tourism department has decided to shift focus from a holiday destination for families to affluent youth of the country and for that it needed a young face like Prachi Desai to represent it on television, print and other forms of media. 

The months of August and September will see a documentary featuring Prachi Desai gushing about the beautiful locations of Goa and talking about other positive aspects of the state. 


On 15th August, our independence day, a contest by the name of ‘Love Aaj, Kal Go Goa Contest’ will be telecast with the global premiere of Saif Ali Khan’s hit flick ‘Love Aaj Kal’ on television. 

The contestants will have to answer three simple questions and the winners will get a holiday package to Goa with airfare. The tourism department decided to shift its focus to youth after it found out in a survey that half of the country population was below twenty- five years of age and they would love to go to Goa, if given an opportunity.

Prachi Desai was thought to be suitable for the job due to her non-starry airs and reasonable remuneration.

In any case, the endorsement deal with Goa tourism is a big step forward for the young actress who is only two films old in bollywood.

Earlier, Prachi Desai was the leading lady of Ekta Kapoor’s tele serial ‘Kasamh Se’, which was also very popular with the audiences. 

Later, she joined bollywood with ‘Rock On’ opposite Farhan Akhtar.

The movie was hit and her role was critically appreciated. Then came ‘Once Upon a time in Mumbaai’, which helped her in firming up her hold in bollywood.

In its third week, Ekta Kapoor’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai is shake stable at the box office and speculations are widespread about a sequel. Quiz Emraan Hashmi on this and he says, “I’m game but we have to break a excellent concept first, followed by months of pre-production. It’s too early to publicize anything yet.”

Will Part 2 be titled Once Upon A Time In Dubai and be Dawood Ibrahim’s story? “It will be Shoaib Khan’s story,” he retorts, pointing out that Shoaib starts out as a somewhat vulnerable young man who idolises Sultan Mirza, finds his place in the power game, basks in his newfound success and finally guns down his mentor. “The sequel will obtain off from that point. We have still to fix on the era but it would most likely be set in the post 1980s.”

Not Dawood
Hashmi argues that still in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, in spite of the parallels drawn, Shoaib’s character was not modeled on Dawood alone. “The look was broad and the muses plenty. And finally, it was pure fiction,” he says, insisting he’s not got any calls from D company, before or after the release, as the buzz goes.

Meanwhile, the star is gearing up for two more sequels. Murder 2 should obtain off by the end of the year. “We have our idea, it’s smashing stuff,” Hashmi exults. “The characters and their stories will be dissimilar but, I assure, Part 2 will be an yet bigger hit than Murder.” Raaz 3 should also begin post April 2011.

“We’re toying with the plan of making it in 3D, to take it a notch higher in the horror genre,” Hashmi informs, adding that he will also be a part of Jannat 2 once Kunal Deshmukh has locked the script. “Jannat was a landmark film for me and though Arjun died, his son lives on. Besides, cricket is still a religion in India and its controversies have only gotten bigger in the last two years. Jannat 2 is a viable project.”

Before that, however, Hashmi has one more film, Crook—It’s Good To Be Bad, coming up. On the issue of racism, it is about an India boy who goes to Australia chasing after a mirage, only to be torn between the law and standing up for his countrymen.

“After my post-graduation, I required to go to the US to study special effects. But then I got into movies, first as an helper director and then an actor, and life changed,” he reminisces. “May be Raaz 3 will give me a chance to study SFX, sitting in India.”