Mumbai:
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Gotcha! Sanjay Gupta | After the mutual dissolution of her partnership with Sanjay Dutt, Ekta Kapoor has now signed a three-film deal with Dutt's archenemy Sanjay Gupta!
After ending her five-film contract with Sanjay Dutt, Ekta Kapoor has now tied up with the actor's arch-enemy Sanjay Gupta.
After Shootout At Lokhandwala (2007), Gupta and Balaji Motion Pictures are now coming together next year to produce three big films.
Deal on hold
According to a source close to Gupta, "Although Shootout was appreciated (which should've ideally lead to more co-productions), they parted ways. Ekta joined hands with a rival production house Sunil Shetty's Popcorn Entertainment and produced Mission Istaanbul and EMI; both tanked. Following that, their deal of producing five movies is now on hold."
It is believed that Ekta pulled the plug on her partnership with Popcorn, as she was not creatively satisfied with the way their films shaped up together. Once Popcorn was out of the picture, Ekta collaborated with Sanjay Dutt for a huge deal to co produce 10 movies over a period of four years for 250 crore. But since none of these films took off, the deal was called off.
Productive outing
According to a source, "The new CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures, Ajit Thakur (also an ex-UTV guy) recommended the tie-up with Gupta as Ekta as their coming together in Shootout had been productive."
Though Gupta and Ekta split professionally, both kept their friendship alive for the last year. They think alike and agree on the kind of cinema they want to produce.
First things first
Ekta Kapoor admits, "Yes I am finalising a three-film deal with Gups and Balaji Motion Pictures. All the films will be very big and of various genres and will roll in 2009. But first, Balaji's solo production Once Upon A Time In Mumbai directed by Milan Luthria and starring Ajay Devgan and Emraan Hashmi will start from April."
Gups is learning of success from Ekta Ma'am
Sanjay Gupta adds, "Ekta and I were always in touch with each other. I have learnt the mantra of success from her. We are both driven by our passion for cinema. Ekta wants commercial and art house films too. Pankh is one such art house film, which has garnered great appreciation on the festival circuits.
The idea is to make big films and also good cinema. To grow, we have to combine our strengths. Thus we will have a balance of Balaij's marketing and financial strengths combined with White Feather Films's creative and conceptual strengths. Our films will be small, medium and big budget."
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