For filmstar Bipasha Basu, the New Year festivities will be a hugely rewarding experience. As she spreads cheer among fellow Mumbaikars, Basu will get a whopping Rs 2.47 crore for a 15-minute song-and-dance appearance at Mumbai’s Sahara Star, a suburban hotel next to the airport.
That makes it Rs 16.46 lakh per minute and Sahara has named the event Seduction 2010. Basu got Rs 1 crore for her performance at the same venue in 2007. Last year, hotels in Mumbai cancelled New Year and Christmas revelry in the light of the terrorist attack in the city.
Sahara will sell food and beverage passes for Rs 11,500 per person on New Year’s eve and has priced its rooms at Rs 30,000-45,000.
J W Marriott, another five-star hotel in the city, could have been one-up on Sahara on showmanship, but for Katrina Kaif’s illness. The screen heart-throb was to perform for Rs 2.5 crore, but had to cancel the show after she fell ill. The hotel is now making do with choreographer Bosco Ceaser, Infra Red band and a few DJs.
At other hotels, like the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, The Oberoi and ITC Grand Central, their grand chefs are dishing out signature dishes for their customers on the New Year’s eve.
“Since we are a business hotel, revenue for us comes mainly from the food and beverages section. The emphasis thus has been on the same. We have designed special menus for our customers and will offer goodies to our customers who book with us and stay overnight,” said a source from one of the business hotels in suburban Mumbai.
The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai will present live band “Free Spirit”, which will perform numbers spanning the decades from the 1960’s-80’s. Its grand chef Hemant Oberoi will dish out a grand menu at the Zodiac Grill. Dinner at the restaurant is priced at Rs 25,000 for a couple.
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The entertainment industry isn’t far behind, with multiplexes doling out goodies. Anil Ambani’s BIG Cinemas, for example, is taking Christmas celebrations to another level. The multiplex is offering “Christmas brunch” at Rs 1,000 per person — Rs 400 for the movie ticket and the rest for unlimited food. “We have taken special licence for three days (December 25, 26 and 27) to offer wine as well. In addition, we are also giving away gift hampers against sale of a certain number of tickets,” said Ashish Saksena, COO, BIG Cinemas.
Aamir Khan’s 3Idiots slated for release on December 25 is all set to hit screens with over 1,000 prints. Ticket prices have been increased by 30 per cent and the multiplexes are 95 per cent booked for the preview on December 24.
“For multiplexes, a good film is celebration time. A mega release like 3Idiots is setting the mood for us, after a long time we see people coming back to theatres to watch a film,” said Gautam Dutta, CEO-Cine Media, PVR Cinemas.
Retailers have joined in the celebrations as well. Most say they have seen a jump of at least 20-25 per cent in sales compared to same period last year.
“Last year the Christmas-New Year was a complete wash-out. This year it is rocking. Since consumer mood is very upbeat, we are seeing a sales growth of 25 per cent compared to last year,” said Nikhil Chaturvedi, managing director of Provogue, an apparel retailer.
Retailers say the upswing in sales started since Diwali when they saw double digit growth in sales. “There has been improvement since last week. Diwali itself was very good and the trend has continued,” said Ajay Baijal, chief executive of Reliance Digital, a consumer durable and electronics chain.
Added Kishore Bhatija, chief executive officer of Inorbit Malls: “Our malls saw highest trading in October. In December also, we are expecting similar growth.”