 "Eros to distribute Salman Khan's maiden production projects")
Bajrangi Bhaijaan will see the return of the director-actor duo Kabir Khan and Salman Khan, who had earlier teamed up for the 2012 hit Ek Tha Tiger. The film went on floors earlier this month and is set for an Eid release in July 2015. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is produced by Salman Khan and Rockline Venkatesh Films.
The second film under the Salman Khan Films banner, Nikhil Advani’s Hero, is a modern day remake of Subhash Ghai’s classic of the same name. It will see the launch of two new stars and is set for release in summer 2015.
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Jyoti Deshpande, Group CEO Eros International said, “We are delighted and excited to partner with Salman Khan for his first home productions and showcase this brilliant line-up to a global audience with our worldwide marketing, digital and distribution network.
The combination of Salman, Kabir Khan, Eid and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, not only promises fans and audiences larger than life entertainment, but we also look to it setting new box office records as Salman did this year. We are equally excited to launch bright new talent with Hero and are positive the audiences will embrace Nikhil’s interpretation of the classic musical romantic hit.”
Amar Butala COO Salman Khan Films said, “These are exciting times at Salman Khan Films as we launch our first two home productions. Salman and Director Kabir Khan come together again for the much awaited ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ which releases in Eid 2015 and also stars Kareena Kapoor and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Our second production ‘Hero’ is a co-production with Mukta Arts, and is a modern day adaptation of Subhash Ghai’s classic of the same name being directed by Nikhil Advani. The company is also launching two new stars Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in this film. We are happy to collaborate with Eros for both the films to fulfill our vision and ensure the maximum global exposure for our films.”
With this, Salman Khan has joined his peers Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn and Anil Kapoor as an actor turned producers. The trend has been catching on in Bollywood and now, female actors like Anushka Sharma and Priyanka Chopra have also launched their own production houses. Salman Khan is one of the most bankable stars at the box office currently. His latest film Kick netted Rs 233 crore at the domestic box office, garnering more than 30% returns on investment for the producers (Sajid Nadiadwala and UTV Motion Pictures).
SRK of course started the trend with Dreamz Unlimited in 2000 which produced three films – Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Asoka and Chalte Chalte. The company was then transformed into Red Chilies Entertianment, after the actor bought out co-founders (of Dreamz Unlimited) Juhi Chawla and director Aziz Mirza.
SRK’s wife, Gauri Khan came on board as the producer and the studio now operates a VFX division and television production unit along with the film production unit.