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 MUMBAI:
Sahara India Pariwar has tapped Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor
to lift its media and entertainment business that includes
television broadcasting and film production.
This
is the first time a film producer is put at the helm of a
broadcasting business.
Kapoor
replaces Seemanto Roy, son of Subrata Roy, as head of Sahara
One Media and Entertainment Ltd (Somel), sources said. Seemanto
is caught up with Sahara's other businesses.
Kapoor
is designated as director and will try to revive Sahara's
broadcasting and movie businesses.
Somel's
flagship channel Sahara One is at the bottom of the pyramid
in the Hindi general entertainment channel space. Movie channel
Filmy is also at the lower end, behind Max, Zee Cinema, Star
Gold and UTV Movies. Firangi, positioned as the 'world television
in Hindi', is not even visible.
Since
the exit of Avinash Kaul in August 2010, Somel has been without
a chief executive officer. In the motion pictures business,
Deepak Segal, who moved from Fox Television in late 2009,
continues to be the chief operating officer.
After
churning out hits, Sahara has produced four flops among its
last five films (Kaccha Limboo, 8X10 Tasveer, EMI, De Taali).
The lone hit, Wanted, was co-produced with Boney Kapoor.
Kapoor
shares a close relationship with Sahara. In 2005, he sold
the rights of all his movies to Sahara. Again, in 2008, he
sold the rights of his biggest hit, Wanted, and some upcoming
films like Milenge Milenge to the company.
In
the last 10 years, Kapoor made over 10 films, out of which
Wanted, No Entry and Company succeeded at the box office.
Some of the flops are Milenge Milenge, Bewafaa, Kyon Ho
Gaya Naa, Hamara Dil Aapke Pas Hai, Run, Khushi and Shakti.
"It
is an unusual move. Kapoor will have a tough task cut out
for him and it remains to be seen what shape the company will
take," says a media analyst.
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