MUMBAI: Star India has joined hands with Rakesh Roshan's Filmkraft Productions (India) Pvt. Ltd. for their forthcoming film Krrish. The alliance includes exclusive appearances of Hrithik Roshan, including a performance, in various shows on the Star Network, global satellite distribution for the movie, in-movie placement, premieres of the movie in India and international markets and promotional rights.
Krrish is an eagerly awaited sequel to Roshan's earlier blockbuster Koi Mil Gaya. The movie is slated for a June/July 2006 release.
Commenting on the tie-up, Star India COO Sameer Nair said, "At Star, we have been associating with the biggest movies and biggest stars in Indian cinema to bring high quality entertainment to our viewers. It now gives us great pleasure to partner with Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan. We will work together to give our viewers a combination of the best in Indian television and cinema".
According to source from the acquisition market, Star India has paid in the region of Rs 70 million to obtain the telecast rights of Krrish. Earlier, UTV had bought the overseas rights for the film for Rs 70 million.
"Star wouldn't need to pay anything more than that because the activities being planned around the film is mutually benefitial. Hritik coming exclusively on Star means promotion for both the channel and the movie," the source offers.
"I am delighted to work with Star India. This gives me an opportunity to reach millions of viewers instantly," said Hrithik Roshan. "We are confident that people will appreciate the magic that we will create together in the forthcoming months."
For the Roshans, the move to associate with Star marks a major shift since their previous two home productions Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (aired on SET on New Year's Eve 2002) and Koi Mil Gaya (aired 24 October 2004) were telecast on the Sony network.
Star's bagging of the rights for Krrish comes at a time when the movie acquisition front is witnessing heightened activity.
According to reports, Yashraj Films, the country's biggest movie production house owned by Yash Chopra and his sons Aditya and Uday, has sold the tele-screening rights of their films from Daag to Veer Zaara to Sony for a whopping Rs 550 million. Sony also paid a reported Rs 70 million for the latest Aamir Khan blockbuster Mangal Pandey – The Rising. Incidentally, Sony is reported to have paid Rs 90 million for Koi Mil Gaya.
Star India, meanwhile, has reportedly bought three Abhishek Bachchan films for Rs 200 million. Star has also bought Vashu Bhagnani's library at an estimated Rs 150 million. Bhagnani's movies include Silsiilay, Shaadi No 1, Coolie No 1, Hero No 1, Om Jai Jagadish and Deewanapan.
The other mega movies Star has bought this year are Virudh and Paheli. For the Amitabh Bachchan launched AB Corp movie Virudh, the acquisition price is around Rs 40 million, industry sources say. Paheli, produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, attracted a price tag of around Rs 50 million.
Star Gold recently showed Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Swades on Independence Day. Star paid Rs 40 million for the tele-rights for the film.
