THE INDIAN FILM COMPANY ZEROES ON FIRST FILM
By Rohini Bhandari

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12 July 2007, 06:44 AM

MUMBAI: Viacom and TV18’s joint venture The Indian Film Company, which
was recently listed on London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment
Market (AIM) is firming up plans for its first co-production venture.

The film, titled Loot, which will be made on a budget of Rs 120
million (Rs 12 crores), is in co-production with actor Suniel Shetty’s
production house Popcorn Entertainment. While the male star cast has
been finalised, the female leads are yet to be decided.

The companies have signed on Suniel Shetty, Govinda, Shreyas Talpade
and Javed Jaffrey for Loot.

Confirming the same to Businessofcinema.com, Popcorn Entertainment
director and head of movie business Shabbir Boxwala says, "We are in
talks with The Indian Film Company for our forthcoming project. The
film will be directed by Rajneesh Thakur."

Thakur, who earlier directed Amar Joshi Shaheed Ho Gaya, has also been
associated with Ram Gopal Varma as a writer and director for various
films including Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Road and Darna Mana Hai.

Network 18’s motion picture division – Studio 18’s CEO Sandeep
Bhargava, who is also heading The Indian Film Company, said, "We have
been in talks with Popcorn, however the papers are to be signed."

Loot is a comic thriller and will be shot extensively in Russia. "This
will be the first Bollywood film to be shot in Armenia, Russia. It
will go on floors by August end," Boxwala informs.

The Indian Film Company raised £50 million (Rs 4.55 billion) on
AIM and is targetting to hold investments in a diversified portfolio
of approximately 30 to 40 film projects. The size of investments in
individual film projects would initially range from £1 million to
£7 million.

Meanwhile, the company’s stock on AIM is currently trading at 100
pence (£1), which is its original listing price, when it debuted on
18 June, 2007.

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