New Delhi, August 09: In yet another instance of Hollywood’s growing fascination for Hindi films, Fox Star Studios, a pan-Asian joint venture between Twentieth Century Fox and STAR, has signed a deal with superstar Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar to finance and distribute ‘My Name is Khan’ in the United States.
As per the deal between Fox Star Studios and Shahrukh, which comes close on heels of Fox Star Studios successful release of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in India earlier this year, the former will market and distribute the film in India and leverage the strength of Twentieth Century Foxs theatrical distribution network worldwide.
Fox Searchlight Pictures, which marketed and distributed ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in the US to tremendous box office results and eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, will release ‘My Name Is Khan’ in the US, and 20th Century Fox International will distribute it across the rest of the world.
Speaking about the tie up, the Chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, Jim Gianopulos said,”we are extremely excited about this association, which reflects our ongoing commitment to partner with the most talented people in the film business.
After meeting with Karan and Shah Rukh, and hearing their vision for this film, I was deeply affected by this story and feel it will touch moviegoers around the world. With Shah Rukhs global popularity coupled with Karans commercial sensibilities, My Name is Khan is sure to be a global hit and will be one of the priority releases for Fox and Fox Searchlight in 2010.” CEO of Star India, Uday Shankar, said,”STAR has had an enviable relationship with both KJ and SRK that goes back many years. No other media group can claim such a privileged relationship with two so big entertainment icons. Since STAR has now entered the business of movies, it is only natural for us to extend this relationship to movies. I am confident that MNK is the first in a long series of compelling movie entertainment that this partnership will deliver.” ‘My Name is Khan’, which presents the hit on screen pairing of Shah Rukh Khan with Kajol after eight long years, examines how life of an Indian Muslim (Shah Rukh Khan) living in San Francisco and suffering from Aspergers Syndrome, is impacted after the 9/11 tragedy, when attitudes toward Muslims undergo a sea change. Kajol stars as the his wife, who ends up estranged from him after a tragedy and before he embarks on a remarkable journey across the United States, inspiring people and inviting debate, and creating an accidental revolution.
Shahrukh and Kajol have previously starred in five films together including ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, all of which were blockbuster hits. This film also marks a re-teaming of Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, whose last film together was ‘Kabhi Alvida na Kehna’, which released three years ago.
Vijay Singh, CEO Fox STAR Studios India, who spearheaded the deal, said,”Karan and Shah Rukh have been the most successful combination in Bollywood, and we are delighted to be working together on My Name is Khan. This relationship will help us further build the Fox Star presence in India, and provide us an opportunity to demonstrate our marketing and distribution capabilities.
For us it was important to find a partner like Fox who is like minded, has a similar vision and has the capability to take Indian cinema to international markets.” Talking about the film, filmmaker Karan Johar said,”this movie is essentially about human emotions which are relevant to people the world over, and am happy that newer audiences will get a chance to see what Indian films have to offer to the world.”
—-Agencies