Ajay thinks big in Jaipur

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Monday, February 27, 2006

Ajay Devgan is taking major interest in a filmmaking facility being built close to Jaipur, which the actor reportedly wants to invest in.

Devgan was in Jaipur on a hush-hush visit on February 21; on that trip, he also visited the sacred dargah of Moinuddin Chishti, at Ajmer Sharif.

Rs 700-crore project

The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) will develop infrastructure for the Film City project to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore, at Sumel. It will be spread over 800 acres and have all facilities required for a film shoot.

Met officials

Said sources close to Devgan, "Ajay met JDA officials including JDA Commissioner Jagdish Chandra, as he wanted to know more about the project.

Ajay is extremely interested in it and wants to study it more." JDA is the nodal agency for the project, and Chandra had expressed happiness at Devgan's interest in the project.

Devgan, back in Mumbai for four days after a long outdoor for Vishal Bharadwaj's Omkara in Wai, was tight-lipped about the project, "Nothing has been decided yet. It's too early to say anything," he said.

Will see plans

But he did meet officials in this regard? "JDA officials met and told me about the idea of a Film City. That is it, nothing more. They are sending me the details of the project; they want to show me their plans."

Is he planning to invest in the project? "It is too premature to even talk about investment modalities," says the actor, who is returning to Wai today, for a 30-day schedule of Omkara.

Many proposals

Adds Devgan's business manager, Kumar Mangat, "Many people are coming forth with business proposals for stars. We have to look into each one carefully, and then make a decision."