Exactly
a
year
back,
right
after
the
release
of
Singh
Is
Kinng,
it
was
announced
amidst
much
fanfare
that
Indian
Films
was
in
the
process
of
acquiring
London
Dreams
for
a
never
heard
before
figure
of
Rs.
120
crores.
It
was
obvious
that
Vipul
Shah,
maker
of
this
Salman
Khan,
Ajay
Devgan
and
Asin
Thottumkal
starrer,
had
hit
the
jackpot
with
the
biggest
ever
deal
for
a
Bollywood
film.
However,
as
things
stand
today,
the
deal
is
scrapped.
Indian
Films
is
no
longer
associated
with
London
Dreams
and
Vipul
Shah
is
happy
to
go
back
to
the
old
school
method
of
selling
the
film
to
various
distributors
across
the
country.
"Yes,
there
is
nothing
happening
with
Indian
Films
as
far
as
London
Dreams
is
concerned.
Frankly,
I
am
not
dependent
on
the
corporate
houses
to
see
my
film
release
in
theatres.
I
have
enough
distributors
across
the
country
who
are
willing
to
pick
the
film
and
I
am
more
than
glad
to
release
the
film
through
them",
says
Vipul
Shah
who
has
announced
the
release
of
the
film
as
30th
October
and
has
already
begun
the
promotional
campaign.
Looking
at
the
response
that
the
promos
are
expected
to
generate,
what
if
a
corporate
house,
including
even
Indian
Films,
shows
a
renewed
interest
in
the
project
and
is
willing
to
renegotiate?
Would
he
be
willing
to
have
a
discussion?
"See,
I
am
doing
business
here.
Whatever
works
best
for
my
film,
I
will
do
that.
But
no,
I
am
not
waiting
for
anyone
here.
There
are
great
offers
already
and
it's
a
matter
of
time
before
they
are
sealed
and
announced",
Vipul
responds.
While
the
figure
quoted
by
Vipul
was
Rs.
120
crores
at
the
time
of
announcement
of
London
Dreams,
it
is
but
natural
that
in
today's
market
scenario,
the
amount
would
be
much
lesser.
This
is
understandable
too
since
the
entire
recession
and
slow
down
did
impact
consumers
as
well
as
the
making
of
the
films,
something
that
reflects
in
the
extremely
poor
success
rate
that
Bollywood
had
to
show
for
most
part
of
the
first
half
of
2009.
No
wonder,
while
Shahrukh
Khan's
My
Name
is
Khan
is
said
to
have
been
sold
for
Rs.98
crores,
even
Kites
and
3
Idiots
have
not
crossed
the
elusive
Rs.100
crores
mark.
"These
are
all
big
films
that
you
mention
and
also
the
most
anticipated
in
the
coming
months.
Hence
they
also
serve
as
a
benchmark
for
us",
says
Vipul,
"Since
London
Dreams
too
pretty
much
falls
in
the
same
bracket,
it
would
be
a
matter
of
5%-10%
drift.
Our
film
is
not
far
behind
either."
Story first published: Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 10:28 [IST]