Its business for Bollywood stars now…Filed Under: Bollywood
The new age bracket of Indian movie stars is whirling consumerist much before the glare of publicity dim.
Many are into retail, fashion and the hotel industry - and now into the world of cricket, as exemplified by Shah Rukh and Preity Zinta, who have heavily invested in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the richest domestic cricket tournament in the world.
It is understood that Khan has already got the biggest knock out of each money that he has so far downcast into IPL. Apart from this, Khan’s production house - Red Chilies - is motivated to come forward as the best in animation and special sound effects.
He is, perhaps, vigilant after India’s biggest star Amitabh Bachchan’s production house folded with sufferers of Dh81.5 million.
One of the first actors to embark on investing in business from the film industry was Mithun Chakraborty who started his own hotel business in south India. Since then, many have followed, together with actors like Suniel Shetty and Bobby Deol.
Now actresses too are blurring the lines between the worlds of Bollywood and business.
Stars like Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai and Preity Zinta are giving some strong competition. Sushmita was probably the first to turn industrialist when she placed up her company Sensazione in 2006. Through her company, she plans to open a chain of hotels, lounges and spas. She has also acquired 12,000 sq ft of space in Kolkata for a “lifestyle zone”, which apart from a huge open space will house a nightclub, a restaurant and a cigar lounge. She has a jewelry retail show room in Dubai which her mother manages.
Preity Zinta has become co-owner of the Mohali cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with partner Ness Wadia and two others. She is indomitable to make a go of it and says: “When I do anything in life for the first time, I want to succeed.
“It’s 2008! Women should get more active in business. It’s very different from working on a film where you’re on your own when ‘action’ is called on camera. In a boardroom, there’s constant conference and multi-tasking. The creative process is different in both the spheres.”
Aishwarya Rai, has moved in to revive father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan’s company AB Corp and is negotiating with filmmakers to regenerate production work. Ayesha Takia, who with restaurateur boyfriend Farhan Azmi is set to launch their first boutique hotel in Goa.
The couple has acquired a 200-year-old Portuguese bungalow in Candolim, which is just 10 minutes away from the beach. They plan to build a luxurious swimming pool, a lounge area and are working out details on how to entertain guests with good music and superb cuisine.
“Each of our boutique hotels will have 20 rooms,” Ayesha says.
Her enthusiastic boyfriend adds: “Ayesha is interested in doing other things rather than just acting, which is so great.”
In 1940, celebrated actress Devika Rani tried her hand at business by captivating the indict of Bombay Talkies after her husband’s death, but she had to countenance disappointment.
With a bit of luck, the fresh contingent is in a position to rephrase the convention.
Tags: Age Bracket, Aishwarya rai, Amitabh Bachchan, Bobby Deol, Bollywood Stars, Chilies, Cigar Lounge, Cricket Team, Cricket Tournament, Domestic Cricket, Hotel Business, Indian Movie Stars, Mithun Chakraborty, Preity Zinta, Retail Fashion, Retail Show, Shah Rukh, South India, Suniel Shetty, Wadia
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- BESTDESI.com Team
- 10 May 2008 5:19 PM
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