As a producer who runs his own production house (Illuminati Films), Saif Ali Khan might have had just one release but he has some serious expansion plans. He is looking at collaborations with leading Hollywood studios like Fox, Sony and Warner. Saif says it is quality and not quantity that will drive his business.
“Meetings are on with many companies. At present we are very happy and comfortable working with Eros in terms of the finance and distribution. Teaming up with Hollywood studios is our big plan but it is quite a confidential one. We have met the studios to see how we can forge a partnership. We are also exploring the option of signing international actors for our projects,” Saif says.
When asked what kind of movies he is looking to make with these international production houses, he says, “Salman Rushdie is making a movie on his book Midnight’s Children with film-maker Deepa Mehta. That’s the kind of movies that our international arm will look to make. We need international stories to make globally appealing movies and we shall scout for those.”
Saif’s brand image has certainly gone up a few notches after his debut production Love Aaj Kal set the cash registers ringing.He says, “When you do good work, you are in demand. That’s natural. If I wasn’t acting well or producing good movies, I wouldn’t be getting endorsements.” He adds smilingly, “Unfortunately I cannot reveal how much I’m charging right now for endorsements.”
Now, Saif is looking to do more mature roles like the one he did in Omkara. “I want to be remembered as a good actor. So my focus, when it comes to choosing films, has changed. I have done characters and movies that are larger than life but I feel it is time for me to do roles that bring out more of the man in me on celluloid. I don’t want to be called just a multiplex hero. I want to have a bouquet of varied films before I call it quits. I am looking to do thought-provoking cinema and not just box office hits.”
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