Indian Cinema News

Vikram Bhatt now turns producer too

By Subhash K. Jha May 21, 2007, 11:12 GMT

Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) After years as a director, Vikram Bhatt has finally turned producer too and hopes to carry forward his grandfather Vijay Bhatt's legacy.

'That's right! I'm joining hands with some corporate friends to form a production company called ASA Films. My partners are good people,' Bhatt said.

Bhatt, who has directed popular films like 'Ghulam' and 'Raaz', said this would give him more choice and space to make the kind of films he would like to.

'If I've a home company I don't have to make so many films a year. And also, I can make the films I want to without compromise. I can be creatively involved and yet I don't have to implement those ideas personally all the time.'

Bhatt's grandfather, renowned filmmaker Vijay Bhatt, was the last one in the family to have a production house - Prakash Pictures.

'My grandfather used to have a production house. He produced and directed evergreens like 'Baiju Bawra', 'Hariyali Aur Raasta' and 'Goonj Uthi Shehnai'. After my grandfather, my father and uncle couldn't produce any films.

'So in a way I'm carrying forward my grandfather's legacy. That makes me very emotional. He would have been 100-years-old if he were alive now.'

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service