News/ Films from the UTV stable

Screen Correspondent

One of the most exciting films in the long list of interesting line-up from UTV is last year’s sleeper hit ABCD Any Body Can Dance. The sequel to ABCD… is slated to go on the floors soon and the makers will announce the cast. The buzz is that Varun Dhawan will most likely be a part of the film.
Abhishek Kapoor’s next film, Fitoor with the studio after Kai Po Che, is based on Charles Dickens’ novel, The Tale of Two Cities. Sushant Singh Rajput was supposed to play the lead role, but the actor had to opt out as the dates were clashing with YRF’s Paani.
Haider is Vishal Bharadwaj’s ode to Hamlet and the last in the trilogy of Shakespeare’s tragedies—the other two were Maqbool and Omkara based on Macbeth and Othello. Lead actor, Shahid Kapoor will cut his locks during the second schedule of the film that will be shot in Kashmir.
Jackie Shroff’s son, Tiger makes his Bollywood debut with Heropanti. The film is almost complete, except for some patch work. Meanwhile, Imtiaz Ali’s Highway will release in February.
Jagga Jasoos brings back the trio—UTV, Ranbir Kapoor and Anurag Basu after their last outing Barfi!. The film which also stars Katrina Kaif and Govinda, completed a big schedule in Mumbai.
Then there is Khoobsurat the offical remake of Hrishkesh Mukherjee’s hit film of the Seventies, by the same name. Sonam Kapoor reprises the role that Rekha played in the original. The unit wrapped up the first schedule in Rajasthan.
Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has partnered with UTV for his debut directorial, Kick. The film is an official remake of the South film by the same name. The makers had to abandon the first schedule, as the film’s lead actor, Salman Khan could not get the necessary visa and work permit. According to reports, Khan may have to take a cut in his remunerations in order to cover up the losses as the entire crew was waiting for the actor in UK.
The biggest project, for the studio is P.K. that brings back, Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra after 3 Idiots.
After the success of Ek Tha Tiger, Kabir Khan teams up with Saif Ali Khan and Katirna Kaif for another thriller under the UTV banner.
Kunal Deshmukh’s first film outside the Bhatt camp, Shatir, is scheduled to shoot in Abu Dhabi. The production house will also make a film in 3D called Pizza, directed by Akshay Akkineni and starring Arunoday Singh and Akshay Oberoi.