Balaji Motion Pictures announces 2013 slate

Balaji Motion Pictures Ltd. (BMPL) has announced its slate of six film releases in the upcoming year (2013). The line-up boasts of projects including co-productions with filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap and Sanjay Gupta alongside sequels of Balaji’s own properties such as Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and Ragini MMS. The first to release would be Ek Thi Daayan, a co-production with Vishal Bhardwaj and directed by debutant Kannan Iyer on 18 April. The super-natural thriller, top lined by Emraan Hashmi, Huma Qureshi, Kalki Koechlin and Konkona Sen Sharma marks the coming together of Vishal Bhardwaj and Emraan Hashmi for the first time. Next to follow will be the multi-starrer Shootout at Wadala, a co-production with Sanjay Gupta on 1 May. The industry’s first prequel (to its predecessor Shootout At Lokhandwala) stars Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Kangana Ranaut, Tusshar, Manoj Bajpai, Sonu Sood, Ronit Roy, and many other big names. Later, on 7 June, Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, a co-production with Bejoy Nambiar will release. The quirky Delhi-based comedy launching young talents is directed by noted ad film-maker Aman Sachdeva making his film directorial debut. Lootera, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane of the acclaimed Udaan fame will release on 5 July. The epic period love story marks the first-time pairing of Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha. Lootera is a co-production with Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Vikas Bahl of Phantom Films. The Milan Luthria-directed Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Again is the banner’s tent-pole Eid release. Starring Akshay Kumar, Imran Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Sonali Bendre, the romantic drama will release on 8 August. Closing the slate for the year, will be the youth date film, Ragini MMS-2, top lined by Sunny Leone. Directed by Bhushan Patel, the sequel to the biggest sleeper hit of 2011, Ragini MMS, will be a heady combination of thrill, horror and sensuousness. The film releases on 11 October.