Media release, June 25
New Delhi

This Sunday (26th June), BBC World’s acclaimed weekly business programme, India Business Report: Business Bites, features a discussion on the paradigm shift in the business of Bollywood. Over lunch, host Ronnie Screwvala speaks with filmmaker Ashutosh Gowarikar and Ram Gopal Verma, CEO of The Factory, about the evolving corporate structure of Bollywood, the advent of the multiplex revolution, and the new 90-minute format, creating an entirely new genre of films.

When asked to compare Hollywood and Bollywood, both the directors had very strong opinions to share. Bollywood’s favorite maverick, Ram Gopal Verma commented, “Bollywood does not compare to the standards of Hollywood. It is a lie that we keep telling ourselves. Lagaan happens once in a blue moon. If we consider the quantity of films being made, the quality is low. I think it will take a long time for Bollywood to even benchmark Hollywood”

Ashutosh Gowarikar, renowned director of Lagaan and Swades, highlighted that Bollywood could learn from Hollywood: “We should take Hollywood as a platform on which to distribute Indian films worldwide. We should use Hollywood for its expertise of having a worldview. We should not hide the fact that Hollywood is there…”

Discussing the business structure of Bollywood, Verma said “Entertainment is a product now. I think the moment you supply in such large numbers – you need a science to it. So independent producers take time to set up a project. I think it’s very old fashioned.”

Pointing out the changes in the traditional Bollywood approach to corporates, Gowarikar commented, “I also feel that with the new generation of film industry professionals there is now a certain amount of maturity to understand corporate structure. Earlier when you talked about corporate structure it would be considered taboo because there were too many being asked about the completion of bonds and all sorts of things the creative people don’t want to get into. But they are willing to accept a structure now.”

Hosted by Ronnie Screwvala, Business Bites is part of the channel’s India Business Report strand, and is filmed at premium restaurants in India in an informal conversation set-up.

For further information, please contact:
Greishma Singh/ Preeti Mehra
Genesis Public Relations
0124 504 4999 Ext. 41
gsingh@genesispr.com