PVR has announced two films with acclaimed director Rajkumar Santoshi.

Highlights:

§ Signs up with Rajkumar Santoshi for a two films; a periodic epic “Ashok The Great” and for a yet to be titled romantic comedy venture

§ Periodic epic Ashoka- The Great, to feature Ajay Devgan, while the romantic comedy to star Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in the lead

§ PVR plans further expansion on its film production front; three to four feature films to start production in the current financial year

§ Company has charted out an investment of Rs. 100 crore for film production

PVR Ltd., through its 100% subsidiary PVR Pictures is strengthening its content creation space as a part of its backward integration in the filmed entertainment space. The company has also teamed up with veteran director Rajkumar Santoshi for two-films. This would mark the return of Rajkumar Santoshi into comedy, post 13 years since the cult classic Andaz Apna Apna, and will have Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in lead roles.

The company is also planning to make a historic epic “Ashoka- The Great” with Ajay Devgan. Both these films are slated for release by August 2008 and March 2009 respectively.

The company had earlier ventured into film production with a two-film deal with Aamir Khan, out of which Taare Zameen Par, which also marks the directorial debut of Aamir Khan, is slated for release, this year during Christmas. The other film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is scheduled for release in February 2009.

PVR Pictures, which was established to cater to film distribution business of PVR Ltd. has been acknowledged for identifying the right cinema content and has earlier successfully distributed cult films like Being Cyrus, Bheja Fry, Paris Je T'Aime and Parzania and the latest critically and commercially successful Lions Of Punjab Presents.

With this deal, the company aims to achieve commercial and critical success through the right synergy and good creative talent - Rajkumar Santoshi (acclaimed National award winning director) and PVR’s understanding of Indian cinema audiences, which the company plans to employ in film making as well.

PVR Pictures is also on the verge of signing more deals with other directors and is strengthening its management base. PVR Pictures has appointed Ashoka Holla as Chief Operating Officer of their film production cell. Ashoka will be spearheading PVR Pictures’ content creation (Production) in Movies, International business & Home Entertainment.

Says Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, “With a proven track-record in the exhibition and distribution of films, we at PVR felt the need to expand in the entertainment space through content creation, and thus are venturing into production. To begin with we aim to produce five-six films out of which two are co-productions with Aamir Khan Productions and two will be directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.”

Rajkumar Santoshi adds, "In PVR, I found a combination of the desire for good cinema and a very keen sense of movie business. We are looking forward not only towards success but also, towards an amazing experience of making films together."

About PVR Pictures:

PVR Ltd ventured into the business of film distribution and set up PVR Pictures, a fully owned subsidiary of PVR Ltd. PVR Pictures specializes in acquisition and local distribution of films. PVR Pictures further diversified into film production with signing up a two-film deal with Aamir Khan Production ltd. This is a strategic business unit aimed at solidifying PVR's exhibition growth and strength. To date, PVR Pictures has acquired various films Chicago, Transamerica, Being Cyrus, Don, Omkara, Bheja Fry, Parzania and recently released films like Loins of Punjab, Blind Dating, Next among others

About Rajkumar Santoshi:

Rajkumar Santoshi is one of the noted film directors of the country and has directed many critically acclaimed and successful films like Ghayal, Damini, Andaz Apna Apna, Ghatak, Pukar, Lajja, and The Legend of Bhagat Singh etc. He has also won national awards for his films “Pukar” and “The Legend of Bhagat Singh”.