SS Rajamouli’s recent release Baahubali – the Beginning is scheduled to release in over 5,000 cinema halls in China and it is all gearing up to beat the records of Aamir Khan’s PK and Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year.
E Stars Films, which distributed The Gunman, Before I Go to Sleep, The November Man, Lone Survivor, Riddick and many other big ticket Hollywood movies in China, has acquired the theatrical rights of blockbuster movie Baahubali – the Beginning. It has grand plans for the release of the movie in the country.
Arka Mediaworks Intl., the new sales company established by the film’s Hyderabad-based producer Arka Mediaworks, has been instrumental in striking the deal with E Stars Films. Former EuropaCorp executive Francois da Silva, who is the head of the subsidiary company, confirmed the news about E Stars Films bagging the Chinese rights of Baahubali: The Beginning.
“Baahubali has achieved so many things and acquired such a special position in Indian cinema that we are in the fortunate position of being able to negotiate with top distributors in territories around the world. We are confident of wrapping up major deals in Latin America, Europe and other territories,” said Francois da Silva.
Aamir Khan’s PK and Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year, which were released 5,000 theatres each in China, were the biggest Indian releases in the country. Interestingly, “PK” was distributed by E Stars Films. Now, Baahubali will be released by E Stars Films in November as a revenue-sharing quota import. It is looking at a release pattern of some 5,000 screens, or 18% of available theaters.
However, PK was released in China on 22, May, 2015 and it collected CNY 116,600,062 at the box office in four weeks. The Aamir Khan starrer is the highest grosser Indian movie in the country. With Baahubali slated to release in equal number of screens, the film is expected to smash the record of PK.