Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

Multiple projects from big and established production houses like Yash Raj Films, UTV Motion Pictures and also from the newer entrants like Shree Ashtavinayak, Indian Films have really set the ball rolling. Hollywood studios like Warner Brothers, Walt Disney and Sony BMG's entry into Bollywood on their own or with collaboration have resulted in unheard of prices for top stars and directors. These are a few factors that have spelled doomsday for the average filmmaker. So where does this leave our genuine, homebred filmwalas who have provided us our regular dose of the 'desi' yet Hollywoodish adrenalin pumping projects over the years?

Well, in spite of all these strong competitors one name that stands tall is that of Sanjay Gupta. The reason behind that is simple. The man is a survivor, a fighter, one who always does what he believes in. Sanjay Gupta has dared to be different and has a genuine bunch of fans who love his kind of movies. Be it KAANTE, MUSAFIR, ZINDA or SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA, Sanjay Gupta has dared to tread a path which no filmmaker had done previously. A few insights into this dynamic filmmaker's life and style.

Sanjay Gupta, the head honcho of a leading film production house, WFF (White Feather Films), can be called an all-in-one due to his capabilities as a writer, director, editor and producer. Though he started off as a humble director, he graduated on to production and now heads his own banner, WFF (White Feather Films).

Interestingly, unlike other corporate that appoint professional executives to run their business house, Sanjay, as mostly, is different because he runs his banner on his own terms and does not believe in hiring executives to do the job. He also has a sharp business acumen which has led him to successfully crack films deals with other leading production houses. He has just inked a Rs. 2.6 billion deal for 15 films with Eros.

Sanjay Gupta is all set to unleash not one, two or three but ten projects and he calls it the Big Ten! The films being made under WWF banner are MILTE HAI, DALHOUSIE CAFE, KHOTTEY SIKKE and BLADE, besides WOODSTOCK VILLA, THE GREAT INDIAN BUTTERFLY, PANKH, ACID FACTORY and ALIBAUG that are already on the floor and on the brink of completion and all set to hit the theatres later this year.

What is interesting to note is that directors of various talent and style are coming under one roof making commercial or art-house films. Whether it is established names like Meghna Gulzar (MILTE HAI), Hansal Mehta (WOODSTOCK VILLA and BLADE), Pooja Bhatt (untitled film based on a best seller), Rohit Roy or promising first-timers like Yusuf Khan (DALHOUSIE CAFE) Sarthak Dasgupta (THE GREAT INDIAN BUTTERFLY), Suparno Varma (ACID FACTORY) or Sudipto Chattopadhyay (PANKH), Gupta is giving their dreams a vision on celluloid.

As for Sanjay himself, he is eagerly looking forward to revealing his passion for story-telling via ALIBAUG and KHOTTEY SIKKEY.

Besides this, Gupta is all set to unveil a film studio in Panvel, spread over 10-15 acres of land a la Nitin Desai's ND Studio in Karjat. He also plans to launch a post-production studio in Mumbai.

Great going Sanjay! We wish you all the best for all your future plans.