The economic meltdown has been taking its toll on our filmmakers and big production houses. We have already heard of actors like Sanjay Dutt volunteering to take a cut in their fees. Some have been forced to make a cut. Now there seems to be rumbles of another kind. UTV Motion Pictures has reportedly sold out to Disney.

UTV seems to have struck a deal with Hollywood giants Walt Disney and are believed to handed over 60 per cent stake of their holding rights in the company to them. It seems that the top bosses of Walt Disney were down in Mumbai last week and the deal was finalized. Currently, Ronnie Screwvala will continue to head UTV's Indian operations but will be reporting to the big bosses in Hollywood. It appears now that both corporates were in talks since the last four months before the deal was finalized last week. Columbia Tristar, India's 10 year distribution deal with Disney also came to an end recently. It has not been renewed and henceforth all international titles of Disney will be released in India from the UTV office. It seems that all the Disney staffers from the Columbia office have moved in to the UTV.