EXCLUSIVE: Has SALMAN KHAN’s Race 3 been sold at an ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT of Rs.190 crore?
Race 3 starring Salman Khan is one of the most awaited films of the year. As per a trade source, the film has been sold by Ramesh Taurani to Eros International for Rs. 190 Crores.
No wonder they call Salman Khan Blockbuster Khan. All his latest releases including Tiger Zinda Hai have not only made huge money at the box-office but his films are hugely in demand and distributors queue up to buy them at humongous prices. One such case is Ramesh Taurani’s Race 3 which will be releasing on Eid this year. The film is directed by Remo D Souza and co-stars Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Saquib Salim, Jacqueline Fernandez and Daisy Shah.
Says a trade source, “Salman’s TZH collected an estimated total of Rs 339 crore at the domestic box-office to become the third highest domestic grosser in Bollywood. There is a huge buzz and air of anticipation around Race 3. It has been shot mostly abroad and in prime locales in India and has some great action. Not only is it the third installment of the Race franchise but it also stars Salman Khan who recently gave the blockbuster Tiger Zinda Hai. Naturally studios have been queuing up outside Ramesh Taurani’s office for the last month to distribute the film. Apparently, there were four top contenders – Fox Star Studios, Reliance Entertainment (a division of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group), Yash Raj Films and Eros International. Buzz is that Eros has made an outstanding offer to Salman Khan (co-producer) and Ramesh Taurani – something which is almost impossible to refuse. Eros has offered the producers a whopping Rs.190 (approx) which consists of Rs.160 MG (Minimum Guaranty Basis i.e. outright sale) to acquire the worldwide distribution rights of the film (except China) and Rs.30 crore (PN&A). While one has heard that YRF and Fox have bowed out of the match, Aditya Choksi from Reliance is still in talks with the producers. But Reliance might find it hard to match the offer and everyone in trade is talking of how Eros appears to have clinched the deal. Once both parties (Salman, Taurani and Eros) sign on the dotted line within the next few days, they will make an announcement.”
The source adds that YRF was in talks to distribute the film on commission basis. “Initially, there was also a fifth player in the running for Race 3, along with Fox, YRF, Eros and Reliance. It was Narendra Hirawat's NH Studioz, one of the biggest distribution houses in the trade, and who had distributed Tubelight last year. He was the first to opt out of the race as he apparently couldn’t match the asking price of the producers. As of now Race 3 and Thugs of Hindostan are two of the hottest films in Bollywood.”
Despite numerous efforts to contact them, Eros International and Ramesh Taurani remained unavailable for comment.
The much-awaited and highly anticipated Race 3 trailer launch is said to be early next week.