CCCC fetches Rs 150 million before release

Controversial film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke has already fetched Rs 150 million from the sale of distribution and audio-video rights, a day before its world-wide release on March 9.

The negatives of the film were seized by police after the arrest of its producer Nasim Rizvi in a case of alleged Bollywood-underworld nexus.

Bharat Shah, who had financed the film for Rs 120 million, was arrested in January.

The film is being released the world over in keeping the directives of the court. Both Rizvi and Shah are still lodged in judicial custody.

Altogether 89 prints have been procured by overseas distributors for the film's release in Gulf countries, Europe, USA and UK, according to the court receiver, Santosh Singh Jain, who was appointed by the court to release and distribute the film world wide. 54 prints had been distributed in Bombay, while 51 prints were handed over to the distributors in New Delhi.

Jain also said that Shah had collected Rs 4.50 million when the film was under production. After his appointment as the court receiver on February 12, he had collected Rs 10.50 million. Another Rs 40 million is yet to come from the satellite television channels, he added.

Both Shah and Rizvi had staked their claim on the movie saying they alone had the right to release the film. The court, however, appointed Jain to release the film.

After the trial, the court will decide who is the real claimant and give him the film's collections.

PTI