From Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. shooting Indian prod'n in China
By Nyay Bhushan

Aug 22, 2007
NEW DELHI -- Warner Bros. said Tuesday that it will begin shooting its
first
Indian feature in January, the action comedy "Made in China." Believed
to be
the first Indian production shot in China, the film will be directed by
Nikhil Advani.

Set to star leading Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as a lowly Mumbai cook
mistaken for a martial arts hero, the film brings Mumbai-based Warner
Bros.
Entertainment India into the growing fold of major Hollywood studios to
have
launched Indian productions.

The plot of "China," which also stars upcoming actress Deepika
Padukone,
mirrors the real-life experiences of Kumar, who worked as a chef in
Bangkok
while learning martial arts before returning to India in the early
1990s to
become India's top action star.

The film will be produced by Warner Bros. and veteran Bollywood
production
house Ramesh Sippy Prods. Director Advani's banner Orion Pictures Pvt
Ltd.
will co-produce, represented by founding partner Mukesh Talreja.

It was not clear what role, if any, Warner Bros.' Chinese joint venture
with
the state-run China Film Group and private film studio Hengdian Group
might
take in the production.

Earlier this year, CFG's China Film Co-production Corp. said China
hoped to
sign a film co-production treaty with India by the end of the year (HR
6/20).

While Warner Bros. did not disclose the budget and financial terms for
"China," it said plans to distribute the film worldwide in late 2008
following the Beijing Olympics.

"At the turn of the century there was a lot of promise in the air about
globalization in Indian cinema, and now with this venture RSP and Orion
are
joining hands with Warner Bros. in bringing that dream closer to
reality,"
Sippy said. "What we hope to achieve at the minimum is a greater
knowledge
and understanding of the workings and systems of Hollywood and the
Indian
film industry. I am sure we both stand to gain a lot from each other."

Added Warner Bros. Entertainment India country manager Blaise
Fernandes: "We
are excited and proud to be working with such respected partners as
Ramesh
Sippy and Orion. We'll count on our partners' expertise and will do
everything in our power to make a well-crafted, popular and successful
Indian film."

RSP's recent productions include "Bluffmaster" and "Taxi No. 9211"
while
Sippy himself directed India's all-time biggest blockbuster, 1975's
"Sholay"
(Burning Embers).

Advani made his directorial debut with 2003's romantic "Kal Ho Na Ho"
(Tomorrow May or May Not Come), followed by last year's ensemble
musical
"Salaam-E-Ishq" (Salute to Love).

Other Hollywood studios with Indian productions include Sony Pictures
Entertainment, which now is wrapping up "Saawariyan," directed by
Sanjay
Leela Bhansali, and the Walt Disney Co., which in June announced a
co-production agreement with veteran Bollywood banner Yash Raj Films
for
animated features.

Disney began in India with "Roadside Romeo," which is now in production
and
slated for a 2008 release. The Disney film will feature the voices of
leading actor Saif Ali Khan and actress Kareena Kapoor.

In May, Viacom announced a joint venture with TV18, the Mumbai-based
diversified broadcasting company, to launch entertainment projects
starting
with a broadcasting venture (HR 5/22). TV18 also owns an independent
film
subsidiary, the Indian Film Co.

Announcing the Viacom-18 launch, Viacom president and CEO Philippe
Dauman
said that Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks "will explore additional
opportunities for collaboration with Viacom-18."