The bollywood film industry has seen many of their stars turn into producers.And now with Mallika also joining the producer brigade you can add another name to that ever-growing list. This isn’t because they want to save money by hiring an extra cast member, but it’s because as producers the film becomes the perfect vehicle to showcase their talent. It’s kind of like betting on you to win.
 Shahrukh Khan - Dreamz Unlimited and Red Chillies Entertainment
In 1999, Shahrukh Khan ventured into production along with his pal Juhi Chawla to start a company called Dreamz Unlimited. Their first film together Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani in 2000 had both of them acting together. Although the film seemed ambitious, it failed at the box office. Subsequently he dabbled in history by making a film called Asoka which too failed. However it was his third film Chalte Chalte that hit the box office.
In 2004, Shahrukh began another production company by himself. Red Chillies Entertainment stormed the box office with the Farah Khan action-musical Main Hoon Na in the same year. That high was followed by a low, when he made Paheli in 2005. However if any consolation could be found, it was that it received an Oscar nomination.
This was followed by the supernatural horror film Kaal which he produced with buddy Karan Johar. Kaal was moderately successful at the box office. With two hits and one flop, Red Chillies is doing quite well. Will ShahRukh’s forthcoming film Om Shanti Om bring him more fortunes? Only time will tell.
 Salman Khan - Sohail Khan Productions
Salman Khan associated with his brother Sohail Khan’s production company to make films that showcased the collective talents of his family. The family’s first venture was Auzaar in 1997. It saw Salman Khan in the lead role along with Sanjay Kapoor.
The production company then took on the other Khan Brother Arbaaz in Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kya in 1998 and Hello Brother which was a disaster at the box office.
Sohail who was so far handling the production aspects of the films then dived into acting with Maine Dil Tujhko Diya (2002). However the film resulted in a crash and it failed to see brother Sohail start his career as an actor. His next shot at acting in Fight Club didn’t do well either. The family’s biggest star Salman will now try to notch up a victory in David Dhawan’s forthcoming film Partner. It’s a film Sohail Khan Productions is co-producing.
 Sunny Deol - Vijeta Films
Sunny’s production company has done a bunch of films in the past such as Barsaat, Dillagi, 23rd March 1931 Shaheed and Socha Na Tha. But after that last film, his company began facing financial problems in 2005.
After the recent success of the family saga Apne (2007), Sunny says he feels reinvigorated to release more films from his banner.
 Amitabh Bachchan - Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL)
The Big B launched his company in early 90s. It first launched friend Mani Ratnam’s controversial film about Hindu-Muslim riots Bombay. He then followed up with a commercial hit Tere Mere Sapne.
Things were looking good for Amitabh until his films began flopping at the box office. Things became so bad that his company was neck deep in debts. The film industry had dismissed him as a goner.
Fortunately Amitabh Bachchan bounced back in a fiery manner. He reinvented himself and became the host of the show Kaun Banega Crorepati which proved to be largely popular.
To work off his company’s debt Big B began all sorts of products to work off the company’s debt. And that’s how Amitabh retained his mantle of being the Bollywood king.
 Sunil Shetty - Popcorn Entertainment
After getting tired with acting, Sunil Shetty began negotiating with other ventures. He launched his very own production company Popcorn Entertainment.
The company first produced Khel which proved successful; he then followed up with a doosie called Rakht.
His recent film Bhagam Bhag in 2006 too found success.
Sunil seems to be doing quite well on the production front, but for now his attention is focused upon his reality show ‘The Biggest Loser’.
 Aamir Khan - Aamir Khan Productions
Aamir Khan is one of the more successful actor turned producers. His first attempt was the Epic film Lagaan (2000) that struck the jackpot at the box office.
The success and acclaim was coupled with an Academy Award nomination. His second film ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ (2001) too met with success.
Aamir then got busy with his character Mangal Pandey. It’s after this long gap that we will see two of his productions Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Taare Zameen Par release this year. Does Aamir still have it in him to make successful productions
 Ajay Devgan - Devgan Entertainment and Software
Once Ajay got into production, he reduced the films he signed on. He also branched out into film distribution so he could widen his base.
Ajay and the Mrs. (Kajol) got together to star in his first film Raju Chacha.
After the completion of that film, Ajay’s production company made a full fledged dive into television production and stayed focused on it until 2006, when they made The Awakening a film about Mumbai’s July 26 floods.
This year will again see the release of another Devgan film titled U, Me Aur Hum - a film which he has written, stared, directed and produced.
 Anil Kapoor - Anil Kapoor Film Company
You could say that producing movies is in Anil Kapoor’s genes, his dad Surinder Kapoor is a producer and so is his elder brother Boney Kapoor. But Anil Kapoor’s first shot at production wasn’t received well.
The film Badhaai Ho Badhaai was a mishmash of the Nutty Professor and more. The experience left him shy of production until now. Anil is now all set to launch Gandhi, My Father a seemingly well made and well-intentioned film.
 Govinda - Govinda No. 1 Entertainment
A long long time ago (two years ago) Govinda had given film production a try. He made a film Ssukh that featured himself and Jackie Shroff. Unfortunately for him, the times were bad and not even the extra S in the film title could save the film from being a supreme disaster.
The film was reportedly pulled from theaters within days. Thereafter Govinda has kept away from producing films.
 Jackie Shroff - Quest Films
Jaggu dada is yet another actor who has kept himself and his missus away from production after his film Boom bombed big time at the box office. The film received a poor response and was generally criticized by film critics.
Things turned far worse given the fact that movie pirates had already leaked his film well before the release.
 Raveena Tandon - Real Life Entertainment
Raveena’s onscreen creations haven’t been the run of the mill Bollywood potboilers. Her first co-produced film Stumped is about the cricket mania in the country.
Her next film Pehchaan is about a girl who is offered to join her father in practicing law. Speaking about Pehchaan when it comes to filmmaking the girl definitely has a different one!
 Dino Morea
After most of his films bombed at the box office, Dino has shifted his focus to production. Dino is going to make a period film called John Mohammed Ali Master.
The actor promises the film would be very stylish and we’d get to see a whole new side to pre-independence era India. Well let’s hope Dino does much better here.
 Arjun Rampal - Chasing Ganesha Films
While his acting career wasn’t doing so well, Arjun Rampal created a star vehicle for himself by making his own film and starring in it too. The film also starred the new Delhi based model Bipasha along with newcomer Vivek Agarwal in the director’s seat. This combo did not bode well for the film and post release the film saw a cold response from audiences and critics.
 Manisha Koirala - GV Films
Manisha Koirala disappeared from the limelight after Company in 2002.From then on the actress has been appearing in niche films. She made one herself in 2004 titled Paisa Vasool where she acted alongside Sushmita Sen. This was probably the first ever chick-flick in Indian cinema.
 Rakesh Roshan - Film Kraft
Yesteryears actor Rakesh Roshan turned his sights to production in the 1980.He was quite successful at it too as he gave films like Kishen Kanhaiya and Karan Arjun. After 2000, Rakesh Roshan has been casting his blue-eyed boy in each of his production ventures.
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