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Television queen Ekta Kapoor who is a big believer of astrology and numerology, makes sure that her numbers come up to a total of 3, 6 or 9. And apparently, she is not the only person in Bollywood who follows this trend. Says screenwriter Rajat Arora, “Most of the industry wants its car number plates in multiples of three while four and eight are numbers every one avoids.”

While eight is unlucky for some, it’s lucky for some others. Bollywood heart-throb Ranbir Kapoor considers eight to be his lucky number, since his mother Neetu was born on July 8.

Abhay Deol is known for the off beat movies that he does. Even when it comes to number plates, this young and talented actor is doing things differently than his peers. Abhay has a number plate that reads “AD 420”. Now how cool is that for a young actor to forget about superstition and have a number plate based on his initials with a little humour on his jeep!

Ekta Kapoor’s e-fiction soap “Bol Niti Bol” is the major fictional web sequence yet in India: Television queen Ekta Kapoor’s future e-fiction show “Bol Niti Bol” has crossed 500,000 watcher marks within a month of its start on.

“Bol Niti Bol” is a tale of an normal young girl states her every day life in every episode of the show. Shot on a web cam, every incident is Niti’s video record that gives an approaching into her private life.

It talks about her friends, her professors, her crushs and dares. CEO of Balaji Telefilms, Puneet Kinra, affirmed “The triumph of ‘Bol Niti Bol’ proved our confidence that broadband is the subsequently big broadcast medium. Going ahead we would like to proper this space and present more to the audience in terms of diversity and interactivity.”

A follow-up of this e-fiction show is probable to be launched at the end of this year. “Bol Niti Bol” is regarded as the major fictional web sequence in India till date as it has crossed total video views of 650,000 diagonally Youtube, Mid-day and Rediff within just one month of its start on.

Ekta Kapoor, for lengthy overwhelmed by space problems for her countless serials currently being shot in studio complexes in Mumbai owned by Balajee Films, is now setting up to build her own film city.

Says a source very close to the project, "Ekta has always felt bogged by the lack of physical and creative space. We at Balajee can never capture the mythical 'Magic Hour' from the movies in our serials because we've to ration our time on the roads and public places.
Ekta plans to build a whole studio complex, not unlike Nitin Desai's studio in Karjat, with inbuilt roads and lanes so that we get an epic feel into our soaps, and we can control the lighting.

If you see Raj Kapoor or Bhansali's films you can see the quality and texture of lighting is unique. Ekta wants that quality in her serials."
Ekta is planning to build her own film city on the outskirts of Mumbai near Thane. In fact the land purchase is almost complete.

Ekta chuckles at the dream project that waits realization early next year. "I'll say this much. I'm the greatest Sanjay Leela Bhansali fan in the universe. I've seen Devdas 3,000 times. It's the only DVD in my room.

I know every frame by heart. When I met him for the first time in Anil Kapoor's house I just grinned goofily. I'm in love with him. Mr Bhansali has re-defined screen opulence. Mr Bhansali jokes that every time he makes a serial he knows he's Ekta is going to copy it.

We've two new shows coming on Sony on November 19. And my crew jokes that after seeing Saawariya I'm going to change all the episodes after an urgent meeting in the middle of the night. I'm going to sit with pen and paper and take notes when I see Saawariya."

She adds, "Ever since I saw Devdas I wanted to create a similar aura in the studios. If I want to show Bikaner or New York in my serial I want to create them in a studio. That real feel can never be got outdoors.

So yes, I'm looking at creating that mythical 'Magic Hour' for my serials."

The slick appeal of the Ajay Devgn- and Emraan Hashmi-starrer retro era criminal world saga ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’ managed to carry back the queues and the ‘House Full’ board at the ticket counters this weekend.

”Once Upon…’ has been rocking on the screens in terms of numbers. It has had the major opening overseas ever, especially in Dubai, for any Ajay Devgn- or Emraan Hashmi-starrer,’ Sunny Khanna, senior vice president, Balaji Motion Pictures, told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

‘It has even had the major opening in terms of a Diwali release, like last year’s ‘All The Best’ that had Ajay and Sanjay Dutt,’ he added.

Trade sources claim the movie has grossed over Rs.30 crore (Rs.300 million) in the domestic market in its initial run and is expected to touch the Rs.75 crore gross mark in its overall run worldwide. In the Middle-East, ‘Once Upon…’ grossed around AED 1 million (close to Rs.13 million) in Dubai in four days (as movies release on Thursdays there).

Multiplexes too are going gaga over the movie’s trade.

‘The movie is a super duper hit. We have had an average occupancy of 92 percent for the initial weekend with 15 shows that went housefull on Sunday. The film has been appreciated by one and all and we are expecting a good quality run over the week, and a definite second week run,’ Amit Awasthi, senior manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, told IANS.

Added Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas: ‘It was a rocking weekendwith 80-90 percent occupancy. The content, star cast, story and acting – all has been appreciated. Every actor fits into his or her character. It will sustain this week and it will have a second week run too definitely.’

Co-produced by Balaji Telefilms and Popcorn Entertainment for close to Rs.32 crore (Rs.320 million), including marketing and distribution costs, the starcast of the Milan Luthria directed action drama also includes Kangana Ranaut, Prachi Desai and Randeep Hooda.

Set primarily in 1970s Mumbai, ‘Once Upon…’ traces the changing face of the Mumbai underworld seen through the eyes of a police officer (Randeep).

The crime thriller follows the rise of Sultan (Ajay) and his eventual debacle when his protege Shoaib (Emraan) challenges his supremacy and usurps power to rule the murky underbelly of thecity.

‘The opening for the movie has been really well and it has had a decent occupancy of 60-65 percent. The content has been appreciated and it looks like a promising week. It should definitely have a second week run too,’ said Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas.

Added Amit Shah, chief manager (programming) of DLF DT cinemas: ‘The weekend was good with ‘Once Upon…’ It is a must-watch film. Friday and Saturday were good and steady but it picked up very well Sunday onwards, courtesy reviews and word of mouth. We have had an overall average occupancy of 60-65 percent over the weekend.’