India has the world's biggest movie industry and produces around 1000 movies each year.

Filmed entertainment recorded a steady growth of 14 per cent over the previous year and is estimated at Rs. 96 billion in 2007, up from Rs. 85 billion in 2006.

In the last four years 2004-07, the film industry recorded a cumulative growth of 17 per cent on an overall basis

1913 : Raja Harishchandra first silent feature film made in India by Dadasaheb Phalke.

1930: the industry was producing over 200 films per annum. 1931 :first Indian sound film, Ardeshir Irani's Alam Ara 1930s and 1940s :Great Depression, World War II,

Indian independence movement 1950: Bollywood released its first color films,romantic musicals and

melodramas 1970: gritty, violent films about gangsters and bandits 1990: family-centric romantic musicals 2000: growth in Bollywood's popularity in the world quality,

Bollywood films are multi-million dollar productions, with the most expensive productions costing up to 100 crores

Funding for Bollywood films often comes from private distributors and a few large studios.

Indian banks and financial institutions were forbidden from lending money to movie studios. However, this ban has now been lifted.

Illegitimate sources, such as the Mumbai underworld In 2001, the Central Bureau of Investigation seized

all prints of the movie Chori Chori Chupke Chupke after the movie was found to be funded by members of the Mumbai underworld

Under automatic route upto 100 per cent FDI is permitted in film industry (i.e. film financing, production, distribution, exhibition, marketing and associated activities relating to film industry) subject to the following: Companies with an established track record in films, TV, music,

finance, and insurance would be permitted

The company should have a minimum paid up capital of US$ 10 million if it is the single largest equity shareholder and at least US$ 5 million in other cases

Minimum level of foreign equity investment would be US$ 2.5 million for the single largest equity shareholder and US$ 1 million in other cases

Debt equity ratio of not more than 1:1, i.e., domestic borrowings shall not exceed equity.

Names such as Sahara India Mass Communications, PFH Entertainment, K Sera Sera and Cutting Edge Entertainment are fast replacing traditional financiers

Involvement of companies like Tata Infomedia(Aetbaar ), Reliance Infocomm, A.V Birla group, A.B. Corp, Sahara India, the Oswal group (Pinjar), Raymond chairman Vijaypat Singhania (Woh Tera Naam Tha)

Sahara has also struck a two-and-a-half year deal worth a reported $17 million, with Ram Gopal Varma and K Sera Sera, for a production of 10 films. Their first product Ab Tak Chhappan.

•In the making of Aetbaar, Tata Infomedia Ltd had a written agreement with all the actors and technicians. The schedules and resource allocations were carried out with business plan exactitude.

Sensazione(2006): plans to open a chain of hotels, lounges and spas.

Has acquired 12,000 sq ft of space in Kolkata for a ‘lifestyle zone’, which apart from a huge open space will house a nightclub, a restaurant and a cigar lounge.

Production house Tantra Entertainment Pvt. Ltd

Has become co-owner of the Mohali cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with partner Ness Wadia.

Has stepped in to resurrect father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan’s company AB Corp and is negotiating with filmmakers to restart production work

With restaurateur boyfriend Farhan Azmi is set to launch their first boutique hotel in Goa

Is contributing significantly to the running of her husband Anil Thadani’s film distribution business.

Won the Elle Décor International Design Award. She floated a company called

Mock-Ups :interior decoration, designing and executing spaces.

Owns an interior designing store - the White Window - in Mumbai.

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