MUMBAI: Movie production is catching the eye of soap opera queen Ekta Kapoor. Buoyed by the success of Love, Sex Aur Dhoka, Balaji Telefilms plans to pump in Rs 1.2 billion towards churning out movies over the next 18-month period.

"We plan to invest Rs 1.2 billion in the film production business over the next 18 months. The two that are set for a July-August release are being built on Rs 500 million," Balaji Telefilms Group CEO Puneet Kinra tells Indiantelevision.com.
Balaji Telefilms will be investing Rs 500 million in two movies that are set for release in the second quarter of this fiscal.

Once Upon A Time in Mumbai stars Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Prachi Desai and Randeep Hooda. It is a movie based on Haji Mastan and the Mumbai underworld evolving from its early phase in the 60s and 70s to its connection with international terrorism.

Shor, on the other hand, is a fast-paced, edgy take on the grey area between right and wrong in the overcrowded city of Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Love, Sex Aur Dhoka, which is still running on the screens, has already garnered a net gross of Rs 100 million. Balaji Telefilms will take away close to 50 per cent of this as its share. The movie was made on a budget of Rs 70 million.

"We will make money from this movie. After its theatrical run, we will have satellite telecast rights to exploit," says Kinra.