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Mahesh Bhatt, Pritish Nandy to jointly produce films

Film maker Mahesh Bhatt-promoted Vishesh Entertainment and Pritish Nandy Communications Limited have come together to produce films of first-time directors and promote them in the film industry.

The agreement between Vishesh Entertainment and Pritish Nandy Communications envisages production of low-budget films directed by five debutants.

"We have already identified two directors. The rest are to be found out," Bhatt said.

The veteran director, who has retired from direction, is now busy shooting two forthcoming productions of his company that has produced 29 films.

The films, now on the floor, are titled Raaz and Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar.

Raaz, a thriller, has Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea in lead roles, while Amisha Patel and Jimmy Shergil star in the other film.

Both the films would be released around Diwali or Christmas, he said.

Bhatt also oversees the functioning of Fishey Network, a company owned by his daughter -- actress Pooja Bhatt.

He is about to complete his second book, The Taste of Death, to be published by Penguin in July.

'Bollywood-underworld nexus mostly propaganda'

Bollywood's alleged connection with the underworld is largely 'propaganda' against the film industry, which has become a sort of a 'punching bag' for authorities and gangsters, said Bhatt.

"This is an attempt to brainwash people. You tell the world that you are solving a problem. But this is not entirely true. To put the entire film industry in the dock and say that all have dubious connections is absurd," Bhatt said.

"I know the key players in Bollywood. They have no connections with the underworld," said Bhatt.

Referring to the recent arrest of Bollywood producer Bharat Shah, he said that the authorities "are personalising the issue by isolating the film industry".

"When ULFA terrorised the Tatas and they paid the ransom, the whole nation shed tears. Why do you apply different yardsticks to Bollywood?" he argued.

Bhatt also alleged that at least 25 film personalities had been threatened since Shah's arrest. "Bollywood has become a punching bag: the cops punch it, and so do the gangsters."

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