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Putting their money where their mouth is
Producers think actors are just products to put on their poster. Actors think producers shouldn't interfere with the creative process. And yet the new role of the creative producer is one of the most exciting portfolios to hold in the current Bollywood construct.
Here's a look at ten actors who've decided to take matters into their own hands. Here are ten Bollywood actors who've turned producer:
Shah Rukh Khan
SRK has two banners, one called Dreamz Unlimited, started with Juhi Chawla and Aziz Mirza in 1999, which made films like Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Asoka and Chalte Chalte, and another banner called Red Chillies Entertainment, which has made Main Hoon Na, Paheli, Om Shanti Om and Billu.
Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan Productions is fast turning out to be Bollywood's most polished production house, with an enviable track record consisting of films like Lagaan, Aamir's directorial debut Taare Zameen Par, and last year's runaway success Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. Coming up next is Abhinay Deo's Delhi Belly and his wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut.
Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor Films made its debut in 2002 with the ill-fated comedy Badhaai Ho Badhaai, but things started looking up with his next project, the critically acclaimed My Wife's Murder. The accolades kept pouring in with his next Gandhi, My Father but Kapoor's films have yet to make money.
Coming soon is his next film, a comedy called Shortcut directed by Neeraj Vora and Aisha, a film based on Emma starring daughter Sonam Kapoor.
Saif Ali Khan
Saif started his production house Illuminati Films last year, and their first film is slated to come out in a few months. Khan's slate starts with Love Aaj Kal, directed by Imtiaz Ali and starring Deepika Padukone, and his second venture Agent Vinod is a thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan. Both films star Saif as the main lead.
John Abraham
John has turned producer this year with his next film 1-800-Love directed by Jaane Tu... director Abbas Tyrewala. The film stars Abbas' wife Pakhi in the lead opposite John. There are unconfirmed reports that he might be co-producing Anurag Kashyap's next film, Bombay Velvet.
Ajay Devgan
Devgan entered production in the year 2000 with the weakly made children's film Raju Chacha starring Kajol alongside himself.
Next came his directorial debut last year, U Me Aur Hum. Devgan is reportedly set to direct a romance for 2010.
Mallika Sherawat
The outspoken actress has stepped into production and her first film, Fauj Mein Mauj, is currently filming.
The film is a licensed remake of Goldie Hawn-starrer Private Benjamin, about one attractive, flaky bimbette right in the middle of a tough Army unit. The film is expected to wrap up shooting this summer.
Milind Soman
Soman's tried his hand at many a genre from sci-fi to action but he himself produced a sweet little chick-flick called Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula. Soman is now producing a children's television show called Ghost Ka Dost.
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh ventured into production with his ABCL corporation, starting out in 1996 with Tere Mere Sapne. Then came Mrityudaata in 1997 and Major Saab in 1998.
Then came Rakeysh Mehra's radical debut film, Aks in 2001. AB Corp Ltd's most recent production was the badly reviewed Viruddh in 2005.
Sanjay Dutt
Dutt entered production in collaboration with buddy Sanjay Gupta, the two making movies like Shootout At Lokhandwala and Dus Kahaaniyaan in 2007, and Woodstock Villa in 2008. Coming up next is Alibaug this year.