‘Agent Vinod’ collects Rs.10 crore on opening day

Saif Ali Khan’s home production “Agent Vinod” has earned
Rs.10 crore on the first day, and is the actor’s biggest solo
opening so far. Made at a budget of Rs.50 crore, the film has been shot in
Morocco, Russia and Latvia. “Saif Ali Khan has grown as an actor and also grown as a box-
office power. The number of screens first decide the craze for
the film and the first day business is an indicator of its strength
at the box office,” said trade analyst Taran Adarsh. “The massive figures only go to show that Saif has a rare
combination of talent and box office pull,” added Adarsh. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the spy thriller also features Kareena Kapoor, Prem Chopra and Ram Kapoor. While it is produced under Saif’s “Illuminati Films” banner, Eros International has distributed it. Saif says it was the best time to release a film like “Agent Vinod”. “The concept should appeal to people… it’s got an exciting plot… The style, the narrative – the
strength of the story and its ‘Tin Tin’ qualities is the USP of ‘Agent Vinod’. Times have changed
and so have our movies. This is the right time for ‘Agent Vinod’,” said Saif, who feels he has
challenged himself with a film like this. “I have challenged myself physically in roles before. One such role was of Langda Tyagi in
‘Omkara’. In ‘Agent Vinod’, I had to be fit, very fit. I had to train hard. It was a gruelling
schedule to do action. It is very demanding. I have a lot of respect for action heroes because
I’ve got to know what it takes to be one,” he added. The theatre owners are happy with the first day response to the film and hope that it will
sustain in the coming weeks. “The response to the film has been good. We have witnessed an occupancy of about 85
percent. The action and stunts of the film are quite appealing to the youngsters,” Gautam Datta,
of PVR Pvt Ltd told IANS. – IANS

Ravindra Jadeja lands $2.0 million IPL jackpot

Ravindra Jadeja versatile crickter was for $ 2,000,000 at an auction sale in Bangalore Indian Premier League on Saturday, but missed a number of big names. The reigning champions IPL Chennai Super Kings, by the head of the Indian cricket Narayanaswamy Srinivasan heard Jadeja bagged the 23 years after an intense bidding war with Deccan Chargers. Jadeja colleagues joined India Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma in the $ 2 million-a-year to support the money- spinning Twenty20 league. Only 17 of the 144 Indian and foreign players who had already thrown their hat into the ring found to be limited due to the liberation of the morning session of the auction, the player who was not already targeted for each team. The main beneficiaries were the Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, bought by Delhi Daredevils for $ 1.4 million, and India seamer Vinay Kumar, who seek $ 1.0 million for Royal Challengers Bangalore. New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum went to Kolkata Knight Riders for $ 900,000, while 41 years was spinner Brad Hogg in Australia picked up by Rajasthan Royals for $ 180,000. Bigger surprise, however, was the list of players who have missed. There were no takers for England, James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara and Matt Prior Veteran Indian batsman Venkatsai Laxman struggling to keep his place in the Indian test team was also sold. Australian fast bowler Even as Peter Siddle has been ignored. Jadeja, Jayawardene, Kumar and McCullum was one of the now defunct franchise Kochi Tuskers, the tournament played in the last year before they thrown out of the IPL in September for nonpayment of fees. Deductibles spent money to their lines in the fifth edition of the IPL, between 4 April and 27 May be
played strengthened Much depended on the availability of players for the week of September-76-match tournament. International players from England, not more than one month is available, as their tour of Sri Lanka ends on 7 April and will be followed by a series at home against the West Indies from mid- May. Australians can be advanced to the IPL after their Caribbean tour 27th April ends. The auction is being held in the shadow of the retreat of the Sahara Group, sponsors of the team from India, and the owner of the franchise Pune Warriors, whose association with the Indian cricket earlier on Saturday. Sahara, a "one-sided emotional relationship" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to support its decision not to participate in the auction. It remains to be seen whether the withdrawal is Pune eight teams will compete to leave the tournament this year.