3 weeks ago
Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani Launch Excel Origins at 25-Year Mark
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are two friends who run a movie-making company in India called Excel Entertainment.
Their company has been making movies for 25 years.
To celebrate, they started a new program called Excel Origins.
This program will help new movie makers in India who are younger than 30 years old.
When Farhan and Ritesh started the company, they were 26 years old.
Their first movie was called Dil Chahta Hai.
It was about three college friends with different personalities who grow into adults.
It became a big hit and won awards.
Farhan thanked the audience for keeping the movie alive and relevant.
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani announced Excel Origins, an initiative to discover, develop and back Indian filmmakers under the age of 30.
The announcement was made Monday on Instagram, with a poster carrying a note about Excel Entertainment's journey.
Excel Entertainment's debut film, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), was directed by Akhtar and starred Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna.
Reports differ on box office figures: one says Dil Chahta Hai earned over Rs 40 crore, while another says it collected nearly Rs 34 crore against an Rs 8 crore budget and won National Film Awards.
The company, formed in 1999, has since produced films such as Don, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy.
- Who
- Filmmakers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, co-founders of Excel Entertainment.
- What
- Launched Excel Origins, an initiative to discover and back the next generation of Indian filmmakers under the age of 30.
- Where
- Announced on Instagram; pertains to the Indian film industry.
- When
- Monday, as Excel Entertainment marks its 25th year (one report says 26 years in the industry).
- Why
- To celebrate the banner's silver anniversary and invest in the future of cinema.
Key facts
- Production house
- Excel Entertainment
- New initiative
- Excel Origins
- Initiative goal
- Support Indian filmmakers under the age of 30
- Founded
- 1999
- Anniversary
- 25 years (one report says 26 years in the industry)
- Debut film
- Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
- Dil Chahta Hai box office
- Over Rs 40 crore per one report; nearly Rs 34 crore per another
- Announcement platform
Quotes
Excel Entertainment spokesperson
Official statement from the production house
““25 years ago, we started Excel Entertainment and began work on a film called Dil Chahta Hai. We had a simple thought - New voices and a different way of telling stories, will find an audience. We were twenty-six years old. We didn't have all the answers, but we had the courage to take risks and the tenacity to make it happen.””
telegraphindia.com
“As Excel celebrates its silver anniversary, we’re launching EXCEL ORIGINS—an endeavour to discover and back the next generation of filmmakers.”
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
Farhan Akhtar Marks 25 Years of Dil Chahta Hai
Farhan Akhtar Marks Dil Chahta Hai’s 25th Anniversary
Dil Chahta Hai Cast Reunites For 25th Anniversary Event
Farhan Akhtar Shares Glimpses From Dil Chahta Hai Reunion
Dil Chahta Hai at 25: A Fresh Breeze of Friendship
Dil Chahta Hai Reunion Draws Attention to Akshaye Khanna Absence
Priyadarshan Says Hera Pheri Made His Life Miserable
Kareena Kapoor Regrets Leaving Education After Class 11
Priyadarshan Explains Why He Left Hera Pheri 3
Priyadarshan Reveals Akshay Kumar’s Role In 99th Film
Saiyami Kher Says Female Actors Still Must Prove Themselves
