So, it’s been a while now since we have posted any blind item on OSOP. But, it’s better late than never right? Here’s a new blind item by Rajeev Masand. We are not really familiar on the honchos of Bollywood studios, so feel free to drop your hints on whom Masand is referring.
Bollywood Blind Item – March 2014
Executive Exodus
The big development that everyone in Bollywood seems to be talking about is the mass exodus from a prominent film studio recently. As many as five top executives at one of the industry’s leading studios have handed in their resignations to the MD within the past few weeks, creating a shakeup seldom seen before at a Bollywood corporation.
At least three creative heads, one distribution head, and one marketing head are reportedly moving on. And the reason appears to be a colleague who until recently worked parallel, but has now been promoted over them. The lady in question is being groomed for the currently vacant CEO position.
Easily among the most respected studios in the business, with a long history of nurturing both commercial and indie projects, it was acquired by a Hollywood giant some years ago.
There are murmurs among ‘suits’ in the industry over the fate of the studio. But the film trade doesn’t seem particularly perturbed, given the strong reputation that the MD enjoys and the relationships he’s built with filmmakers and actors over the years.
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Whither the Expense Account?
Meanwhile, at another film studio, internal gossip all involves the stingy ways of its new honcho. The most frequently discussed incident is one from last year when the studio boss travelled to an overseas film festival along with a bunch of filmmakers whom the studio was hosting and whose latest works the fest was showcasing.
According to at least two executives employed at the studio who claim to have witnessed the incident personally, the studio head surprised his filmmaker guests by asking them to split a “measly” coffee bill amounting to approximately €80. The story goes that the contingent—which included the filmmakers, the studio boss and a bunch of his executives travelling with him—ordered coffee and light bites at an airport café while heading back to Mumbai. When the bill arrived, the big-shot reportedly pulled out a €10 note and asked the group to split the balance. Too shocked, one of the filmmakers apparently reached for the cheque and insisted on paying it in full.