Mallya’s venturing in to bollyworld!

A chat with Vijay Mallya, Chairman of United Breweries and Kingfisher Airlines. The king of good times tells us about his journey into the business and his and his companies further plans. The interview, which took place at Dr Mallya's apartment:
The billionaire (Forbes magazine ranks him the world’s 746th richest person with a $1 billion net worth) launched the airline with great fanfare in May 2005. In the last 24 months the airline has won several awards for excellence, placed orders for over 40 new Airbus planes - including five A380 super jumbos - and become a Formula One sponsor with the Toyota team. Owner of the Cricket Team Royal Challenger, Bangalore at India’s Premier League, Mallay’s has other plans to be in headlines.

Obviously speed is a common denominator, but Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO of Kingfisher Airlines, wants to go further - he wants to make the business global, with getting in to the Film production arena, with his new venture Kingfisher Entertainment Productions.

Q: 90 per cent of the beer sold in Goa is Kingfisher, according to the company. Goa is also the location of Mallya's seaside retreat. What you are known for internationally, is your beer business and then your Kingfisher airlines. How come you are planning to have a Film Production House under UB Group of companies?

Dr Vijay Mallya: The vast arena of the film industry is reflective of the huge growth potential of bollywood in India. Bollywood is now a recognized and a respectable industry in the world. Many are interested in investing in to bollywood from west. This initiated me of getting in to it and contributes something in the entertainment world. Kingfisher Entertainment Productions will be launching very soon with innovative ways of film production. Secondly, my son is also very much interested in production so for his fascination and my own interest UB Group decided to get in to this.
I intend to make Kingfisher Entertainment Production the best in the world and pursue this goal seriously, as I am sure one should pursue their goals equally seriously. I have always aimed at delighting the public in every sphere from Beverages to Airlines to India’s Formula One presentation and giving them nothing but the best.
Q: What all are you planning to have under your Production house?
Dr Vijay Mallya: Kingfisher Entertainment Productions is a motion picture production and distribution company, based in Mumbai. I intend to make it a very successful house and with a brand name with which the audience associates quality, novelty and wholesome entertainment. It will introduce superior technical workmanship, availing the best labs in the country for post-production and proficiency in handling films from various genres. The future accentuates of Kingfisher Entertainment Production will contribute in bringing qualitative improvement in individual aspects of cinema and is expected to continue to move from strength to strength.
Q: Does that mean that your Production House is only restricted to Big Screen?
Dr Vijay Mallya: No, not at all. We have further plans of making an investment in a number of programs for the small screen. We are in the process of setting up our TV division and forming a serious business plan. We are in talks with several entertainment channels for making TV software. In addition, we expect to announce several agreements with various channels for developing shows. Apart from production, the company will also features a unique, state-of-art visual effects studio titled as Kingfisher VFX studio in worli. It is a private company dealing with the motion picture industry and other visual effects.
Q: Is Kingfisher Entertainment Production is an involvement in accompanying measure for your expansion plans of UB Groups?
Dr Vijay Mallya: Well yes you can say that as the Production house is under the UB Group and the profit and loss of the house is the profit and loss of the company.
Q: What all would be your budget for productions?
Dr Vijay Mallya: The production house has made plans to invest nearly Rs100 crore for producing three big-budget movies by the end of 2012. But initially Rs70 crores has been invested in Post-production equipments and Kingfisher VFX studio.
Q: As your son Siddhartha Mallay is interested in production. Are you also planning to launch him? Does he have any interest in acting also?
Dr Vijay Mallya: Ofcourse, Siddhartha has interest in production and he is free to go ahead with his project under Kingfisher Entertainment Production. But he has to work on very professional grounds and think of budget and reputation of the company before initiating any project. On his interest in acting he should think twice. Otherwise I don’t have any issue in launching my son, not because others has also launched their son’s but because I believe in Siddhartha and his ambition.
Q: Big Indian Superstars have also focused largely on the film production like Shahrukh and Aamir and have their own production companies. Are you treading a new path that will allow other industrialist and businessman to follow your footprints?
Dr Vijay Mallya: True, Indian Superstars and their families have focused largely on the Film Production and there is a big logic in this as they are the old wines of the industry. They are aware of the dos and dont's of the industry. Well I didn’t want to tread a new path but yes if other industrialist wants they can follow my path. Now India has many competitive skills and when we Indians acquire overseas recognition we should try on improving the performance of the industry in the eyes of the world. With Kingfisher Entertainment Production we have plans to make Indian cinema to get much deserve recognition in the world which it is still lacking.

Q: How long did it take you to decide to get in to film production. Once it became clear that you were looking for a global platform?
Dr Vijay Mallya: Not very long. I have been thinking of it since past three months and discussed about it with Co-directors. We did a pilot study on our proposed plans and strategy. Then we found our loopholes and decided to talk to experts from various field. This made us have the full-proof plan to administer the project and now the thing is actually happening. I made this happen, by being personally involved in the project and ensure that every Kingfisher Entertainment Production meets the global standards of Indian cinema that the company aims for.


.....................................................................................
Dr Mallya is proud of his brand-new endeavor which incorporates the latest technology available.It is an extremely ambitious goal where Film Industry has a new competitor, but the brash, risk-taking businessman is not bothered. We hope that Kingfisher Entertainment Production, UB Group would also able to pocket success in his new business.