News : Movies, Mohanlal
Recently, Mohan Lal widened his business horizons leaving a thought that soon he will retire from movies. The film star has successfully established himself in seafood, curry powder, hospitality, movies, studios and multiplex construction businesses
IS MALAYALAM super star Mohan Lal concentrating more on business than on movies nowadays? It might not be ‘big news’ when we compare with Bollywood and cricket stars’ opening of hotels, being brand ambassadors of couple of products etc. But, what makes Lal, a simple and chummy personality as cynosure, is he entered into two different fields in one week!
Are you wondering? Yes, according to sources, Mohan Lal, who recently celebrated his 30 years in film industry, is slowly switching from movies to business. He entered into stock market, film distribution and real estate business. Besides, he fully ownes Travancore Court, a three star hotel, located at Warriam Road in South Junction in Kochi. Although, Mohan Lal has dozen movie projects in his kitty, he plays a trump card of being a businessman.
The latest venture of the filmstar follows his forays into seafood, curry powder, hospitality, movies, studios and multiplex construction businesses. Besides, he also runs a chain of restaurants in the Middle East. Sources said that the actor is also planning to launch a few schools shortly.
Although, Lal is not a novice in business, this is the first time he has set his feet in investment and real estate business.
On film distribution
After a gap of few years, his erstwhile firm – Pranavam Arts is returning to distribution. He is joined in this new initiative by his best buddy and former car driver, Antony Perumbavoor, Asianet Chairman K Madhavan and Baby Marine MD, KC Babu, who will work in unison to form the new distribution firm, Max LabEntertainments. Max Lab will focus on film distribution, production and running multiplexes and shopping malls in Kerala. Primarily, Max Lab aims at distributing new Malayalam films.
The first venture of Max Entertainments will be Aashirwad’s productions’ ‘Saagar Alias Jackey’, directed by stylish, Amal Neerad of Big B fame. The company has also acquired the rights of another new project in the pipeline, a movie jointly produced by Thara Arts and Aashirwad, which is entirely shot in America.
There is a media hype that ’Sagar…’ will be a sequel to ‘Erupathaaam Nootaandu’, a runaway hit directed by Madhu. SN Swamy, who wrote the script and story for ‘Erupathaam’ pens the story for Sagar also.
Max Entertainments also have plans to start multiplexes all around the state. Their first multiplex will start shortly at Chalakkudi. The distribution offices of the venture will base itself at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Chennai.
On Stock Market
Mohan Lal launched a stock broking company called Hedge Equities in Kochi, in association with Fedex Securities, Kozhikode-based Baby Marine Exports, Smart Financial, Thakker Group and SM Hegde of Videocon.
“Hedge Equities has a net worth of Rs eight crore, which should shortly reach Rs 10 crore. The company presently has 16 branches and is planning to establish 45 new branches all over South India by the end of this fiscal,” said Alex K Babu, managing director, Hedge Equities.
“We are basically targeting the small investors and we are confident that we will be able to guide them in the best possible manner,” said Lal.
Hedge offers a diverse set of services to customers. Equity, futures and options, depository services, commodity services, mutual funds distribution are some of them.
N Bhuvanendran, chief executive officer (CEO), said that the company had already opened 3,000 accounts in Kerala in a short span of three months and the target is to register at least 20,000 in one year. The company, with 28 branches in four states, is set to launch 45 branches across South India by March 2009. The initial focus will be only in the southern States. It had also entered into a tie-up with MCX for commodities broking.
On brand ambassador role
Mohan Lal is currently the brand ambassador of Oceanus Builders, a reputable firm which has started their projects in Kochi. Besides, Lal is the ambassador of Malabar Gold, Kozhikode-based jewelers which has so many branches in and outside Kerala.
And if we check his next projects, with a analytical mind of a businessman, Lal is planning his next move. Kurukshetra, a movie based on Kargil war, directed by Major Ravi will hit Kerala cinemas soon and a mega project on Nair Saan, where Mohan Lal shares the screen with Jackie Chan is being directed by Sharath.
Read this news at -
http://www.merinews.com/article/is-mohan-lal-reitiring/143705.shtml.
