As a young boy the world of cinema always enchanted IT professional-turned-film producer Vikram Singh. But coming from a middle-class background he could not chase his dreams, as the emphasis was more on academics. That is when after completing his graduation from Delhi University, Vikram went to IIM Kolkata and eventually to the US to work.
But now the man has given up his high-paying job and turned a film producer. He is producing two films under his production house Meri Film Productions that aims to make film production a viable investment option.
Vikram says, "The process of filmmaking has always interested me. I worked hard for five years in the US and now when I can afford to pursue my passion, I am happily producing films." His goal is to popularise investment in films as a low-risk and high-return option and a healthy alternative to investment in stocks or real estate.
Vikram explains, "This trend of investing money in film production is popular in the west and I aim to make it popular in the Punjabi film industry too because this will enable filmmakers to make all kinds of films which in turn will give audiences a variety of films to watch. By investing in my production company, my investors turn co-producers or associate producers of the film. For Punjabi films we are looking at investors who are ready to invest a minimum of R25 lakh, while for a Hindi film, we want a minimum investment of R50 lakh."
Vikram has already managed to get support of some investors: "I am going to make it a point that all my investors earn at least 30 to 40 per cent of their investment as a computed annual return not depending on how the film fares at the box-office," he says.
{{/usCountry}}Vikram has already managed to get support of some investors: "I am going to make it a point that all my investors earn at least 30 to 40 per cent of their investment as a computed annual return not depending on how the film fares at the box-office," he says.
{{/usCountry}}Vikram's production house is currently producing two films, Kinna Karde Hain Pyar in Punjabi and 24 Carat in Hindi. While the Punjabi film will hit theatres around Diwali, the latter is still in its pre-production stage. "I receive film scripts but we are in no hurry to take up projects because I have to keep the commercial angle in mind when I look at the scripts, for which I also have a creative team from the film industry.
Right now I am not going to get very experimental with scripts. But eventually I want to make films such as Kahaani, Vicky Donor and Paan Singh Tomar which I believe are real cinematic gems and fresh in treatment of their subject," he signs off.