Striking it big in Tinseltown

FORMER tennis pro and now big-time Hollywood producer Ashok Amitraj was in London last night (October 28) to launch his memoir, ‘Advantage Hollywood’.

We caught up with the CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment (please see link below) just before a lavish dinner celebrating his achievements and hosted by the Indian Journalists Association at Bombay Palace, appropriately near Hyde Park.

He told us about his latest movie, ‘Life of Crime’, which is adapated from an Elmore Leonard novel and has an all star cast, with Jennifer Aniston in a lead role.  Leonard died quite recently and listen to what Amitraj says about the reaction to the movie at two recent film festivals and when it will be released.

There were a host of figures from the world of entertainment and big business with ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ director Gurinder Chadha and James Bond director Roger Spottiswoode there alongside Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer and steel tycoon Lord Swraj Paul and his wife. Also present from the world of politics was Lib Dem grandee Lord Navnit Dholakia and his wife, Ann, as well as Vitabiotics founder, Dr Kartar Lalvani.

Amitraj virtually discovered Jean-Claude Van Damme and cast him in ‘Double Impact’ which was a breakthrough movie for them both.

The Chennai-born moviemaker, who followed brothers Anand and Vijay into professional tennis, is also responsible for ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’, ‘Bringing Down the House’, ‘Bandits‘, ‘Machete’ and ‘Premonition’.

Check out what Amitraj had to say about his short trip to London – just about 48 hours.

It has a touch of Ghostrider about it…(sorry)

Click here please http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHE-Q4asdS2zKbu91mY32KQ?feature=watch

Full story interview: http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/hollywood-smash-ashok-amitrajs-ace-strokes/