'Happy New Year' to release in China

After creating waves at the Indian box office, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Happy New Year" will release in as many as 5,000 screens in China Feb 12 as a mark of reinforcing cultural communication between the two countries.

Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd.'s magnum opus "Happy New Year" was cleared by China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Jan 1, 2015, for its nationwide release to kickstart the New Year.

Worldwide distributors Yash Raj Films (YRF) have entered into a deal with 1905 Pictures (film distribution arm of China Central Television Movie Channel) who will distribute locally along with China Film Group.

"This is the first Indian movie to come to China this year and in our meeting with Mr. Shah Rukh Khan and YRF chairman Mr. Aditya Chopra we discussed about many more collaborations in future. Hope this is just the start of a long journey," Ms. Xiao Ping, president of China Film Group (Import Export Division), said in a statement.

The multi-starrer entertainer will also be showcased at Beijing International Film Festival.

YRF worked closely with NPRG Global Partners as chief consultants/ strategic partners for the film's release. YRF and NPRG also enrolled the support of the Indian Embassy, Beijing.

"Under the instruction of President Xi Jinping, to reinforce China-India cultural communication, we are greatly honoured to have this opportunity to import outstanding Indian films and let China audience understand and appreciate Indian films and culture," Liang Longfei, chairman of 1905 Pictures, said in a statement.

The film will hit the screens as a dubbed version to reach the widest possible audience.

"We at YRF pride ourselves on taking the best of Indian cinema to new shores," said Avtar Panesar, vice president (International Operations) YRF.

The action-packed musical heist, directed by Farah Khan, also stars Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah.