Actor Rakshit Shetty’s first production Kirik Party, directed by Rishab Shetty, completes 100 days in theatres this week. The film made under Paramvah Studios, in association with Pushkar Films, was released on December 30 and distributed by Jayanna Films. It turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters in Rakshit’s career and made nearly ten times the initial investment.
The filmmaker credits everyone under Paramvah Studios who has worked on it for the overwhelming success. Rakshit, we hear, has shared 25 per cent of the profits with the entire team of 70 members. This includes 22 light men, makeup man, 3 costume designers and 8 production executives, and each one was paid ` 50,000.
Even the actors, including newcomers, were paid in lakhs. Rakshit says, “I worked with a very small budget for Kirik Party. Every lightman worked for longer hours without asking for extra pay, which is usually not the case. So today when we met with success, I thought it was the right thing to do, to share the profits with them all. I decided to keep 75 per cent of profit with Parmvah Studios and distribute the remaining.”
The actor wants to keep making such good movies. “Film industry is a gamble,” he says. “If the film is a hit, you make money and, if it flops, you stand to lose everything. But I am confident and hope that in future when I make low-budget films, I will have my people, who believe in me and work with me for their fair share,” Rakshit adds.
Kirik Party may have a sequel but not in the immediate future, says Rakshit. “May be not a college story, but a journey with friends,” he says.
Kirik Car up for auction towards social cause
While the celebration for the 100-day run will be with students of Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, it will be followed by a big bash in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the car which was used in the film will be up for auction this weekend. Rakshit says, “Like Karna in the film puts the car on auction and pays for a girl child’s education, we will use the proceeds from this auction to fund a girl’s schooling.”