Zee Aflam, the first 24-hour Pan Arab Bollywood film channel dedicated to Arabic audiences, marked its partnership of the world premiere of Players, a Bollywood heist movie starring A-list stars Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Sonam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh, in Dubai on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Grand Cineplex.
The promotional tour of movie in Dubai, organised by the Ministry of Events and Dream Advertising, and a press event and VIP red carpet, was held at the Global Village World Culture Stage last week. The film’s cast performed a live stunt demonstration using Mini Coopers, following their appearance at the event.
Tamer Al Sherbini, Head of Marketing, Zee Aflam said: “Over the past three years, Zee Aflam has focused on bringing the freshest Bollywood experience for a growing Arab audience. We are delighted to partner in hosting the world premiere of Players in Dubai, and offer an opportunity for our viewers to interact with their favourite stars.”
He added: “Zee Aflam has the exclusive television rights for this much-awaited movie, and will add to the fresh catalogue of Bollywood films that will be telecast on the channel this year. Additionally, we are also strengthening the programme roster with new Bollywood-based shows, tailored for the Arabic audience.”
Players is the official remake of the Michael Caine starrer, The Italian Job, with Abhishek Bachchan playing the mastermind behind a heist. It is directed by Abbas-Mustan, credited with some of the superhit Bollywood thrillers including Race, Aitraaz, Humraaz, Baazigar and Khiladi, among others. The film has been shot extensively in New Zealand and India. Players also stars Bobby Deol, Sikander Kher, Omi Vaidya, Aftab Shivdasani, Vinod Khanna and Johnny Lever. The music has been composed by Pritam.
Last year, Zee Aflam brought the UAE premiere of Bollywood rom-com Mere Brother Ki Dulhan in partnership with Yash Raj Films in Abu Dhabi.
Zee Aflam packages Bollywood films in convenient two-hour durations with Arabic subtitles. Every week, the channel also screens popular Hindi films that are dubbed in Arabic. The film’s round-the-clock roster of Bollywood films have earned strong audience following across the Arab world including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, among others.
