New Delhi, June 07: Action superstar Jackie Chan is going to be in India kicking his way to the box office soon. Jackie Chan Productions, along with Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films, is ready to unleash a $60 million martial arts movie here. With Buddhism as the backdrop and locations identified in West Bengal and Jaipur by production scouts, Chan-mania is imminent.
Mukesh Bhatt told the Hindustan Times, “We are providing all the key infrastructure and logistic support to this venture. The movie, as always, will be a fast paced action vehicle moving from Indian locales to Hong Kong and mainland China. The centrepiece will of course be Chan, supported by Indian character artists."
After the success of the Rush Hour series, Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights, Chan is currently busy with the remake of Jules Verne's classic Around The World In 80 Days.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is keen to help Jackie Chan Productions. The Hong Kong tourism board may be involved with the promotion later. Though the crew hasn't applied for visas yet, a shooting schedule has been prepared starting August.
Pravin Nischol and Manmohan Shetty's Entertainment One and Bobby Bedi's Kaleidoscope Films will support the production.
Interestingly, in Shanghai Knights, Chan had impersonated an Indian maharajah. In fact, the action star had said at the first IFFA awards in Genting Highlands, Malayasia, that he was keen to make a movie in India.
Jackie Chan has also produced, starred in and directed over a dozen other action films, including Rumble in the Bronx, First Strike, Super Cop, Operation Condor, Crime Story, Mr Nice Guy and Armor of God. Most recently, he starred in the action-comedy, The Tuxedo. In addition to writing, acting and directing, Chan has a successful singing career.