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India’s Viacom18 Media Backs Out of Jackie Chan Co-production

| Oct 28, 2015 09:11 AM EDT

Jackie Chan is seen waving his hand to his fans.

India's Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture between New York-based Viacom Inc. and India's Network18 Media & Investments Ltd., has backed out of a Chinese-Indian co-production starring action star Jackie Chan.

The film "Kung Fu Yoga" will have Chan as one of the lead actors and a less known Indian actor, Sonu Sood.

Sood, who ranks 46th in the Times of India's Celebex Bollywood, is said to appear for only 30 minutes, an appearance which is half of Chan's.

According to Gayatri Gulati, Viacom18's international business chief, they "called it off because we couldn't agree on the terms." However, he declined to disclose more details.

The co-production also involves two Chinese firms, Shinework Media and Taihe Entertainment Corp.

People familiar with the deal said that the Indian firm will not invest on the said project after it felt it does not have enough say on the film's production.

Spokespersons from the three companies declined to give comments.

"Kung Fu Yoga," which has a budget of $60 million, was supposed to be one of the series of film co-productions between the two countries.

After Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India last year, authorities have forged a deal to encourage film outfits from both parties to work together and make more titles.

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