India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: Nearly two years after his last visit, and haunted by similar flooding that is going on right now in his beloved city of Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh brought a delegation to the home of Nadadur Vardhan for a signing of a Memo of Understanding that will perhaps lead to a Bollywood/Hollywood style amusement park in Mumbai's Film City.

"Only a few weeks ago, Cabinet Minister Jaipal Reddy was sitting in this very spot as the Chief Minister, and he told me that he will do whatever he can to move this dream forward in Mumbai," said a proud Nadadur Vardhan to the nearly 200 prominent guests from the Entertainment Industry and from the Indian Community.

Among the other dignitaries present was US Congressman Brad Sherman, Chairman of the sub committee of the International Business who presented the Chief Minister with an American flag that had been flown over the US Capitol. The gesture was symbolic of the day's important signing of the MoU whose main objective is to develop a project for the movie related Theme Park in Mumbai.

The eclectic team of businessmen in the US and India will assist the Maharashtra State Government to set up the project as Maharashtra is interested in identifying major global entertainment industry partners to develop the entire project or specific facets thereof (each, a "Project Partner"). The "Team" may also raise investment capital from Indian or foreign investors to be used toward the development costs of the theme park. Speaking to India Post, Nadadur commented that he expected the project to be completed within the next 12 months.

Clark Siegel of Irell & Manella LLP, a prominent Century City law firm that represents various Hollywood Studios including DreamWorks, Universal and Disney, was brief in his words. "I'm happy to be here and to help this move forward," he said simply. Nadadur thanked Deshmukh's staff for helping him to get to this point of the project, when at times he thought nothing would come of it. "I know so many of these guys now, I'm not afraid of the Mumbai mafia," he said jokingly.

Chief Minister Deshmukh complimented Nadadur on his "entertaining" hosting of the day, saying that it was fitting that they were signing an agreement to promote entertainment. "We are looking at new ways to bring talent and technology to Mumbai and the film industry there," said Deshmukh. "We make nearly 1000 films a year in Bollywood and it is indeed the capital of the entertainment business of India and this is a step to bring Hollywood and Bollywood closer together," he said. Deshmukh's own son, Ritesh Deshmukh, is a popular "heart throb" in Bollywood, so films are close to his heart whereas Ashok Chavan, Minister for Cultural Affairs and Protocol, who accompanied Deshmukh to LA, is also a close personal friend of Nadadur's, and his family.

"I call Chief Minister Chavan 'Uncle Ashok' because he is so beloved in our family," announced Nadadur's daughter, Malini, who also executed and conceptualized the day's program behind a pair of large sunglasses. "Her sister is currently in Bhopal with her mother making a documentary on Union Carbide, so I am completely indebted to my daughter for handling everything for me today," said Nadadur in reference to Malini. Dr Prem Reddy, who according to Nadadur, "owns most of the hospitals in California, brought a special message on behalf of Governor Schwarzenegger, who is supported the MoU.

Congressman Sherman echoed Prem Reddy's status as a hospital tycoon, claiming that Reddy currently runs the hospital across from his office in Sherman Oaks, but that when he changes offices Reddy will also be his landlord. A great meal from Annapurna Restaurant in Culver City was offered during the day.

The actual delegation of Chief Minister Deshmukh included Industries and Culture Minister Ashok Chavan and Maharashtra Delegation Johny Joseph, Chief Secretary, Umeshchandra Sarangi, Principal Secretary to the chief Minister, VK Jairath, Principal Secretary (Industries), Rajeev Jalota, CEO MIDC, and Bhushan Gagrani, Secretary (Cultural Affairs & Tourism).