Ekta Kapoor buys new studio

If industry sources are to be believed, the small screen czarina's latest purchase is the sprawling Killick Nixon Studio in Chandivali

Looks like producer Ekta Kapoor is steadily expanding her empire.

If industry sources are to be believed, the small screen czarina's latest purchase is the sprawling Killick Nixon Studio in Chandivali. Sources say that Ekta Kapoor has bought over the studio and that most of her television shows are now being shot here.

According to a source close to Ekta, the soap queen has also launched a media and acting school called The Institute of Creative Excellence, which is housed in the same studio.

The source adds, `Ekta has bought another property adjoining the studio and this one is a joint venture with builder Niranjan Hiranandani.`

When contacted, Niranjan Hiranandani confirmed this. `The adjoining land is a joint acquisition,` was his response. Ekta, however, chose to not reply to our messages.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

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Crane crash

Siddharth Malhotra has been doing a lot of action sequences for Ekta Kapoor's The Villain, which also stars Riteish Deshmukh and Shraddha Kapoor.

During one such sequence yesterday, a part of the crane came crashing down and cinematographer Vishnu Rao ended up injuring his right arm when he failed to move out from harm's way.

Rao was setting up a scene featuring Siddharth and Riteish and the actors were waiting in their respective vanity vans. Five minutes before the actors were to be called in for the shot, the top half of a crane, which was not operational, started to swing menacingly.

An eyewitness told Mirror, "There were many crew members on the sets and they spotted the violently oscillating crane. People started to run for cover and there was a pandemonium. Unfortunately, a part of the equipment fell on Rao's hand, almost crushing it. He was immediately rushed to a hospital."

When contacted, Balaji's CEO Tanuj Garg said: "What happened is unfortunate. Yes, our DOP (Director of Photography) Vishnu was injured. Thankfully, there was not more damage."

The Villain is expected to hit the theatres on June 27, 2014.

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