/> There is a newly- cemented friendship between two of the unlikeliest creative compatriots in the entertainment industry. And it's between none other than Sanjay Gupta and Ekta Kapoor whose production partnership in Shootout At Lokhandwala has paid off extremely rich dividends.

Exults Gupta, "It's my biggest film to date and perhaps my only universal so far. Finally my kind of cinema has been accepted. It's too early to say how big a success Shootout has turned out to be. But it's beyond anything we had expected.

And now Ekta and I are all set to announce many more big films. And by big, I don't mean just the glossy spectacles. Earlier Ekta was shaky about the more serious stuff. But now she's all for experimental films that don't look foolproof from the outside."

Currently Kapoor and Gupta are putting their heads together to work out the logistics of a number of striking films. "We're planning four major films bigger than Shootout and some medium-budget projects."

Ekta has also influenced Gupta into joining her in several religious endeavours that she has planned during the next one month. "I've always been a religious person. But Ekta is getting me to be even more devout," confesses Gupta.

"But right now, I'm planning a big birthday party and celebratory bash at the Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency on 7 June. That's the date of Ekta's birthday. If you remember we had our music release for Shootout.... on my birthday. Now I've much reason to celebrate. And what better occasion than Ekta's birthday?"

However Ekta isn't too ecstatic with the party idea. "Normally I've my birthday bash a month after my birth date. This time I'd have liked the same. But Sanjay and my Mama (maternal uncle) are really keen. So I'm going to have two birthday bashes this time.

The success of Shootout... has finally consolidated my company's position as film producers. Though we had a hit Kya Kool Hain Hum earlier, Shootout...is a much bigger than anything Gupta or I have ever done in cinema."

At the moment Ekta is busy acquiring more films for distribution through Balajee Motion Pictures. "We've just acquired Priyadarshan's Bhool Bhulaiya and Ram Gopal Varma's Darling to distribute all over India. I think our motion-picture branch has just taken off."