Namit Malhotra (born 2 April 1976) is an Indian film and television producer and a business executive. He is the founder and non-executive director of Indian
visual
The visual system is the physiological basis of visual perception (the ability to detect and process light). The system detects, transduces and interprets information concerning light within the visible range to construct an image and buil ...
and
special effects
Special effects (often abbreviated as F/X or simply FX) are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game, amusement park and simulator industries to simulate the fictional events in a story or virtual world. ...
company Prime Focus Limited, the world's largest independent integrated media services company, and the chief executive officer of its British-Indian subsidiary
DNEG
The DNEG Group, or DNEG (formerly known as Double Negative and stylized as D N E G), is a British-Indian visual effects, computer animation and stereo conversion studio that was founded in 1998 in London, and rebranded as DNEG in 2014 after ...
which specializes in visual effects, animation and
stereo conversion.
Early life
Malhotra is the eldest son of
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
film producer Naresh Malhotra and grandson of cinematographer M. N. Malhotra, who worked on one of India's first colour films in 1953, ''
Jhansi Ki Rani''. He grew up in
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, India and went to Jasudben M L School,
Khar
Khar may refer to:
Places
* Khar, Mumbai, a suburb of Mumbai, India
* Khar, Punjab, a town in the Punjab Province, Pakistan
* Khar, Bajaur, a town in the Bajaur Agency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan
* Khar, Nepal, a village in Darchu ...
. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in commerce from
H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.
Career
In 1995, Malhotra enrolled in a computer graphics school, where he saw how whole movies could be created on computers. He later recruited three of his teachers at the school as co-founders and started Video Workshop, an editing studio in his father's garage.
Over the next two years, Video Workshop completed work on many television shows and serials (like ''
Boogie Woogie
Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...
'' for
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
, ''Colgate Top 10'' for Zee Entertainment, ''Gaatha'' for
Star India
Disney Star (also known as JioStar), registered as JioStar India Private Limited, is an Indian media conglomerate joint venture owned with a share of 16.34% by Reliance Industries, 46.82% by Viacom18 and 36.84% by Disney India. On 14 Nove ...
), advertisement films/TVC's (for producers like
Sunil Manchanda
Sunil Manchanda is an Indian film director, and producer, and an advertisement producer.
Career
His 2003 film Tere Naam won four awards. Manchanda also produced '' Cheeni Kum'' in 2007, which won one award and was nominated for four others. On ...
of MAD Entertainment) and music videos (for producers like Sanjay Gupta,
Kunal Kohli
Kunal Kohli is an Indian film director, producer, writer and actor in Bollywood. He is best known for directing the romantic comedy '' Hum Tum'' (2004), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Director, and the romantic thriller '' Fanaa'' (2 ...
and
Anubhav Sinha
Anubhav Sinha (born 22 June 1965) is an Indian film director, producer and writer known for his work in Hindi film industry. His films include ''Tum Bin'' (2001), ''Dus'' (2005) and ''Ra.One'' (2011) He also directed a series of socio-political ...
). It also ran the post-production facility for
Channel V
Channel '' ("V" as in the letter, not the Roman numeral "5") is a Chinese and former Asian pay television musical network originally launched by Star TV Hong Kong (now Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific). It was part of the unit of Disney In ...
.
In 1997, Malhotra merged Video Workshop's business with Naresh Malhotra's Video Works, a film production equipment rental business to create Prime Focus. Prime Focus provided technological creative services such as visual effects, sound and
digital intermediate (DI) for television and movies.
It was one of the earliest companies to set up a scanning and recording system (2001) and DI system (2003) in India. It was also the first visual effects company in India to operate a Motion Controlled Rig (2004).
In 2006, Malhotra listed Prime Focus on the
Indian stock exchange and he became the first managing director and chief executive officer of the newly-listed company. Prime Focus expanded globally with the launch of Prime Focus World (PFW), which acquired visual effects (VFX), broadcast and post-production facilities in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
,
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and
Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
.
In 2009, using Prime Focus World's proprietary View-D technology, the company converted ''
Clash of the Titans'' into 3D. The work on this movie led to Prime Focus delivering stereo conversions for a number of other movie blockbusters, including: ''
Star Wars: Episode I'', ''
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'', and ''
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith''; ''
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' is a 2010 fantasy film directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. The film is the first of two cinematic parts based on the 2007 novel ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallo ...
'' and ''
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Harry may refer to:
Television
* ''Harry'' (American TV series), 1987 comedy series starring Alan Arkin
* ''Harry'' (British TV series), 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons
* ''Harry'' (New Zealand TV series), 2013 crime drama starring Oscar K ...
''; ''
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader''; ''
Wrath of the Titans
''Wrath of the Titans'' is a 2012 action fantasy film and a sequel to the 2010 film '' Clash of the Titans''. The film stars Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Édgar Ramírez, Toby Kebbell, Danny Huston, Ralph Fiennes, and Liam Ne ...
''; ''
Transformers: Dark of the Moon''; and ''
Shrek 2
''Shrek 2'' is a 2004 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon from a screenplay by Adamson, Joe Sti ...
''.
In October 2011, Malhotra relinquished his role as managing director of Prime Focus Limited to Ramki Sankaranarayanan. In 2012, he secured standard chartered private equity to invest in Prime Focus and diluted his stake in Prime Focus World to bring onboard Aid Capital Partners and Macquarie Capital Group in 2013.
In July 2014, Malhotra merged Prime Focus World with Double Negative (DNEG), a London-based visual effects (VFX) studio, which at the time was behind the VFX of ''
Inception
''Inception'' is a 2010 science fiction action heist film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who also produced it with Emma Thomas, his wife. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by inf ...
'' (2010), winner of the
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
The Academy Award for Best Visual Effects is presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for the best achievement in visual effects. It has been handed to four members of the team directly responsible for creatin ...
in 2011, and again earlier that year with ''
Interstellar'' (2014). Since then, DNEG has won an additional 6 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects for ''
Ex Machina'' (2014), ''
Blade Runner 2049
''Blade Runner 2049'' is a 2017 American Epic film, epic neo-noir science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve from a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green (writer), Michael Green, based on a story by Fancher. A sequel to ''Blade ...
'' (2017), ''
First Man'' (2018), ''
Tenet
Tenet may refer to:
Media
* ''Tenet'' (film), a 2020 science fiction action-thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan
** ''Tenet'' (soundtrack), the soundtrack album to the film
* Tenet Media, a right-wing US influencer group alleg ...
'' (2020), ''
Dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...
'' (2021), and ''
Dune: Part Two'' (2024). Following the merger, Malhotra became the chairman and CEO.
In August 2021, Malhotra's stake in Prime Focus Limited, DNEG's parent company, was boosted to 70% from 35% following a $250 million investment from UK-based firm
Novator Capital Advisors. Malhotra remained chairman and CEO of DNEG following the transaction.
On 25 January 2022, DNEG announced its entry into a definitive business combination agreement with Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AKIC). Upon the closing of the business combination, subject to customary closing conditions including the approval of the stockholders of Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp., the combined public company was to be named DNEG. The listing was cancelled in June 2022 citing unfavourable market conditions.
In addition to his business career, Malhotra is also a film producer. His credits include ''
The Hurricane Heist
''The Hurricane Heist'' is a 2018 American disaster heist action film directed by Rob Cohen, written by Jeff Dixon and Scott Windhauser, and starring Toby Kebbell, Maggie Grace, Ryan Kwanten, Ralph Ineson, Melissa Bolona, James Cutler, and Ben C ...
'' (2018), ''
Horizon Line
''Horizon Line'' is a 2020 English-language Swedish adventure thriller film directed by Mikael Marcimain and starring Alexander Dreymon, Allison Williams and Keith David. The film concentrates on a pair that desperately struggles to survive, fly ...
'' (2020), ''
Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva'' (2022), the animated feature ''
The Garfield Movie
''The Garfield Movie'' is a 2024 American animated comedy film based on the comic strip ''Garfield'' created by Jim Davis. The film was directed by Mark Dindal from a screenplay by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds. It serves ...
'' (2024).
and the upcoming epic ''Ramayana: Part 1'' (2026) and ''Ramayana: Part 2'' (2027).
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malhotra, Namit
1976 births
Indian chief executives
Living people
Hindi film producers
Indian television producers
Visual effects supervisors
Special effects coordinators