Karim Morani

{{short description|Indian film producer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Karim Morani

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| occupation = Film producer

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

| spouse = Zara Morani

| children = Zoa Morani
Shaza Morani

| relatives = Aly Morani (brother)
Lucky Morani (sister-in-law)
Priyank Sharma (son-in-law)

| website = {{URL|cineyug.com}}

}}

Karim Morani is an Indian film producer who has produced films like Arjun (1985) and Damini (1993) starring Sunny Deol. Later, he teamed up with Shahrukh Khan to co-produce Chennai Express and Ra.One starring Shahrukh Khan.{{cite web | url=http://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/shah-rukh-khan-attends-funeral-of-karim-moranis-mother/ | title=Shah Rukh Khan attends funeral of Karim Morani's mother | work=The Indian Express | access-date=22 April 2016}} Morani and his brother Aly Morani co-own Cineyug, which is a film production and event management company.{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2g-scam-cineyug-boss-morani-appears-in-court-456590 | title=Cineyug boss Morani appears in court | publisher=NDTV | access-date=22 April 2016}}

Film career

Morani entered film production in 1985 with the super hit film Arjun which starred Sunny Deol and was directed by Rahul Rawail. His next produced movie was Vardi in 1989 which starred Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff. He later produced the film Yodha in 1991, which was also directed by Rahul Rawail and starred Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles. His next as a producer was the universally acclaimed 1993 film Damini which starred Sunny Deol, Meenakshi Seshadri and Rishi Kapoor, and was directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. In 1996, he produced Dushmani: A Violent Love Story starring Sunny Deol, Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff. Again later in 1996, he produced Raja Hindustani starring Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor.

His next film as a producer came after a gap of seven years with Dum in 2003 directed by Eeshwar Nivas and starring Vivek Oberoi and Diya Mirza.

Following another gap of eight years, all his films have been co-productions with Shar Rukh Khan of films that star Khan. Morani's next release happened in 2011, after he teamed up with Shah Rukh Khan's production house Red Chillies Entertainment as an associate producer for the film Ra.One starring Khan.{{cite web | url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/srk-stands-by-ra-one%E2%80%99s-producer-morani-18597.html | title=SRK stands by Ra.One's producer Morani | publisher=Firstpost | access-date=22 April 2016}} In 2013, he co-produced the commercially successful film Chennai Express,{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/producer-of-srk-hit-chennai-express-karim-morani-arrested-in-hyderabad-for-raping-25-year-old-woman/story-J1fFfOJ0KBxgByWUgeMicJ.html | title=co-produced Chennai Express | publisher=Hindustan Times | access-date=18 October 2017}} and in 2014, he was the associate producer for the film Happy New Year, both of which star Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. In 2015, Morani co-produced Dilwale in association with Red Chillies Entertainment and Gauri Khan. The film was directed by Rohit Shetty and stars Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan and Kajol.{{cite web | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-karim-morani-accused-in-2g-case-allowed-to-go-to-turkey-and-iceland-for-dilwale-shoot-2116154 | title=Karim Morani, accused in 2G case, allowed to go to Turkey and Iceland for 'Dilwale' shoot | work=Daily News and Analysis| access-date=22 April 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Firing-outside-film-producer-and-2G-scam-accused-Karim-Moranis-house/articleshow/40865705.cms | title=Targeting film "Chennai Express" producer and 2G case accused, Karim Morani | work=The Times of India | access-date=22 April 2016}}

Controversies

Morani has been dogged by several controversies during his career.

=2G spectrum case=

Morani is an alleged accused in the 2G spectrum case. The Income Tax Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claim that Morani was a part of the conspiracy to illegally transfer funds to Kalaignar TV on the behest of Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka who are both co-accused in the 2G spectrum case. It was alleged that the promoters of DB Realty Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka transferred ₹2,092.5 million (US$33 million) to Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables, in which Shahid Balwa's brother was a director. Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables then transferred ₹2 billion (US$31 million) to Cineyug Films, and Morani then transferred it to Kalaignar TV.{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rs-200-crore-routed-to-TV-channel-in-33-tranches/articleshow/8085822.cms?referral=PM | title=Rs 200 crore routed to TV channel in 33 tranches | work=The Times of India| access-date=8 October 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Why-is-Karim-Morani-important-to-B-town/articleshow/8663112.cms | title=Why is Karim Morani important to B-town? |work=The Times of India| access-date=22 April 2016}} Morani was charged with Criminal conspiracy to cause criminal breach of trust by a public servant, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, fabrication of evidence and also booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Morani was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on 30 May 2011{{cite web | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/2g-scam-cineyug-director-karim-morani-denied-anticipatory-bail/1/139017.html | title=2G scam: Court denies anticipatory bail to Cineyug Director Karim Morani | work=India Today | access-date=8 October 2017}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2g-scam-accused-karim-morani-allocated-a-cooler-less-dusty-prison-cell-457883 | title=2G scam accused Karim Morani allocated a 'cooler, less dusty' prison cell | publisher=NDTV | access-date=8 October 2017}} and was subsequently granted bail on 28 November 2011.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} As of August 2012, Morani is facing trial in 2G spectrum case and has to appear at a Special CBI Court in New Delhi.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

=Mumbai underworld=

On 23 August 2014, members of the Ravi Pujari gang made an attempt on the life of Morani.{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/051017/mahesh-bhatt-deposes-in-court-reveals-details-of-threat-calls-from-ravi-pujari-gang.html | title=firing outside the residence of Bollywood film producers Karim and Ali Morani in 2014 | work=Deccan Chronicle | access-date=9 October 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.india.com/showbiz/bollywood-and-underworld-gangster-ravi-pujari-plotted-to-kill-mahesh-bhatt-and-moranis-197859/ | title=Underworld: Gangster Ravi Pujari plotted to kill Mahesh Bhatt and Moranis | publisher=india.com | access-date=9 October 2017}} In 2018, A Delhi-based Model accused Morani of rape, blackmail and threatening to eliminated by underworld connection.{{cite web | url= https://m.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/producer-karim-morani-drugged-and-raped-me-alleges-woman/story-j6H3kyI6d4MC3iTaSpD7kI_amp.html| title=Producer Karim Morani drugged and raped me, alleges woman | publisher= hindustantimes| access-date=6 August 2020}}

=Allegations of rape=

In 2017 Morani was booked by Hyderabad police for the rape of a 25-year-old Delhi-based student.{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/karim-morani-producer-of-chennai-express-booked-by-hyderabad-police-for-rape-blackmail-3209964.html|title=Karim Morani, producer of Chennai Express, booked by Hyderabad police for rape, blackmail|date=18 January 2017|publisher=Firstpost}} On 23 September 2017, Morani had to surrender to the Hyderabad police following the order by the Supreme Court refusing to give Morani anticipatory bail in the alleged rape case against him.{{cite web | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bollywood-producer-karim-morani-surrenders-to-police-in-delhi-woman-rape-case/1/1054243.html | title=Bollywood producer Karim Morani surrenders to police in Delhi woman rape case | work=India Today | access-date=7 October 2017}}{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/sc-upholds-cancellation-of-bail-to-karim-morani-in-rape-case/article9869269.ece | title=SC upholds cancellation of bail to Karim Morani in rape case | work=The Hindu Business Line | access-date=8 October 2017}}

Personal life

Karim Morani is an Ismaili Muslim. He married Zara Morani and the couple has two daughters, Zoa and Shaza. Their older daughter Zoa Morani is an actress.{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Zoa-ropes-in-Katrinas-diction-trainer-for-herself/articleshow/24279869.cms?referral=PM | title=Zoa ropes in Katrina's diction trainer for herself |work=The Times of India| access-date=7 October 2017}} Shaza is married to Priyaank Sharma, Padmini Kolhapure and Tutu Sharma's son.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-05|title=Inside Priyaank Sharma-Shaza Morani's wedding party: Cousin Shraddha Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, attend. See pics|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/inside-priyaank-sharma-shaza-morani-s-wedding-party-cousin-shraddha-kapoor-padmini-kolhapure-attend-see-pics-101612490672695.html|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}

References