Ashok Amritraj (born 22 February 1956)[1] is an Indian-American athlete and film producer. He is chairman and CEO of the Hyde Park Entertainment Group and was formerly CEO of National Geographic Films. He played tennis professionally in his youth, one of the Indians in the top levels of the sport.[2]
Ashok Amritraj | |
|---|---|
 Amritraj in March 2008 | |
| Born | 22 February 1956 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian (former) American |
Career
editAshok Amritraj and his elder brothers, Anand and Vijay, were among the first Indians to play in top-flight international tour tennis.[3]
In 1999, Amritraj partnered with film producer David Hoberman to start a film financing and production company Hyde Park Entertainment.[4] Hoberman left in 2002 to re-form Mandeville Films and Amritraj ran Hyde Park alone.[5]
Amritraj has produced over 100 films during his 35-year career with collective worldwide revenues in excess of US$2 billion.[6] He partnered with multiple Hollywood studios and produced films starring Robert De Niro,[7] Antonio Banderas,[7] and Jennifer Aniston.[8] Amritraj has made notable films such as Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, starring Nicolas Cage,[9] Bringing Down the House, starring Steve Martin,[10] Premonition, starring Sandra Bullock,[11] and Walking Tall starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.[12]
In 2015, Amritraj was given an honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the University of East London.[13] In 2016, he was appointed as the first United Nations India Goodwill Ambassador for the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.[14] In December 2018, by decree of the President of the Republic of France, Amritraj was appointed a Chevalier of the Ordre National du Merité.[15]
In 2022, Hyde Park and Warner Music Entertainment launched the Hyde Park Entertainment and Warner Music Entertainment Asian Women Fellowship, in partnership with Film Independent, which will showcase women-identifying writers and writer-directors who are Asian or part of the Asian Diaspora.[16] Amritraj serves on the Producer's A2025 committee to advance inclusion & equitable opportunities at the Academy of Motion Pictures & Arts,[17] and on the advisory board for the Dodge Film School at Chapman University.[18]
As of 2021, Amritraj's projects included a biopic about Arthur Ashe with Warner Music Group;[19] The Man Who Lived Underground,[20] in partnership with Kenya Barris' Khalabo Ink Society and Paramount Pictures; Amnesty for Netflix;[21] Rubik's Cube, based on the toy with Endeavor Content;[22] Remote Control with STX Films;[23] and the remake of the Blake Edwards' film 10 with Warner Bros. Pictures.[24]
Filmography
editHe was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
Film
edit| Year | Film | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Fleshburn | executive producer | |
| 1985 | Nine Deaths of the Ninja | ||
| School Spirit | |||
| 1986 | Smart Alec | executive producer | |
| 1988 | Bloodstone | co-producer | |
| 1989 | The Jigsaw Murders | executive producer | |
| Eyewitness to Murder | |||
| 1990 | Night Eyes | ||
| Schweitzer | |||
| 1991 | Popcorn | ||
| Last Call | executive producer | ||
| Double Impact | |||
| Legal Tender | |||
| Night Eyes 2 | |||
| 1992 | Invasion of Privacy | direct-to-video | |
| Illicit Behavior | |||
| 1993 | Betrayal of the Dove | ||
| Tropical Heat | |||
| Night Eyes 3 | |||
| Snapdragon | |||
| Scorned | executive producer | ||
| 1994 | Last Resort | executive producer | direct-to-video |
| Red Sun Rising | executive producer | ||
| Illicit Dreams | |||
| The Killing Machine | executive producer | ||
| 1995 | Victim of Desire | executive producer | |
| Street Law | executive producer | ||
| Virtual Combat | direct-to-video | ||
| The Donor | executive producer | ||
| No Exit | executive producer | direct-to-video | |
| 1996 | Invisible Mom | executive producer | direct-to-video |
| Night Hunter | |||
| Electra | executive producer | ||
| Virus | executive producer | ||
| Crash Dive | direct-to-video | ||
| Alone in the Woods | |||
| 1997 | Strategic Command | ||
| Inferno | |||
| The Shooter | |||
| Time Under Fire | |||
| Inner Action | executive producer | ||
| Scorned 2 | executive producer | ||
| Steel Sharks | |||
| 1998 | Scorpio One | ||
| Invisible Dad | direct-to-video | ||
| Surface to Air | |||
| Freedom Strike | |||
| Counter Measures | direct-to-video | ||
| Jeans | |||
| Jungle Boy | executive producer | ||
| Evasive Action | |||
| Black Thunder | |||
| The Last Siege: Never Surrender | |||
| A Murder of Crows | |||
| The White Raven | |||
| The Boy Who Saved Christmas | |||
| Dear Santa | |||
| Billy Frankenstein | |||
| 1999 | Tycus | direct-to-video | |
| The Confession | executive producer | ||
| Prophet | direct-to-video | ||
| Fallout | |||
| Fugitive Mind | executive producer | direct-to-video | |
| Angel in Training | |||
| Entropy | executive producer | ||
| Restraining Order | |||
| Five Aces | executive producer | ||
| The Boondock Saints | executive producer | ||
| Invisible Mom II | direct-to-video | ||
| Storm Catcher | executive producer | ||
| If... Dog... Rabbit... | |||
| The Third Miracle | executive producer | ||
| The White River Kid | executive producer | ||
| 2000 | Jill Rips | executive producer | uncredited |
| Mercy | executive producer | ||
| Battlefield Earth | executive producer | ||
| The Elf Who Didn't Believe | |||
| Get Carter | executive producer | ||
| 2001 | Antitrust | executive producer | |
| What's the Worst That Could Happen? | |||
| Original Sin | executive producer | ||
| Bandits | |||
| 2002 | Moonlight Mile | executive producer | |
| 2003 | Bringing Down the House | [10] | |
| 2004 | Walking Tall | ||
| Raising Helen | |||
| 2005 | Shopgirl | [12] | |
| Dreamer | executive producer | ||
| 2007 | Trade | executive producer | |
| Premonition | [11] | ||
| Death Sentence | |||
| Battle in Seattle | executive producer | ||
| Trick 'r Treat | executive producer | ||
| 2008 | Asylum | ||
| Traitor | executive producer | ||
| The Other End of the Line | |||
| 2009 | Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li | ||
| The City of Your Final Destination | executive producer | ||
| Dark Country | |||
| 2010 | Machete | executive producer | |
| Leonie | |||
| Dylan Dog: Dead of Night | executive producer | ||
| 2011 | The Double | ||
| Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance | [9] | ||
| 2013 | Life of Crime | ||
| 2014 | Every Secret Thing | executive producer | |
| 99 Homes | |||
| The Journey Home | executive producer | ||
| 2015 | Careful What You Wish For | ||
| 2016 | The Young Messiah | executive producer | |
| Term Life | executive producer | ||
| 2017 | Killing Hasselhoff | ||
| 2019 | Deadcon | ||
| Prey | |||
| The Global Citizen Concert Film: Louder Together | |||
| 2023 | Arthur Ashe | ||
| The Man Who Lived Underground | |||
| Bury The Lede | |||
| The Light We Lost | |||
| Proxy | |||
| Wedding Season | executive producer |
- As an actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Night Eyes 2 | bar patron | |
| 1995 | Victim of Desire | LAPD officer | |
| Virtual Combat | guard #2 | direct-to-video | |
| 1996 | Crash Dive | sailor | direct-to-video |
| 1997 | Scorned 2 | policeman |
- As writer
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Jungle Boy |
- Miscellaneous crew
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Killing Machine | presenter |
- Thanks
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2103: The Deadly Wake | special thanks |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sexual Response | television film | |
| 1996 | Blackout | television film | |
| Night Eyes 4: Fatal Passion | executive producer | television film | |
| 1997 | My Ghost Dog | television film | |
| 2011 | Lost Christmas | executive producer | television film |
- As an actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Blackout | Bystander | television film |
References
edit- ^ Roy, Amit (21 February 2009). "Slumdog will sweep". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Ashok Amritraj". ATP Tour. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
- ^ "Amritraj brothers: On a winning streak". 9 August 2023 [31 December 1991].
- ^ Carver, Benedict (26 July 1999). "Amritraj, Hoberman set up shop". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Dunkley, Dana Harris,Cathy (1 August 2002). "Hyde Park duo split". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Alberge, Dalya (March 2019). "Ashok Amritraj on making the leap from sports star to movie mogul". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ a b Jha, Manish Kumar. "It Is The Time of Disruption: Ashok Amritraj". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (11 September 2013). "Toronto: Elmore Leonard's 'Life of Crime' Near U.S. Deal With Lionsgate/Roadside". Deadline. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Amy (17 February 2012). "Movie Projector: 'Ghost Rider' sequel to scorch competition". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ a b McCarthy, Todd (23 February 2003). "Bringing Down the House". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ a b "McMahon Has 'Premonition' for TriStar". backstage.com. 10 November 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ a b Brodesser, Claude; Dunkley, Cathy (18 September 2003). "Fox takes international on Hyde Park 'Shopgirl'". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "Ashok Amritraj awarded honorary doctorate by a London Varsity". The Economic Times. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (2 February 2017). "Hyde Park Entertainment's Ashok Amritraj on His New Role as India Goodwill Ambassador". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (14 December 2018). "Ashok Amritraj Decorated by French Government". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (10 March 2022). "Hyde Park, Warner Music & Film Independent Name Sari Arambulo Inaugural Winner of Asian Women Fellowship". Deadline. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ "ASHOK AMRITRAJ – Hollywood Film Producer". India West. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "Dodge College Moves Up to #6 Spot in The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Ranking of Top 25 Film Schools – Maintains 'Top 10' Status for fifth Consecutive Year". Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (16 June 2020). "Hyde Park & Warner Music Group Team For Biopic About Tennis Legend Arthur Ashe". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Rose, Lacey (23 June 2021). "Kenya Barris Adapting 'The Man Who Lives Underground' for Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (2 February 2021). "'White Tiger' Director Ramin Bahrani Tapped to Direct 'Amnesty' Adaptation for Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (3 January 2021). "Rubik's Cube Movie in the Works from Hyde Park & Endeavor Content". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (22 February 2020). "EFM Big Deal: Leonine Picks Up German Rights To Gerard Butler Action-Thriller 'Remote Control'".
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (15 May 2020). "Warner Bros & Remaking Blake Edwards Classic '10' With 'Legally Blonde' Scribes; Julie Andrews Exec Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
