Awards today sponsored by TV channels: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who was present at the Powerbrands Glam Bollywood Awards by Planman Media has said some awards have been muscled down to a TV show.

The awards function is known for its open ballot process wherein leading journalists, producers and directors participate in the selection.

The Delhi-6 (2009) director was asked if he thought awards were fake, whether they could be bought or were they a genuine appreciation for work done.

Mehra said, "You don't have to get so serious about these things. Appreciation is always very good no matter where they came from. Today here, it came from film journalists. Unfortunately, a lot of awards today are being sponsored by big companies and TV channels, so somewhere down the line, they have been muscled down to a TV show rather than purely an award function. Having said that, for me the love we get form the audience and the media is the biggest award that there is."

Speaking about the Power Award, Mehra said, "This is their first year. I don't really understand power but I believe that power is what comes from mind and thought. But it feels great to be appreciated especially because the awardees were chosen by film journalists,..."

On his upcoming production Fanney Khan, Mehra said, "It's a movie I am producing. Divya Dutta is also a part of Fanney, and it's always a pleasure working with her."

Anil Kapoor goes grey for Fanney Khan

The movie is helmed by debutant director Atul Manjrekar, Mehra said that he believes in the cast of the film, "We have a great cast and it is a dream film for me. The music is by Amit Trivedi and Irshad Kamil and I am absolutely dawning a producer's hat with such a wonderful team," he said.

Fanney Khan is a musical comedy which features Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles.

Kapoor and Rai Bachchan had last worked together in Taal (1990), and this film will see them come together after 17 long years.

Produced by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, KriArj Entertainment and T-Series Fanney Khan is the official remake of Oscar nominated Dutch film Everybody's Famous! (2000).

It is scheduled to be released worldwide in April, 2018.