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 (1956-02-22) 22 February 1956 (age 68)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian (former)
American

Career

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Ashok 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

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He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Roy, Amit (21 February 2009). "Slumdog will sweep". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Ashok Amritraj". ATP Tour. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Amritraj brothers: On a winning streak". 9 August 2023 [31 December 1991].
  4. ^ Carver, Benedict (26 July 1999). "Amritraj, Hoberman set up shop". Variety. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ Alberge, Dalya (March 2019). "Ashok Amritraj on making the leap from sports star to movie mogul". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  7. ^ a b Jha, Manish Kumar. "It Is The Time of Disruption: Ashok Amritraj". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b McCarthy, Todd (23 February 2003). "Bringing Down the House". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  11. ^ a b "McMahon Has 'Premonition' for TriStar". backstage.com. 10 November 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  12. ^ a b Brodesser, Claude; Dunkley, Cathy (18 September 2003). "Fox takes international on Hyde Park 'Shopgirl'". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Ashok Amritraj awarded honorary doctorate by a London Varsity". The Economic Times. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  14. ^ Frater, Patrick (2 February 2017). "Hyde Park Entertainment's Ashok Amritraj on His New Role as India Goodwill Ambassador". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  15. ^ Frater, Patrick (14 December 2018). "Ashok Amritraj Decorated by French Government". Variety. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "ASHOK AMRITRAJ – Hollywood Film Producer". India West. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (16 June 2020). "Hyde Park & Warner Music Group Team For Biopic About Tennis Legend Arthur Ashe". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  20. ^ Rose, Lacey (23 June 2021). "Kenya Barris Adapting 'The Man Who Lives Underground' for Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  21. ^ Kroll, Justin (2 February 2021). "'White Tiger' Director Ramin Bahrani Tapped to Direct 'Amnesty' Adaptation for Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (3 January 2021). "Rubik's Cube Movie in the Works from Hyde Park & Endeavor Content". Deadline. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  23. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (22 February 2020). "EFM Big Deal: Leonine Picks Up German Rights To Gerard Butler Action-Thriller 'Remote Control'".
  24. ^ 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.
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