MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra continues his entry into different areas off the media and entertainment space.

E-City Entertainment (1) Pvt. Limited, the company spearheading the Essel Group's foray into integrated entertainment destinations launched the Fun republic at Andheri West in Mumbai yesterday.
The launch of Xenon - the cinema multiplex at Fun Republic was kicked off with the screening of "Koi Mil Gaya", Rakesh Roshan's latest blockbuster with son Hritik in the lead.
Fun Republic, Mumbai is the second in a chain of nationwide integrated entertainment destinations being set up by E-City. The first in Ahmedabad became operational in 2001.
Twelve locations across 10 cities in the country would be up and running by end-2005, E-City CEO Atul Goel said. Rs 2 billion is the total investment in the project, Goel said, adding that the Mumbai centre had cost Rs 480 million. Four years after star of operations is what each centre would take to achieve break-even, according to Goel.
Also present at the opening were Zee Group chairman Chandra, Fun Republic chairman and Zee News head Laxmi Goel, superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Sahara Group advisor Amar Singh, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Papa Roshan and son Hritik were also in attendance.
Fun Republic Mumbai is equipped with four cinema auditoria and has a total installed capacity of 1272 seats. The branded concession stands are known as "Recess". The complex is spread over a total area of 135,000 square feet with a provision to park up to 650 cars.
Besides the cinema multiplex, there is a food court and a shopping arcade. Book Bay, an integrated music and bookstore, and a virtual reality games arcade branded as Bingo are added features of the centre.