Akshay Widhani, CEO – Yash Raj Films & Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, United Kingdom at YRF Studios (L-R)
To mark the announcement, the Prime Minister visited Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai alongside a delegation of some of Britain’s biggest names in film including the British Film Institute, the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios.
Yash Raj’s Studio completes 20 years of operations in India on October 12th.
The Prime Minister is on a two-day trade mission to strengthen ties with one of the fastest growing economies in the world and put money back into the pockets of hard-working British people. That includes deepening the collaboration of the UK and India’s globally renowned creative industries.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “Bollywood is back in Britain, and it’s bringing jobs, investment and opportunity, all while showcasing the UK as a world-class destination for global filmmaking. This is exactly the kind of partnership our trade deal with India is destined to unlock – driving growth, strengthening cultural ties and delivering for communities across the country.”
Britain and Yash Raj Films have signed a three-film deal.
Supporting this further will be a cooperation agreement (MoU) between the British Film Institute and the National Film Development Commission of India, which will reinvigorate co-production and enable filmmakers from both countries to share resources and talent.
Past Indian productions have yielded global hits. Cross-cultural hit film Slumdog Millionaire, brought in around £300million to the UK economy, on a budget of just £12milllion, highlighting what’s possible when UK technical expertise and Indian storytelling unite.
