UK prime minister Keir Starmer announced in Bombay that Yash Raj Films will start work on three major film productions in the United Kingdom from early next year. The move is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs and boost the British economy by millions of pounds.
Starmer made the announcement on October 8 during a visit to Yash Raj Studios. He was accompanied by a delegation representing the British Film Institute, British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios. The UK prime minister toured the Yash Raj Studios, met Rani Mukerji, wife of YRF’s Aditya Chopra, and also sat through a short screening at YRF’s private auditorium. He chatted with technicians and even tried his hand at the studio’s console board.
The UK prime minister’s two-day visit to Bombay comes as part of his first major trade mission to India following the landmark UK-India trade deal signed earlier this year.
An MoU between the British Film Institute and India’s National Film Development Corporation is also proposed to encourage co-productions and sharing of resources.
Besides the above, UK’s PACT had signed a new MoU with the Producers Guild of India. (In the picture on the top, Guild president Shibasish Sarkar is seen with UK prime minister Keir Starmer.) The MoU follows the cultural cooperation agreement signed by the minister for culture, media and sport, Lisa Nandy, in May this year, and intends to lead to a more collaborative relationship between the UK and Indian production sectors and for both countries to share best practices, projects and ideas.