Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday met film personalities in Mumbai to discuss various opportunities that Hindi filmmakers can avail while shooting movies in Uttar Pradesh’s upcoming Film City. At the meeting, actor Suniel Shetty said that it is important to bring the audience back to theatres and they should start trusting that the film industry is made up of good people doing good work. He also asked help from Adityanath to get rid of the anti-Bollywood sentiment that’s been building up on social media with the hashtag #BoycottBollywood gaining momentum.
Shetty first spoke about how the Film City in UP should encourage locals to become a part of it and provide them with employment. He said, “We should focus on creating actors. It is of utmost importance to create technical teams as well. So, when you go there, you go with a small unit and encourage locals. That’s when the company will be a hit, when locals get employment.”
The actor then spoke about how audiences are not going to theatres to watch films and how they should be encouraged to go back to cinema halls. He said, “Today if we are facing a problem then it is not about cost or subsidy, but it is to do with the audience. We have to bring the audience back to theatres. It is very important.”
Suniel Shetty also spoke about the importance of working towards warding off the negative sentiment the audience has towards the Hindi film industry. He said that the hashtag #BoycottBollywood is alarming.
He said, “The hashtag that’s going on, Boycott Bollywood, yeh ruk bhi sakta hai aapke kehne se (it can stop if you say). It is important to spread the word that we are doing good work. One rotten apple is everywhere, but just because of that you can’t call the whole industry rotten. Today people think that Bollywood is not a good place, but we have made such good films here. I was a part of one such film too, when I did Border. I have been a part of many good films. We have to come together and work towards how we can get rid of the Boycott Bollywood hashtag. We have to figure how we can stop this trend.”
Suniel Shetty further requested Yogi Adityanath to talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the anti-Bollywood sentiment as “99% of the people working in the industry are good people”.
The actor said, “Today, if I am Suniel Shetty, it is because of UP and the fans from there. They have filled up theatres on Fridays, and that’s how we would know that film chalegi. If you take the lead, this can definitely happen. It is of great importance that this stigma that is on us is gone. It is a very strong emotion for me. Dukh hota hai bolne me ke humaare pe yeh stigma hai (it pains me to tell that there is this stigma on us) because 99% of us are not like that. Hum din bhar drugs nahi lete, hum galat kaam nahi karte (We don’t do drugs whole day, we don’t do wrong work). Hum achhe kaam se jude hai (We are associated with good work). Bharat ko agar bahar ke desho se kisi ne joda hai toh woh hai humaara music (Bollywood music has connected India with the world), and our stories. So, Yogi ji if you take the lead and talk to our beloved Prime Minister about it, it will make a huge difference.”
Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
