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Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
AICWA, FWICE urge film industry to boycott Turkey, Azerbaijan over its pro-Pakistan stance; filmmakers weigh in
Indian film bodies have urged the industry to stop shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan after both countries expressed solidarity with Pakistan during the recent Indo-Pak tensions. The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) have also issued press releases asking to boycott shooting in Turkey and also its artistes from working in India. The FWICE has further gone ahead and sent letters to the I&B Ministry and OTT giants in India, demanding the removal of Turkish shows. Several Indian films like Guru (2007), Race 2 (2013), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) were shot in Turkey, giving the country a boost in economy and tourism. A source reveals, 'When an Indian film is shot in Turkey, even a schedule of 2-4 days costs somewhere around ₹5 crore to ₹6 crore. With big stars and huge production houses, the cost can go up to ₹30 crore to ₹40 crore. The cost largely depends on the location they choose but this is a blanket amount.' Speaking about the call for a boycott, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President , AICWA tells us, "AICWA has only one demand that Indian films should not be shot in Turkey or Azerbaijaan. Secondly, anyone from Turkey or Azerbaijaan who is working in India, we should ban them and their visas should be cancelled. We will also write to India's Foreign Ministry regarding this matter.' BN Tiwari, President, FWICE, says, 'Our first principle is nation first. You are giving weapons which are harming people who are innocent. We cannot tolerate all this. Humne jo letter likha hai wo puri film industry ko bheja hai and our plan is to write a letter to the government too that Turkish artistes jo yaha kaam karte hai unko turant bhagaya jaaye yaha se. If someone (from within the industry) supports them, we will boycott them and issue a non cooperation notice.' Meanwhile, filmmakers too weighed in on the call for a ban. Director Anil Sharma, known for his blockbuster film Gadar, says that no amount of creative satisfaction is bigger than love for the country. "Yeh appeal nahi bhi ho toh bhi filmmakers ki responsibility hai to stand for India. Jo bharat ke saath hai, hum uske saath hai. Main ek script likh raha tha (son) Utkarsh ke saath and usme Turkey was a location but after this incident we decided we won't go. It is a very beautiful country and as a filmmaker it is worth shooting there but no creative satisfaction is bigger than India's interest and the love for our country.' Producer Tanuj Garg adds, 'As Indian filmmakers, we are mindful not just of the creative and logistical aspects of shooting abroad, but also the larger sentiment at home. While countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan have much to offer, we believe that it's important to align our choices with the mood and sensitivities of our audience and nation. Until there's a more positive shift in sentiment and bilateral warmth, we will be cautious about pursuing shoots in these regions.' The Kashmir Files director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri too agrees with this decision as he says, 'I think it is a just decision and this is how everybody should behave in war. In modern times, war is not when the armies are marching inside each other's borders. War is also at various levels like info war, cyber war, narrative war. So, in that case obviously if we are calling Pakistan an enemy country, so anybody who is supporting them in traditional terms of combat, they are termed as enemy countries.' Vivek adds, 'I don't see why we should shoot in countries which are not even relevant. We are not going to lose anything. I think its the right decision. This (boycott) should be done by lots of voluntary organisations, travel agencies, and the people of India. Stand up for India, stand united. Wars are not won at only borders today, wars are won at the narrative playing field." Filmmaker Onir says he has a 'mixed point of view' and wonders why is there's a call for boycotting just Turkey and Azerbaijaan and not China? 'I have mixed response because in any conflict there will be different sides. China has also been supplying arms. How come we are not banning everything with China? If you see Pakistani weaponry, doesn't the ban have to be uniform because it's from China and the US.' He adds, 'At the same time I was extremely hurt as an Indian citizen that at the time of the war, Turkey was supplying arms to Pakistan. In this war, without any camouflage, China has been supporting Pakistan. So why only Turkey and Azerbaijaan are being banned? As a filmmaker or tourist I would not be comfortable going to a country that supports Pakistan directly during the time of conflict.'
NDTV
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Film On Operation Sindoor? 15 Bollywood Studios Rush To Register Title
New Delhi: A large number of Bollywood celebrities have supported India's Operation Sindoor, which was carried out in response to the terror attack on Pahalgam. According to an India Today report, 15 filmmakers and Bollywood studios are rushing to register Operation Sindoor title. Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president BN Tiwari has confirmed it to the publication. According to the report, around 15 filmmakers and studios filled in their applications at the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (one of the associations that works towards registration of film titles). The trend is not new in Bollywood. The industry boasts of showing nationalistic fervour on screen. "Whenever a big national event occurs, filmmakers tend to call dibs on the title. Even if a film will not be made, it's safer to have the title registered. However, after the success of Uri, War, or Fighter, filmmakers have understood that war films continue to be a favourite genre, and hence they would want to someday work on a film on Operation Sindoor also," India Today quoted a source. Ashoke Pandit told India Today, "Yes, I've applied to register the title 'Operation Sindoor'. Whether a film will be made on the topic is still far-fetched, but as filmmakers and producers, we often register titles the moment something interesting happens - it's the first and important step, because without a title, you can't even begin planning a film. "Everyone who has applied for the title has done so after the incident occurred. That doesn't necessarily mean all of them will make a film, but registering gives them the option to explore it further. I can identify with this subject very well. I know what this country has gone through - we've been fighting this battle as victims for 30-35 years. So I know the integrity of this terrorist country. It is a very important subject for me as someone who has suffered because of Pakistan directly. We suffered the worst genocide at their hands." According to trade sources, Mahaveer Jain's company was the first to register this title under its name. Alongside, Ashoke Pandit, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and studios like T-Series and Zee Studios, reportedly, applied for the same title for their potential films.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Filmmakers rush to secure Operation Sindoor title, 15 studios seek registration
Several top Bollywood production houses are vying for the rights to the title 'Operation Sindoor,' Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president BN Tiwari confirmed to India Today that, after India carried out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, a number of producers applied for the Operation Sindoor title. He shared that close to 15 filmmakers and studios filled in their applications at the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (one of the associations that works towards registration of film titles).According to sources, this development is fairly common in the film industry. "Whenever a big national event occurs, filmmakers tend to call dibs on the title. Even if a film will not be made, it's safer to have the title registered. However, after the success of Uri, War, or Fighter, filmmakers have understood that war films continue to be a favourite genre, and hence they would want to someday work on a film on Operation Sindoor also," the source asked about registering the title 'Operation Sindoor', Ashoke Pandit told India Today, "Yes, I've applied to register the title 'Operation Sindoor'. Whether a film will be made on the topic is still far-fetched, but as filmmakers and producers, we often register titles the moment something interesting happens — it's the first and important step, because without a title, you can't even begin planning a film. Everyone who has applied for the title has done so after the incident occurred. That doesn't necessarily mean all of them will make a film, but registering gives them the option to explore it further. I can identify with this subject very well. I know what this country has gone through — we've been fighting this battle as victims for 30–35 years. So I know the integrity of this terrorist country. It is a very important subject for me as someone who has suffered because of Pakistan directly. We suffered the worst genocide at their hands.'According to trade sources, the front-runner in this contest has been Mahaveer Jain's company, which was the first to register this title under its name. Alongside, Ashoke Pandit, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and studios like T-Series and Zee Studios are also said to have promptly applied for the same title for their potential InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Operation Sindoor
Deccan Herald
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Demand for banning Fawad Khan-starrer 'Abir Gulaal' grows
'We reiterate our directive, originally issued on February 18, 2019, calling for complete non-cooperation with all Pakistani artists, singers, and technicians within the Indian film and entertainment industry,' FWICE President BN Tiwari said.
