Bollywood is back in Britain, says UK PM after signing 3-film pact with YRF

UK PM Keir Starmer announced a pact with Yash Raj Films for three Bollywood productions in the UK from 2026, creating 3,000 jobs and strengthening cultural and trade ties between India and Britain

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday announced that three major Bollywood films will be shot in the United Kingdom (UK) from early 2026, following a pact with Mumbai-based Yash Raj Films (YRF). The announcement came after Starmer visited the production house’s office earlier in the day with executives from the British Film Institute (BFI), the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios.

 

“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," Starmer said.

 

 

He further stated that the move is aimed at creating over 3,000 jobs and boosting the economy by millions of pounds.  

 

Adding to it, Yash Raj Films Chief Executive Officer Akshaye Widhani said, “We were honoured to host the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at YRF today to ink this pact and also had the pleasure to discuss how India and UK could come together to push the content landscape globally through landmark collaborations like this," he said, adding that YRF is currently producing the stage adaptation of DDLJ, the English musical titled Come Fall in Love in the UK.

 

Apart from the, the British Film Institute and India’s National Film Development Commission will also be signing a cooperation agreement to support co-productions, resource sharing, and talent exchange. “Our respective Governments recognise that our screen industries working closer together unlocks opportunities to strengthen cultural diversity, support industry growth and expand audiences, and our new agreements are designed to take us closer to achieving this," BFI CEO Ben Roberts said.

 

Starmer's India visit

 

UK PM Starmer, who is on a two day visit to India, landed in Mumbai this morning with the "largest ever" delegation of business leaders, aiming to strengthen cultural, business, and educational links between New Delhi and London. This visit follows the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed earlier this year.

 

He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Thursday, during which they will discuss the new opportunities around CETA and review the India-UK ‘Vision 2035’, which is a focussed and time-bound 10-year road map of programmes and initiatives in trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people-to-people relations.

 

India-UK trade deal

 

The India-UK trade pact, signed in London on July 24, grants India unprecedented market access, offering duty-free entry for about 99 per cent of its exports by value. The deal is expected to boost labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, and gems and jewellery.

 

For the UK, the agreement opens India’s vast market, reducing tariffs on products like whisky, gin, automobiles, cosmetics, aerospace parts, lamb, and medical devices. It also guarantees equal treatment for UK financial service providers in India.

 

The pact further outlines cooperation in areas including connectivity, emerging technologies, transport, and pharmaceuticals, and aims to increase bilateral trade by $34 billion by 2040, according to Reuters.