Maharashtra CM tells film producers, broadcasters to identify safe areas for shooting

 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today told a delegation of film producers and broadcasters to identify safe, secluded places where shooting can resume with all health guidelines followed.

The delegation included producers ekta kapoor , JD Majethia and Nitin Vaidya and broadcasters like Viacom 18’s Rahul Joshi and Punit Goenka of Zee Entertainment Enterprise. Majethia and Vaidya also represented Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC).

The entertainment representatives discussed with the CM the possibility of re-starting operations as the nationwide lockdown since late March has severely affected the livelihoods of daily wage earners and caused huge losses to the industry.

“We shared that around Rs 35,000 crore advertising revenue and life of three lakh people working in the industry are at stake. The CM heard us and was quite positive in his approach. He asked us to identify all those places or studios where we can begin shooting without any health risk, and which don’t have residents. We also spoke about post-production,” Nitin Vaidya told

A team of officials will visit Film City, Goregaon tomorrow to assess its safety, revealed the Marathi film producer.

“The CM said he wanted more people from the film and television fraternity to come to Maharashtra and start their businesses. But at the same time, we will have to look at safety measures so that the danger of coronavirus does not proliferate. A team of officials is visiting Film City tomorrow in this regard,” Vaidya said.

The industry is relieved that a dialogue between them and the government has finally begun.

Nitin Vaidya remarked, “The process, which was shut for two months, has opened. The main thing is that places which are not within villages or in a locality and which aren’t close to containment areas can be thought about. The CM told us to find secluded places like Film City and let him know. Post which, the government will help us.”

The video conference happened two days after Uddhav Thackeray announced he had asked the industry to prepare an action plan on the limited resumption of film shoots.