Akshay Kumar Pushes for Film City Overhaul in Chat with CM Fadnavis

Mumbai, Oct 7 (PTI) Superstar Akshay Kumar recently encouraged Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, to revamp Mumbai's iconic Film City, a central hub for Bollywood film and television production.

During a candid conversation at the 25th FICCI Frames, Kumar and Fadnavis explored subjects ranging from promoting Marathi cinema to the CM's favorite Hindi film and his preferred method of eating oranges.

Lauding Mumbai's infrastructure, Kumar requested Fadnavis to overhaul the Film City, also known as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, in Goregaon. Established in 1977 by the Maharashtra state government, Film City remains a focal point for filmmakers.

Fadnavis acknowledged his regret for not transforming Film City during his 2014-2019 tenure, citing multiple reasons despite extensive planning and consultations with the film fraternity.

"I’ve always wanted to develop Film City into a vibrant international ecosystem," Fadnavis said, expressing his determination to create a world-class film environment.

He emphasized the changing nature of filmmaking with advancements like VFX, highlighting the need for an ecosystem that supports new-age production techniques.

"We will begin the transformation within a year and aim to complete it in four years," Fadnavis assured.

Kumar, a fan of Marathi cinema, inquired about the Maharashtra government's plans to promote it. Fadnavis responded with intent to engage Gen Z with the richness of Marathi films, linking its success partly to innovative Marathi theatre.

Fadnavis cited the vibrant audience for Marathi plays and films like ‘Natsamrat’ and ‘Dashavatar’, noting a growing appeal among younger generations.

"Our government aims to reinforce the Marathi industry and enhance its connection with Gen Z," said the minister.

This interview marks Kumar's second interaction with a political leader, preceded by his 2019 conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reflecting on past trolling for asking Modi about his mango-eating habits, Akshay humorously remained unapologetic.

He lightheartedly asked Fadnavis about his preferences regarding oranges. Fadnavis revealed he enjoys eating oranges by halving them and savoring them with a sprinkle of salt, similar to enjoying a mango.

When asked about his favorite film, Fadnavis named Anil Kapoor's “Nayak: The Real Hero" (2001).

Fadnavis said the film set a benchmark for its portrayal of a highly productive Chief Minister, jokingly sharing people's expectation for him to emulate the character's efficiency.

Fadnavis also suggested a film on cybercrime, pointing to the rise of digital and financial crimes as a relevant topic for the industry.

"Films are powerful tools for communication," he stated, urging a focus on digital warfare stories.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)