Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Pledges to Transform Mumbai’s Film City into a World-Class film Hub
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unveiled a bold vision to convert Mumbai’s iconic Film City in Goregaon into a world-class film ecosystem within four years. Announced during a fireside chat at the 25th FICCI Frames event, this ambitious project underscores Maharashtra’s goal to cement its leadership as a global content production powerhouse.
Addressing renowned actor and producer Padma Shri Akshay Kumar, CM Fadnavis recalled that while earlier plans existed during his 2014-2019 tenure, execution had lagged. “This time, we are determined to transform Film City into a top-tier film ecosystem,” he asserted, committing to begin work within a year.
Bolstering this vision, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary at the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, highlighted the media and entertainment sector’s phenomenal growth—from ₹25,000 crore in 2000 to approximately ₹2.5 lakh crore today—signaling a dynamic creative economy ready for global dominance.
Bollywood star and FICCI Frames ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana celebrated the event’s silver jubilee as a reflection of the platform’s unifying role for creative professionals, noting, “Indian stories and talents are gaining global recognition, with FICCI driving this change.”
Recognizing Marathi cinema’s untapped potential, Fadnavis promised targeted strategies to engage younger audiences and connect Generation Z with regional films, a move inspired by discussions with Akshay Kumar.
The redevelopment plans include cutting-edge studios equipped for virtual production, artificial intelligence, and advanced visual effects. The Film City site already hosts the Indian Institute of Creative Technology, a unique partnership between industry groups like FICCI and the governments of Maharashtra and India.
Jaju further emphasized the digital media sector’s rapid expansion, growing at twice India’s GDP rate, with animation, gaming, and extended reality surging 30% annually. With Indian content reaching over 200 countries via platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and JioStar, the government is focused on combating piracy, misinformation, and ensuring fair revenue distribution to creators—a balance between rapid growth and responsibility.
This transformative initiative marks a significant step towards Maharashtra and India’s emergence as the global epicenter of innovative content creation and entertainment excellence.
