Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis yesterday emphasized the need to strengthen the State’s film ecosystem while urging filmmakers to create more cinema around the growing menace of cybercrime. The CM was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of FICCI Frames 2025, the annual convention on the business of media and entertainment in Mumbai, where he was joined by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar for an engaging and light-hearted conversation.

The Chief Minister spoke passionately about Maharashtra’s deep-rooted connection with cinema, describing it as the “rightful capital of entertainment,” according to PTI and ANI reports relating to Ficci-Frames 2025 from Mumbai

He said, “There is not just a film ecosystem in Maharashtra, but also vibrancy and people who have lived cinema. Generations have lived through various undying characters. All of these are present in the state, and this is what I would pitch to an international studio.”

Sharing his vision for the future of the industry, Fadnavis revealed plans to develop Mumbai’s Film City into a world-class hub. “I wanted to develop the film city and its ecosystem. We did a lot of planning and also spoke to the film fraternity. But we couldn’t execute it properly. I have now decided to convert it into a world-class environment,” he added.

The conversation also veered towards the rise of cybercrime, an area the Chief Minister believes deserves more cinematic attention. “I believe more films should be made on the issue of cybercrime… I feel our film heroes should come up against this crime,” he said.

The session at FICCI Frames 2025 offered an insightful look at how cinema continues to influence governance, creativity, and public consciousness—while setting the stage for deeper collaboration between policymakers and the film fraternity.

Meanwhile, Akshay urged Fadnavis to transform the Film City, the iconic place in Mumbai that has been a hub for Bollywood film and television production.

Lauding the city’s infrastructure, Kumar requested Fadnavis to give a full-fledged makeover to the Film City, also known as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, in suburban Goregaon. It was established by the Maharashtra state government in 1977.

During their interaction, Fadnavis reflected on his personal connection with cinema and its influence on society. When asked by Akshay about a film that inspired him, the Chief Minister named Anil Kapoor’s ‘Nayak: The Real Hero’.

 “The film not only affected me a lot but also caused me a lot of troubles. In the film, Anil Kapoor does so many things as a CM in a single day. Today, when I got to this place, people ask me to work like Nayak. The film did the job of setting a benchmark. I also feel that films have shaped my emotions and feelings and helped me stay true to myself,” Fadnavis said.