United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday visited the iconic Yash Raj Films (YRF) studio in Mumbai, marking a major step toward strengthening cultural and creative collaboration between the British and Indian film industries.
According to a PTI report from Mumbai, the British leader arrived at the YRF studio amid tight security, where he met with top executives, including YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, to discuss upcoming collaborations.
During the visit, Starmer announced that three Bollywood films will be filmed in the United Kingdom starting next year, signalling a strong revival of Bollywood’s presence in the UK after nearly eight years.
His visit, part of a broader push to enhance UK-India trade and cultural ties, also included discussions on creative exchange programmes and joint film projects.
“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,” Starmer said. He highlighted that the partnership reflects the vision of the new trade deal between India and the UK — one aimed at driving growth and strengthening cross-cultural bonds.
Yash Raj Films has confirmed plans to bring its major productions to UK locations from early 2026, a move expected to generate over 3,000 jobs and boost the British economy by several million pounds.
Starmer was accompanied by representatives from the British Film Institute, British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios, and Civic Studios, showcasing the UK’s commitment to fostering film partnerships with India.
“We were honoured to host the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at YRF today to ink this pact and to discuss how India and the UK could come together to push the content landscape globally through landmark collaborations like this,” said Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films.
The announcement comes as YRF celebrates the 30th anniversary of its iconic classic ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (DDLJ), which was filmed extensively in the UK. Widhani also revealed that YRF is producing an English musical adaptation of ‘DDLJ’, titled ‘Come Fall in Love’ (CFIL)’, which will premiere in the UK.
“We are thrilled to return to filming in the UK — a country that has always been extremely kind to us,” Widhani added, “The UK’s infrastructure, technology, and creative talent are unmatched, and we are delighted to deepen our cultural partnership once again.”
Starmer’s visit to YRF precedes his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai today.
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