Hindi
Shuddh Desi Romance wins hearts, collects Rs 22.2 crore
MUMBAI: Zanjeer, the supposed remake of the 1973 film by Salim Javed of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the 1967 Hollywood spaghetti Western, Death Rides A Horse, which went on to become a classic hit, was adapted by Apporva Lakhia and so mutilated that it has turned out to be a disaster that it deserved to be. From its poor casting to mediocre execution the film lacked on all counts, accounting for a poor Rs 9.45 crore for its opening weekend.
Shuddh Desi Romance, a small budgeted entertainer catering to the thoughts of the contemporary youth, seeking company, relationship and sex sans commitment has worked well and is on its way to becoming a hit. The Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Vaani Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor starrer has collected Rs 22.2 crore.
Madras Café starring John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri has not worked with the audience as it collected Rs 8.1 crore in its second week to take its total to Rs 39.55 crore for two weeks.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara has earned the flop title, adding just Rs 50 lakh in its third week to take its three week total to 55.05 crore.
Chennai Express that paired Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone once again after Om Shanti Om has collected Rs 4.7 crore in its fourth week to take its four week tally to Rs 199.4 crore.
B.A. Pass has collected Rs 30 lakh in its fifth week thus taking its five week total to Rs 7.7 crore.
Hindi
Government backs film production through DCDFC, co-production push
Scheme funds cinema, WAVES 2025 boosts global ties and industry growth.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… policy action. As India’s screens glow brighter at home and abroad, the government is quietly scripting a bigger role behind the scenes funding films, fuelling collaborations and nudging the country closer to its “create for the world” ambition. At the centre of this effort is the Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) scheme, a 100 per cent centrally funded initiative designed to support film production across the country. Through this scheme, the government provides direct financial backing to projects, aiming to strengthen both mainstream and alternative storytelling ecosystems while encouraging cinematic excellence.
The implementation runs through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which plays a key role in facilitating film production, including regional cinema and documentaries. Beyond the screen, the scheme also feeds into the broader economy creating jobs for local technicians, artists and service providers, and strengthening grassroots production networks across states.
The push, however, is not limited to funding alone. India’s ambition to position itself as a global content powerhouse was on display at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 held in Mumbai, which brought together creators, producers, startups and global stakeholders from over 100 countries. The summit acted as a convergence point for Indian storytelling and international capital, with OTT platforms, investors and technology leaders exploring partnerships in a rapidly evolving content economy.
Complementing this is the government’s focus on audio-visual co-production agreements, which effectively operate on a public-private partnership model. By enabling Indian and international producers to collaborate, these agreements are designed to bring in investment, global expertise and advanced filmmaking practices while also giving Indian stories a wider global footprint.
Support also extends to film culture and preservation. Grants are provided for domestic film festivals recommended by state governments, alongside curated film packages, masterclasses and workshops to nurture talent and audience engagement. The NFDC further collaborates with State Film Development Corporations, offering technical expertise across the filmmaking value chain and supporting the preservation of local film heritage.
Many states, in parallel, are encouraging the development of film infrastructure including production studios often through public-private partnership models, signalling a coordinated push to build a more robust audiovisual ecosystem.
The update was shared in Parliament by Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a query from Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan, outlining a multi-layered approach that blends funding, infrastructure, policy and global outreach.
Taken together, the message is clear: India is not just telling more stories, it is building the machinery to tell them bigger, better and to the world.
