Hindi
Shraddha Kapoor replaces Priyanka Chopra in ‘Milan Talkies’
MUMBAI: Aashiqui 2 star Shraddha Kapoor is on cloud nine these days. Now in a position to pick and choose, Shraddha has just given the nod to Tigmanshu Dhulia‘s Milan Talkies, thereby replacing Priyanka Chopra who was until recently, very excited about working with Tigmanshu.
A source close to the project revealed, “After Bullett Raja where he has cast Saif and Sonakshi together for the first time, Tigmanshu and his producer Ekta Kapoor were keen to cast another untried pair in Milan Talkies. Imran and Priyanka made a lot of box-office sense together. But when Imran opted out and was replaced by Shahid Kapoor, Tigmanshu had no choice but to replace Priyanka since Shahid and Priyanka together after Teri Meri Kahaani spelt doom.”
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Shraddha, on the other hand, is felt to be the new rising female actor after Aashiqui 2. Both the male and female protagonist in Milan Talkies has equally powerful parts.
A closed source says that after Aashiqui 2, Tigmanshu feels Shraddha can carry off the complex dramatic moments as well as the light-hearted interludes in Milan Talkies.
As for Priyanka she seems to be gravitating towards the lighter fun parts after a series of heavyweight dramatic roles. A source close to Priyanka reveals that at present, Mary Kom is her only emotionally challenging role. Apart from that, Priyanka is looking for a change of mood after 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi and Teri Meri Kahaani.
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.
