Siddharth Roy Kapur: It’s great that Christopher Nolan shot his film in Mumbai

Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, who also heads the Producers Guild of India, hosted the Governor of the state of New Jersey, Philip Murphy, on behalf of the trade body, in Mumbai late last week. The Producers Guild of India signed an MOU to enhance a mutual relationship and facilitate the shooting of Indian films in New Jersey, USA.
Talking about it, Siddharth told us, “The State of New Jersey wants to attract filmmakers from India to come and shoot more films there.Their visit was to make an official announcement about the kind of incentives and assistance the state is willing to offer our creative industry on their land. We shoot a lot of films in America. This could be a great affiliation for us.”
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan made a quick, week-long visit to Mumbai to shoot his next film, Tenet. He not only roped in local talent but he also had Indian crew working on the project. When we brought that up, Siddharth said, “I think it’s great that Christopher Nolan was here in Mumbai and he shot his film here. He worked with our actors and our technicians. Our city will feature in his film. It’s a great opportunity for our industry to associate with filmmakers like him. I am sure it was a great experience for those associated with the film.”
However, lately, there have been talks about how difficult it gets for Indian filmmakers to shoot their projects in India, especially in Mumbai. Filmmakers have often pointed out that they have to face hassles when it comes to permission to shoot. Siddharth said, “We’re far better today when it comes to single window clearances. Yes, we can be a lot better because we’re still not where we should be. The Producers’ Guild of India is working hard to make sure that the hassles involved with seeking shooting permission is reduced.”
Prasoon Joshi, the head of the Central Board of Film Certification, had recently mentioned the need for Indian filmmakers to make world class cinema and for the world to stop looking at our country with an exotic eye. To this Siddharth said, “We are no longer a country of snake charmers. Our industry is one of the most robust filmmaking industries in the world and it’s currently seen as the battleground for Hollywood studios who are aiming to make more films here and bring their content to us through varied platforms. The impression of India is changing quite significantly.”