From Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan To Salman Khan's Tiger: Bollywood Returns To Russian Cinemas Amid Hollywood's Departure

After a prolonged hiatus, Bollywood is making a return to Russia, with an uptick in both the screening and filming of Indian movies in the country.

What Happened: The revival of Bollywood in Russia is a result of concerted efforts by industry stakeholders and authorities to reignite the historical cultural bond between Russians and Bollywood, Economic Times reported on Friday

This resurgence follows the exit of Hollywood companies from Russia in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Indian filmmakers are demonstrating a renewed interest in Russia, with recent films such as Shah Rukh Khan‘s Pathaan, Salman Khan‘s Tiger, Sardar Udham and Jugjugg Jeeyo being filmed in the country. This trend was confirmed by Sarfaraz Alam Safu, who operates Kartina Entertainment, a production company for Indian films in Russia.

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Local authorities are also extending incentives like reduced production costs to lure more Indian filmmakers. Evgeny Kozlov, the first deputy head of the office of the mayor and the government of Moscow, expressed optimism for more Bollywood projects being filmed in Moscow this year.

Furthermore, Indian films are being showcased in over 40 locations throughout Russia. Mirzoyan Karen Rudolfovich, a general producer of Indian films in Russia, predicts that Indian films will capture approximately 20% of the Russian film market in the next four to five years.

Why It Matters: The return of Bollywood to Russia signifies a shift in the country’s film industry dynamics. With Hollywood’s exit due to geopolitical tensions, the Russian market presents an opportunity for Indian cinema to expand its global footprint. The incentives offered by local authorities further facilitate this expansion.

The anticipated capture of a significant portion of the Russian film market by Indian cinema could potentially boost the global standing of Bollywood and contribute to the growth of the Indian film industry.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Yash Raj Films