YRF & British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Bollywood is Back in Britain News Update on SerialBoosters.com

Mumbai, October 8, 2025: Bollywood met diplomacy today as United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on a two-day visit to India, visited the iconic Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studios in Mumbai. 

The PM was hosted by Bollywood superstar Rani Mukerji and YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, marking a significant step toward strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two nations' film industries.

The visit, which coincided with the 20th anniversary of Yash Raj Studios' operations in India, culminated in a major announcement. Prime Minister Starmer confirmed that YRF has signed a pact to shoot three major film productions across the United Kingdom, starting in early 2026.

This move is anticipated to create over 3,000 jobs and provide a significant boost to the UK economy.

Greeting the Prime Minister, Rani Mukerji, wife of YRF Chairman Aditya Chopra, led the tour of the studio complex. She was seen engaging in an animated discussion about cinema and storytelling with Starmer in front of a wall lined with posters of YRF's legendary films. 

The trio also enjoyed a special movie screening and discussed potential collaborations to shape the global content landscape.

Prime Minister Starmer hailed the partnership, declaring, "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." He emphasized that this collaboration is the exact kind of growth the recently signed India-UK trade deal is designed to unlock.

YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani highlighted the special significance of the partnership. He noted that the decision to return to large-scale filming in the UK comes on the 30th anniversary of the iconic YRF film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), a movie synonymous with the India-UK relationship.

Widhani said, "We were honoured to host the UK Prime Minister... to ink this pact and discuss how India and the UK could come together to push the content landscape globally."

PM Starmer was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including representatives from the British Film Institute, the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, and Elstree Studios, underscoring the UK government's commitment to deepening creative partnerships with India. The announcement follows a temporary hiatus by YRF from major filming in the UK, making this a much-celebrated "return" to the country. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to serialboosters.com Thank you!