Mumbai: In a landmark announcement aimed at strengthening creative and economic ties between India and the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that Yash Raj Films (YRF) will produce three major films in the UK starting early 2026. The initiative is expected to create over 3,000 jobs and inject millions of pounds into the British economy.
The announcement was made during Prime Minister Starmer’s visit to Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai, alongside a delegation of top British film industry representatives, including the British Film Institute, the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios, and Civic Studios. The visit also coincides with Yash Raj Studios completing 20 years of operations in India on October 12.
As part of his two-day trade mission to India, Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the collaboration between two global entertainment powerhouses, calling it a key step toward deeper creative and commercial partnerships. The UK’s film industry currently contributes £12 billion annually to its economy and supports around 90,000 jobs, while India remains the largest producer of films in the world.
“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,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This is exactly the kind of partnership our trade deal with India is destined to unlock – driving growth, strengthening cultural ties and delivering for communities across the country.”
Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani expressed enthusiasm about rekindling the studio’s creative ties with the UK, especially on the 30th anniversary of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) — one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films shot extensively in the UK.
“The UK holds a very special place in our hearts and some of our most iconic films, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), were shot in this beautiful and incredibly hospitable country,” said Widhani. “We were honoured to host the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at YRF today to ink this pact and also had the pleasure to discuss how India and UK could come together to push the content landscape globally through landmark collaborations like this.”
He added, “It is truly special to reignite YRF and UK’s filming ties in the 30th anniversary of DDLJ – a film that is synonymous to UK-India’s relationship. Our company is currently producing the stage adaptation of DDLJ, the English musical titled Come Fall in Love (CFIL) in the UK too. So, we are thrilled to join hands with UK again and return to filming in the country that has always been extremely kind to us. UK’s infrastructure, technology and talent is unmatched and we are delighted to deepen our cultural ties with a country that has always empowered us to excel creatively.”
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “The UK’s and India’s film industries are truly world class, entertaining billions around the world. Given the strength of our sectors and the deep cultural ties between our two countries, partnerships between Bollywood and British studios make complete sense. By making these Bollywood blockbusters in Britain we will be driving more growth in our world-class creative industries, as we committed to in our Creative Industries Sector Plan.”
The collaboration is further strengthened by a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the British Film Institute and India’s National Film Development Corporation, designed to promote co-productions and talent exchange.
The move marks Yash Raj Films’ return to filming in the UK after an eight-year hiatus and reinforces the growing potential of the UK–India trade and creative partnership.
Past successes like Slumdog Millionaire, which generated around £300 million for the UK economy on a modest £12 million budget, exemplify the potential of cross-cultural collaborations combining British technical expertise and Indian storytelling.
