Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan’s wife and Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan has stated that the Indian government is trying to kill the film industry, urging Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to have “mercy” on the industry, as reported by Indian media.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Jaya Bachchan urged the Modi government to come up with proposals to help the industry survive. During the General Discussion on the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Rajya Sabha, she stated that daily wage workers are finding it difficult to survive.
Jaya Bachchan further stated that single-screen theatres were shutting down as people were not going to movie halls because everything had become so expensive. “You have totally ignored an industry, and other governments are also doing the same thing,” the actor-turned-politician stated.
“But today, you are taking it to the next level while totally ignoring the film and entertainment industry because you only use them for serving your own purpose. Leave aside GST—today, all the single screens are shutting down as everything has become so costly. Perhaps you want to kill this industry altogether,” Jaya Bachchan stated.
“This is the only industry that connects the entire world to India. I am speaking on behalf of my film industry and making a request to this House: please spare them and have some mercy. Please do not try to kill the industry, as you have started targeting cinema as well,” she stated.
