JOIN USSenior representatives from India's entertainment industry along with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and members of the Rajput community must hold discussions to alleviate the controversy shrouding the release of upcoming period drama Padmavati, entertainment cell of the apex industry body Assocham said.
"Maintaining creative freedom together with respecting beliefs and traditions of communities are equally important thus both parties should act maturely to resolve controversial issues," noted the media and entertainment committee of Assocham in a statement.
"Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been able to create universally appealing content for global audiences (excluding Indian diaspora), something we have not seen much so far as majority of Bollywood movies are concerned," said an Assocham spokesperson.
"While the filmmaker must be appreciated for his vision but at the same time he must also take the Rajput community into confidence, if the controversy persists it will only lead to global loss of face for India's media and entertainment sector," he added.
According to a 2016 Assocham-Deloitte joint study, the size of the Indian film industry is worth over Rs 19,000 crore and is expanding at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 11%.
Factors such as growing revenue contribution from overseas markets, improved quality of movies, aggressive marketing campaigns, increase in number of multiplex and rapid digitisation are responsible for its growth.
Besides, box office collections are estimated at about Rs 14,000 crore thereby accounting for almost 75% of the majority of film industry revenues. Revenues from overseas box office collections are at about Rs 1,300 crore.