The day Madhuri Dixit along with other Bollywood stars gave a scintillating performace in Saifai Mahotsava Government announced a grant of Rs 1 crore to `Dedh Ishqiya’ - the film set to be released on January 10.
A decision regarding this was made by Film Bandhu in a meeting here on Wednesday. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav made this announcement in Saifai - his native place where curtain came down on almost a fortnight long cultural fiesta organised in the memory of Ranveer Singh Yadav.
"The Film Bandhu has decided to extend grant to those films whose 75 per cent shooting is done in Uttar Pradesh. The Government will give a grant equivalent to 25 per cent of total cost of the film or Rs 1 crore which is least to the producer. This is an attempt to promote film shooting in this state," a senior official told The Pioneer here on Wednesday.
The Government has also decided to give Rs 1 crore grant to Saif Ali Khan starter `Bullet Raja’ that was shot in lucknow. The shooting of Desh Ishquiya took place in Memmoodabad, in Sitapur district.
"As both the films - Dedh Ishquiya and Bullet Raja - comes under the category of the state government proposal so Chief Minister has decided to allow grant of Rs 1 crore to both the films," the official said. "Other films like Bhojpuri and Awadhi would also get the Government assistance in near future," he said.
Chief Minister has thanked the film fraternity in showing interest in Uttar Pradesh and said of late many directors and producers have shot their films in different parts of the state. This will help in showcasing our state in global network, he said.
Meanwhile, top stars of Bollywood including Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Alia Bhatt, music composer Sajid Wajid and singer Javed Ali along with their troops presented a cultural show in Saifai. People remained riveted to their seats as Bollywood divas danced on the popular Hindi numbers. Earlier Kapil Sharma of Comedy nights with Kapil fame came with his troupe regaled the audience with his stand-up comedy.
The district administration move to ban television channels inside the Saifai Mahotsava pandal has drawn flaks from opposition parties who said when people were dying in relief camps the Samajwadi Party leaders were enjoying cultural show of Bollywood stars.
BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that poor are forced to spend the nights in the open because Government has failed to provide make-shift shelters for them. Instead of providing succor to these poor Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is enjoying dance of Madhuri Dixit in Saifai.
Congress state president Nirmal Khatri said crores have been spent on organising Saifai Mahotsava while poor are forced to brave the cold without blanket and warmth of bonfire.