Acting icon and Chairman of the Jharkhand Film Technical Advisory Council (JFTAC) Anumpam Kher has pitched strongly for a need of a film city in the State in order to produce more number of movies locally. He also took up the issue with Chief Minister Raghubar Das in a meeting taken place on Tuesday.
Addressing a Press conference on the second day of his visit to Ranchi to promote his upcoming film ‘Ranchi Diaries’, Kher outlined the potential hidden in local talents of the State.
“There are great possibilities in Jharkhand but what I perceive that people here should be more marketing savvy. Having a film city is an urgent need of the State, where one can get all kind of equipments in place with modern studios so that anyone can come and shoot his film here without any hassle,” said the actor alongwith demanding direct flight between Ranchi and Mumbai.
He expressed hope that something good can happen in 4-5 years since the Government is very positive with its policies and intent. Coming to the film which is among 50-odd for those applications have come before the JFTAC for its approval under the State’s film policy, Kher, who is also a co-producer of the film, said that ‘Ranchi Diaries’ is expected to be declared tax free in the State.
The CM, while meeting the star cast of film, said that the Government would lend its full support so that more and more films are produced with good messages to the society.
“The film has been shot completely in Ranchi and other locations of the State in about 40 days with about 80 actors from Jharkhand working into it. I have requested the CM and his team of officials to declare it tax free. They have assured us about it,” he said flanked by lead characters — Saudarya Sharma and Himansh Kohli- of the movie hitting the silver screens on October 13.
The film is based on big dreams of local lads who struggle to get that accomplished but not before several twists and turns coming in between. The veteran actor has played a mafia kingpin ‘Thakur Bhaiya’ and shares the screen with another big name in the industry Jimmy Shergill, depicting a police officer.
The film costing `8 crore minus publicity expenditures is expected to be released on 500 screens across the country. The Government under its film promotion policy would be giving subsidy of around `1.75 crore after it completes formalities.
When asked about commercial aspects of the film, Kher snubbed the iteration about the so called elite club. “Every film is not made for ‘100 crore club’. What I can say at this juncture that it is like ‘Dhoni’ that was also about big dreams of small town people. I wish that if ‘Ranchi Diaries’ could recover its cost it would be a moment of great joy for all of us,” said the actor admitting the challenges come with being a producer who had on Monday evening paid a courtesy visit to cricketer MS Dhoni’s new residence along with co-actors of the film.