New Delhi: Suniel Shetty met with Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Mumbai to discuss film opportunities in Uttar Pradesh's upcoming film city. During the conversation, among many film personalities who were also present at the meeting, Suneil Shetty brought up the #BoycottBollywood trend into discussion. As per ANI, Suneil Shetty assured the CM that people in the industry don't do 'wrong work' or 'drugs' and thus sought his help to change the perception.
An ANI tweet said, "Hashtag 'BoycottBollywood' can stop with your help. Imp to convey that we've done good work. There can be one rotten apple. 99% of us don't indulge in wrong things. We've to change this perception. If you take lead and also talk to PM, it will a difference: Suniel Shetty to UP CM."
Shetty first spoke about how the Film City in UP would encourage locals to be a part of it. As per Indian Express, Suneil Shetty said, "We should focus on creating actors. It is of utmost importance to create technical teams as well. So, when you go there, you go with a small unit and encourage locals. That’s when the company will be a hit, when locals get employment.”
Suneil also spoke about the current state of the film industry and said, "“Today if we are facing a problem then it is not about cost or subsidy, but it is to do with the audience. We have to bring the audience back to theatres. It is very important.”
Then proceeding on to talk about the Boycott Bollywood, “The hashtag that’s going on, Boycott Bollywood, yeh ruk bhi sakta hai aapke kehne se (it can stop if you say). It is important to spread the word that we are doing good work. One rotten apple is everywhere, but just because of that you can’t call the whole industry rotten. Today people think that Bollywood is not a good place, but we have made such good films here. I was a part of one such film too, when I did Border. I have been a part of many good films. We have to come together and work towards how we can get rid of the Boycott Bollywood hashtag. We have to figure how we can stop this trend.”
“Today, if I am Suniel Shetty, it is because of UP and the fans from there. They have filled up theatres on Fridays, and that’s how we would know that film chalegi. If you take the lead, this can definitely happen. It is of great importance that this stigma that is on us is gone. It is a very strong emotion for me. Dukh hota hai bolne me ke humaare pe yeh stigma hai (it pains me to tell that there is this stigma on us) because 99% of us are not like that. Hum din bhar drugs nahi lete, hum galat kaam nahi karte (We don’t do drugs whole day, we don’t do wrong work). Hum achhe kaam se jude hai (We are associated with good work). Bharat ko agar bahar ke desho se kisi ne joda hai toh woh hai humaara music (Bollywood music has connected India with the world), and our stories. So, Yogi ji if you take the lead and talk to our beloved Prime Minister about it, it will make a huge difference," he was quoted as saying to the Indian Express.
This comes only a day after Akshay Kumar also met with Yogi Adityanath in Mumbai where he urged the minister to watch his recently-released film 'Ram Setu'.