Yash Raj Films, one of India’s biggest film production and distribution houses, will soon bring its major projects to locations across the United Kingdom. The expansion, beginning in early 2026, is expected to create over 3,000 jobs and add millions of pounds to the UK economy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in Mumbai on Monday. To mark the announcement, the Prime Minister visited Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai along with representatives from leading British film organisations, including the British Film Institute, British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios. Yash Raj Studios is also celebrating 20 years of operations on October 12.
The visit is part of the Prime Minister’s two-day trade mission to India, aimed at strengthening business and cultural ties between the two countries. The initiative also seeks to boost collaboration between the UK and India’s globally recognised creative industries. The UK film industry currently contributes around £12 billion annually to the economy and supports 90,000 jobs across the country. With world-class studios and scenic locations, it remains a popular destination for international filmmakers.
India is the largest producer of films in the world, and Yash Raj’s commitment follows an 8-year hiatus from filming in the UK – showcasing the impact the UK-India trade deal is already having. The UK’s creative industries are globally recognised as world-leading, consistently setting international trends and commanding respect for artistic excellence, commercial success and cultural influence worldwide.
As a country of 1.4 billion with a growing entertainment industry, India represents a major opportunity for UK companies to expand and grow – and vice versa.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “Bollywood is back in Britain, and it’s bringing jobs, investment and opportunity, all while showcasing the UK as a world-class destination for global filmmaking.
“This is exactly the kind of partnership our trade deal with India is destined to unlock – driving growth, strengthening cultural ties and delivering for communities across the country."
Yash Raj Films’ CEO Akshaye Widhani said, “The UK holds a very special place in our hearts and some of our most iconic films, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) were shot in this beautiful and incredibly hospitable country. We were honoured to host the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at YRF today to ink this pact and also had the pleasure to discuss how India and UK could come together to push the content landscape globally through landmark collaborations like this. It is truly special to reignite YRF and UK’s filming ties in the 30th anniversary of DDLJ – a film that is synonymous to UK-India’s relationship. Our company is currently producing the stage adaptation of DDLJ, the English musical titled Come Fall in Love (CFIL) in the UK too."
He added, “So, we are thrilled to join hands with UK again and return to filming in the country that has always been extremely kind to us. UK’s infrastructure, technology and talent is unmatched and we are delighted to deepen our cultural ties with a country that has always empowered us to excel creatively."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said, “The UK’s and India’s film industries are truly world class, entertaining billions around the world. Given the strength of our sectors and the deep cultural ties between our two countries, partnerships between Bollywood and British studios make complete sense.
“By making these Bollywood blockbusters in Britain we will be driving more growth in our world-class creative industries, as we committed to in our Creative Industries Sector Plan."
Today’s announcement is the latest example of how the UK’s deepening partnerships with India’s booming cultural scene will create new jobs, drive investment and bolster creative content in the UK, while celebrating our valuable people-to-people links.
This partnership will be strengthened by a new agreement between the British Film Institute (BFI) and India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The MoU will promote co-productions and allow filmmakers from both countries to share talent, skills, and resources.
In the past, collaborations between the two industries have created global successes. One example is Slumdog Millionaire, which earned around £300 million for the UK economy on a budget of just £12 million — showing what can happen when British technical expertise meets Indian storytelling.
