“Film industry is being used for your own purpose”: Jaya Bachchan accuses government in Rajya Sabha, urges to show “mercy”

Samajwadi Party part and ingenious on-screen character Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday offered to the government to appear “mercy” on the film industry, highlighting its battles in the midst of rising costs and the shutdown of single-screen theaters. Talking amid the Common Discourse on the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Rajya Sabha, Bachchan denounced the government of dismissing the industry and cautioned that its survival is at stake. Her comments come days after Prime Serve Narendra Modi chaired a assembly of the WAVES Counseling Board, pointing to position India as a worldwide amusement hub.

Jaya Bachchan’s Supplication for the Film Industry

Bachchan communicated concern over the challenges confronted by day by day wage laborers and the closure of single-screen theaters, crediting these issues to rising costs and tall GST rates. “One industry has been completely overlooked by you, and other governments were moreover doing the same thing. But nowadays you have taken it to the another level. You have completely overlooked the film and amusement industry since you as it were utilize them for serving your possess purpose,” she said. She clarified that the film industry is a imperative social bridge interfacing India to the world.

Allegations of Focusing on Cinema

The actor-turned-politician too affirmed that cinema is being focused on, encouraging Back Serve Nirmala Sitharaman to take the issue genuinely. “I am talking on sake of my film industry and making a ask to this House on sake of the audio-visual industry, that if it's not too much trouble save them. If it's not too much trouble have a few benevolence for them. You are attempting to murder this industry. If you don't mind do not do this,” Bachchan said. She requested for concrete recommendations to offer assistance the industry survive, calling it a “very troublesome industry” that requires quick attention.

WAVE Summit and Industry Disconnect

Bachchan’s supplication comes in the wake of the WAVE Summit, where PM Modi locked in with conspicuous figures from the amusement industry, counting Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and AR Rahman, to talk about India’s potential as a worldwide amusement center.