Regional cinema needs to be encouraged: Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan thinks every regional cinema should not only be supported but also encouraged.

Endorsing the Maharashtra government’s diktat to multiplexes to screen Marathi films on any one screen between 12 PM and 9 PM, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan today said it is a “wonderful” move which would encourage regional films.

The government had earlier issued a directive making it mandatory for multiplexes in the state to screen Marathi movies during prime time slots of 6-9 PM.

But the norms were relaxed following a meeting between Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde and representatives of multiplexes and Marathi film producers.

“First of all I think every regional cinema should not only be supported but also encouraged. I have been living in Maharashtra for 25 years now and I am very anti anyone who talks pro or anti region. So, I am not going there,” the 49-year-old actor said during a press conference here.

“But I think cinema of regions needs to be encouraged- be it Punjabi cinema, Bengali cinema- because all these form Indian cinema its not just Bollywood. And with this new diktat of 12 noon to 9PM I think it is a wonderful timing,” he added.

The “Chennai Express” star, however, did not support the government’s previous move to make Marathi cinema a compulsion in multiplexes and said that people should be given freedom of choice.

“Everything can be done with a little more freedom of choice for business man who have space. Then I think it is wonderful… As far as compulsion is concerned, I think nobody can ever be compulsed in terms of business. Allowing that freedom of 12 hours is a good.

“I believe Marathi cinema is wonderful, I am producing a couple of them. Hopefully all this will work out,” he said.

Source:: Indian Express