The agenda for the interaction between Narendra Modi and Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Siddharth Roy Kapur and Co. was issues relating to the Hindi film industry
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 25, 2018)

On Monday evening, some of B-town’s movers and shakers met quietly to discuss the agenda for a high-level meeting in the capital. While Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Siddharth Roy Kapur and Aanand L Rai were spotted outside the residence of producer Ritesh Sidhwani, few were privy to the fact that the filmmakers, along with Mahaveer Jain, producer of Dekh Indian Circus who had facilitated the interaction, were on their way to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi the following day.

While speculations are rife that the meeting was to discuss the #MeToo issue which has been making headlines since the last few weeks, Mirror has learnt that the matter under discussion was something else altogether. Indian film industry, with over 1000 films a year, is not just the biggest film industry in the world, it is also one of the country’s most profitable industries and is influential globally.

Representing the film frat, Ritesh reportedly urged the Prime Minister to look towards treating cinema as an ‘industry’, thereby acknowledging its contributions to the nation’s exchequer and financial growth, as also to bilateral ties as a global cultural ambassador.

While the participants themselves remain tightlipped on the matter, a source close to the development informed Mirror that along with ‘industry’ status, day-to-day issues faced by those on the field were also discussed. Aamir was the only actor present on the occasion. “It was a collaborative effort to come forward, address issues and seek solutions from the Prime Minister directly,” said the source.

The informer added that the PM was very receptive and admitted that at meetings with delegates from all over the world, Indian cinema was always a subject of conversation, discussed in depth and much appreciated.

“He acknowledged that our films are being recognised internationally and agreed that filmmakers are no less important than nation builders. He has assured the delegation that he will personally work towards setting up a special committee to look into industry matters and address them urgently. It was a productive meeting with a positive outcome. The six filmmakers returned to Mumbai early on Wednesday on a high,” the source concluded.
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Delegation including Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani and Ritesh Sidhwani request for government aid in upping number of cinema halls in India
MID-DAY (October 25, 2018)

A delegation of Bollywood stars and filmmakers made its way to the prime minister's office yesterday in a bid to discuss the scope of upping the number of theatres in India. A team, including Rajkumar Hirani, Aamir Khan, Aanand L Rai and Ritesh Sidhwani, turned up in Delhi to meet PM Narendra Modi and seek the government's aid in increasing the number of screens across the country.

A source tells mid-day that the film folk had gathered to discuss measures that could be taken for the betterment of the industry. "The meeting was [primarily] initiated by Sidhwani. Aamir was vocal when discussing the issues plaguing Bollywood. The PM acknowledged that the people belonging to the industry are India's cultural ambassadors since Bollywood is recognised across the world," says the source. Sidhwani, we hear, had prepared a presentation to highlight why the industry needed more cinema halls for screening.

In 2015, top Bollywood producers, including Ramesh Sippy, Gulzar and Mukesh Bhatt, had met the then I&B minister of state Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to improve the process of film certification.