The Maldives has been a favourite shooting location for Bollywood filmmakers, with movies such as Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), Agent Vinod (2012), Ek Villain (2014) and Ram Setu (2022), shot in the island country. However, given the deteriorating relations between India and the Maldives lately after three ministers made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his visit to the Lakshadweep, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has appealed to the producers to boycott shoots in the Maldives.

Their statement read: “In solidarity with the nation, the members of the FWICE have decided to boycott Maldives for their shooting locations. Instead, we appeal to its members to choose similar locations in India for their shooting purpose and contribute towards developing the tourism in India.”

FWICE chief advisor, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, says, “It was important for Bollywood to extend support to show the Maldives that we can’t be taken for granted.”

There are a lot of locations for us to shoot our films. Nothing matters more than our country’s pride.

A couple of songs were scheduled to be shot in the Maldives. FWICE’s notice would dent the whole travel economy and film shoots.

Changing any location at the last minute costs us. It also delays schedules as you have to start the process all over again. As a filmmaker, I think it’s unfair to the director, but then, this can happen for many other reasons too, including natural disasters, airline issues, etc. I don’t think filmmakers or the film fraternity should boycott any country or location unless the government officially asks us to do so.

We can find alternatives. We are no longer in the cinematic era where foreign locations were necessary for romantic songs. From a monetary point-of-view, I don’t see any negative impact of FWICE’s decision.

We have many islands in India that are like the Maldives. Maldives waise bhi bahut expensive country hai. We support PM Modi and the country with this decision. Maldives ne apna bahut nuksaan karaya hai in statements se.