With Bollywood's ability to draw both crowd and business alike, Canada is waking up to the magic of the Indian film industry.
The local government is trying to create a comfortable shooting environment for Bollywood producers and this has led to a remarkable increase in the number of films being shot here. Toronto Greater Areas alone has a population of over 700,000 Indians, who root for Bollywood stars besides the other Asian communities.
"Indian filmmakers are very important to us as we try to broaden our client base beyond the US. It also serves to build awareness and affords a possible entry to the general business community," Peter Finestone, film commissioner of city of Toronto, told PTI.
Canada signed a MoU on cultural cooperation with India in 2009. Negotiations are underway related to a co-production treaty, announced by heritage minister James Moore during the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The country already has co-production agreements with 49 nations and the new treaty means Indian filmmakers will not only have an easy access to the country but also to its funds.
"The resolution will be a major step forward. It will allow Canadian and Indian filmmakers to be treated the same in both countries. For Indian productions it will mean access to provincial and federal tax credits as well as financing from Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Media Fund and easier access to Canadian Broadcasters," says Mr Finestone.
Film, television, digital effects, animation and post-production activities in Toronto bring $1 billion annually into the local economy and keep 25,000 employed. While Hollywood and Europe have already produced, co-produced and shot several films in Canada, Bollywood is comparatively a new market for the country despite the huge popularity of Indian stars there.
But things have already started to change. Akshay Kumar, who is also the face of Canada tourism, has shot most of his films — “Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi” in 1996, “Mr & Mrs Khiladi” in 1997, and “International Khiladi” in 1999 and most recently Sonam Kapoor-starrer “Thank You” in Toronto.