Jaya Bachchan appeals for the film industry in the parliament

The veteran actor appealed to the government for the film industry during the Union Budget 2025-26.

Jaya Bachchan, veteran actor, Samajwadi Party leader, and Rajya Sabha member, spoke in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday during the Budget Session in New Delhi. During the Union Budget 2025-26, she accused the government of trying to “kill” the film industry.

Jaya Bachchan appeals to the government for the film industry.

On Tuesday, during the Budget Session in New Delhi, Jaya Bachchan called on the government to show some “mercy” toward the faltering film industry and urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present plans to keep it afloat. During the general discussion on the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Rajya Sabha, the actor-turned-politician accused the government of trying to “kill” the film industry.

Jaya Bachchan accused the government of ignoring the film industry.

While speaking during the Budget Session, Jaya Bachchan also highlighted the financial difficulties faced by daily wage workers and the closure of single-screen theatres as the prime concerns that the entertainment industry is facing these days. She accused the government of using the film industry for its own purpose, saying, “You have totally ignored one of the industries- the Film Industry– and sadly, the other governments were doing the same thing.” She added, “But today, you have the opportunity to take it to the next level.”

Concerns were raised by Jaya Bachchan in parliament.

In her speech, she blamed the rising costs of going to a movie in a theatre for the declining footfall in cinemas, which she suggested could lead to the industry’s demise. She said, “Today, leave aside GST, all the single screens (theatres) are shutting down. People are not going to movie halls because everything has become so costly. Perhaps you want to kill this industry altogether.”

Jaya Bachchan also said, “I am speaking on behalf of my film industry and making a request to this House on behalf of the audio-visual industry, that please spare them. Please have some mercy for them. You are trying to kill this industry. Please do not do this. Today you have started targeting cinema also.” She urged the Finance Minister to introduce measures that would help the sector survive the ongoing crisis.