In a memorable cultural exchange moment, British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, visited Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studios during his ‘trade visit’ to Mumbai. The Prime Minister was treated to an unforgettable experience as the iconic love anthem Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge(DDLJ) was played, marking the timeless blockbuster’s 30^th anniversary since its release.

The UK and Yash Raj Films share a long-standing relationship, with DDLJ itself having been extensively shot in London and other parts of the United Kingdom—cementing its place as a bridge between Indian cinema and British culture. 

YRF is also currently producing the English-language stage musical adaptation of DDLJ, titled Come Fall In Love: The DDLJ Musical, which celebrates the spirit of inclusivity and love beyond borders, an ‘East meets West’ story that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Furthering this creative and cultural collaboration, YRF announced that its relationship with the UK will deepen through a three-film production pact set to commence in 2026.

Yash Raj Film have confirmed plans to bring their major productions to locations across the United Kingdom from early 2026, creating over 3,000 jobs and boosting the economy by millions of pounds, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in Mumbai October 8. 

To mark the announcement, the Prime Minister visited Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai today alongside a delegation of some of Britain’s biggest names in film including the British Film Institute, the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios. Yash Raj’s Studio completes 20 years of operations in India on October 12.

The Prime Minister is on a two-day trade mission to strengthen ties with one of the fastest growing economies in the world and put money back into the pockets of hardworking British people. That includes deepening the collaboration of the UK and India’s globally-renowned creative industries.

The UK film industry contributes £12 billion a year to the economy and supports 90,000 jobs across every region of the country. It is a sought-after destination for international filmmakers thanks to its world-leading studio infrastructure and iconic backdrops.

India is the largest producer of films in the world, and Yash Raj’s commitment follows an 8-year hiatus from filming in the UK – showcasing the impact the UK-India trade deal is already having.

The UK’s creative industries are globally recognized as world-leading, consistently setting international trends and commanding respect for artistic excellence, commercial success and cultural influence worldwide.

As a country of 1.4 billion with a growing entertainment industry, India represents a major opportunity for UK companies to expand and grow – and vice-versa.

Starmer said, “Bollywood is back in Britain, and it’s bringing jobs, investment and opportunity, all while showcasing the UK as a world-class destination for global filmmaking. This is exactly the kind of partnership our trade deal with India is destined to unlock – driving growth, strengthening cultural ties and delivering for communities across the country.”

Yash Raj Films’ CEO Akshaye Widhani added, “The UK holds a very special place in our hearts and some of our most iconic films, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, were shot in this beautiful and incredibly hospitable country. We were honored to host the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at YRF today to ink this pact and also had the pleasure to discuss how India and UK could come together to push the content landscape globally through landmark collaborations like this.”

Widhani continued, “It is truly special to reignite YRF and UK’s filming ties in the 30^th anniversary of DDLJ, a film that is synonymous to UK-India’s relationship. Our company is currently producing the stage adaptation of this film in the UK too. So we are thrilled to join hands with the UK again and return to filming in the country that has always been extremely kind to us. UK’s infrastructure, technology and talent are unmatched and we are delighted to deepen our cultural ties with a country that has always empowered us to excel creatively.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said, “The UK’s and India’s film industries are truly world-class, entertaining billions around the world. Given the strength of our sectors and the deep cultural ties between our two countries, partnerships between Bollywood and British studios make complete sense. By making these Bollywood blockbusters in Britain we will be driving more growth in our world-class creative industries, as we committed to in our Creative Industries Sector Plan.”

Supporting this further will be a cooperation agreement (MoU) between the British Film Institute and the National Film Development Commission of India, which will reinvigorate co-production and enable filmmakers from both countries to share resources and talent. 

Past Indian productions have yielded global hits. The cross-cultural hit film Slumdog Millionaire, brought in around £300 million to the UK economy, on a budget of just £12 million, highlighting what is possible when UK technical expertise and Indian storytelling unite.

Apart from DDLJ, Mohabbatein, Mujhse Dosti Karoge, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and more were shot in UK after Lamhe (1991) began the company’s tryst with the country.

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