Punjabi film industry needs subsidy, says actor Harish

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 28

Actor Harish Verma said the Punjab Government should also give subsidy to the regional Punjabi films on the pattern of the Maharashtra Government, which would give a boost to the Punjabi film industry.

Actor Harish Verma was in the city today to promote his upcoming Punjabi movie ‘Vaapsi’, which is set to release on June 3.

He said the state government had already exempted the entertainment tax on Punjabi movies which had given a relief and if it also start to provide subsidy then it would be better.

Verma said the Punjab film industry was doing well and had come at par with Bollywood in terms of the technology as cameras which were used in Bollywood movies were also used in making Punjabi movies these days, but the Punjabi industry lacks good scripts.

He said: “There are a lot of subjects as the state have a great history. We have a great literature and if writers write on these great subjects then we can move faster to compete with the Southern or Hindi cinemas.

Speaking about his upcoming Punjabi flick ‘Vaapsi’, Verma said he was playing a different character in the movie. He was a hockey player who faces awkward circumstances in his life and was forced to leave his house to settle abroad.

According to Harish, the film has got a different flavour and will certainly woo the audience. Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover will be seen in a Punjabi flick after a long time.

He was playing an Indian individual who settles abroad. Contrary to his Bollywood villain image, audiences would see him as an ordinary man in it, he added.

Known for her innings in South Indian cinema, Bollywood and of course Pollywood, actress Sameksha Singh is playing Harish’s sister in the film. Some happening with her character changes the direction of the story.

Director Rakesh Mehta said there was a time when thousands of Punjabi youngsters fell prey to terrorism and police’s atrocities and they had no option other than leaving the country. The film talks about some serious and important aspects of such a period.