New Delhi, October 1 – Indian film producers and distributors believe it is too early to assess the real impact of former US President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding the imposition of a 100 percent duty on all foreign films. They acknowledged, however, that if such a policy were to apply to Indian films released in the United States, it would inevitably push ticket prices higher.
As per agency report, Trump reiterated his earlier statement made in May, declaring that he would impose the additional duty on every film produced outside the US. The announcement has left the Indian film industry cautious, with many suggesting a wait-and-watch approach until official guidelines are issued.
Shibasish Sarkar, President of the Producers Guild of India, noted that clarity was lacking on how such a tariff would be implemented. He explained that Trump’s focus appeared to be on American films shot abroad, aiming to encourage local employment and investment. Sarkar emphasized that since Hindi films derive only about six to seven percent of their total revenues from the American market, the overall impact on Bollywood may remain limited. However, he warned that Tamil and Telugu films, for which the US is a major market, could face a revenue decline of five to six percent if the duty were enforced.
Prominent distributor Rajesh Thadani also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the announcement. He pointed out that the US has been a critical market for blockbuster Indian films like Baahubali and KGF, and higher ticket prices could deter audiences if the duty extended to Indian releases. He added that it was not yet clear whether streaming platforms such as Netflix would fall under the ambit of the proposed duty.
Film exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi shared a similar perspective, stressing that North America remains an important territory for Telugu cinema. He said it would be in the interest of local theaters to price tickets wisely in case of additional duties so as not to drive audiences away. He expressed confidence that exhibitors would find practical solutions to maintain footfall.
Producer Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films underlined the lack of consistency in Trump’s statements, suggesting it was too soon to draw conclusions. Filmmaker Himanshu Mehra, known for projects like Detective Sherdil, Jogi, Bloody Daddy and the OTT series Tandav, questioned how the burden of additional duties might ultimately fall on ticket buyers, potentially affecting consumption.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, justified his stance by claiming that foreign countries had taken away America’s film production business, comparing it to “snatching candy from a child.”
The Indian film industry continues to monitor the situation closely, awaiting clarity on whether the proposed duty will be enforced, on which markets it will apply, and how it might shape the future of Indian films in the United States.
