Bollywood boycotts Australia

Since an Australian actress found fame in India as Fearless Nadia in the 1940s, Bollywood had developed close ties with Australia.

A number of cult Bollywood films, including «Dil Chahta Hai», «Salaam Namaste» and «Heyy Baby», utilised the island's technicians and set the amazing landscapes as their backdrop.

This mutually beneficial partnership may soon come to an end: after a series of attacks on Indian citizens down under, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Bollywood's largest labour union, is calling for a boycott of Australia as a filming location. The head of the Federation declared: «What is happening in Australia is painful and shameful. [...] Until and unless we get a positive response from the Australian government and the people responsible are punished, also till the time there is an apology from them for the attacks, we plan to continue with our stand»

Recently, to show his adherence to the cause, Bollywood mega-star Amitabh Bachchan turned down an honorary doctorate from the University of Brisbane in protest.