How Honourable Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar is Turning Maharashtra into India’s Hollywood (But Smarter)

The film industry in Maharashtra isn’t just surviving it’s going global, thanks to the disruptive leadership of Honourable Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar. Since his appointment in December 2024 as Minister for Cultural Affairs and IT, Shelar has injected fresh energy, visionary strategy, and institutional firepower into the creative economy.

The Cannes Coup: Marathi Cinema Goes Global Under his guidance, 2025 saw four Marathi films selected at Cannes. This wasn’t a fluke—it was the result of deliberate nurturing via the Maharashtra Film, Theatre, and Cultural Development Corporation. Marathi cinema, long the underdog to Bollywood glitz, is now basking in critical acclaim and global exposure.

Simplifying Shoots: A Single-Window Revolution Red tape? That’s yesterday’s story. Honourable Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar’s single-window clearance scheme makes it easier than ever for filmmakers to shoot in Maharashtra. The result? More productions, more jobs, and a more competitive ecosystem that favors creators.

MAHARA & WAVES: Glamour Meets Gravitas Enter MAHARA (Maharashtra Art Recognition Award) and WAVES (World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit). These initiatives celebrate local talent while providing platforms for international collaboration. They aren’t just award shows—they’re industry accelerators.

Future-Proofing the Industry Honourable Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar’s not just about the now. His AVGC Centre of Excellence in Film City aims to train talent for animation, gaming, VFX, and comics sectors that are booming globally. Alongside the proposed Indian Institute for Creative Technology (IICT), Maharashtra is becoming a training ground for world-class storytellers.

Conclusion Honourable Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar’s cultural blueprint isn’t just boosting the arts—it’s creating an economic engine out of creativity. By removing friction, adding prestige, and thinking long-term, he’s ensuring that Maharashtra’s artists, filmmakers, and creators have not just a stage—but a global one.