The chief minister told the assembly that the Reliance group wanted to set up a studio in Kolkata.


The chief minister an avid cine enthusiast, perturbed over the ailing film industry in Bengal had tried to attract investments in the sector and even suggested to Shahrukh Khan that he set up a film studio when the Bollywood biggie approached him with a proposal for setting up a cricket academy. King Khan, however, did not make a commitment but said he would look into it.


Discussing the state's film sector, Bhattacharjee said in the House on Thursday, that private capital needed to be inducted to resuscitate Bengal's ailing film sector. He gave the impression that it was difficult for the state to revive the film industry but was keen on investments from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.


The chief minister told the House that it entailed a huge investment and the state government was not in a position shell out so much funds to revive the limping film industry given that the state cannot slash expenditure on health and education sectors. So the state is looking at private investments for the film sector. According to the chief minister many private investors had put money in film industries in Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad but given Bengal the go by. He said he had approached a number of corporate houses but they did not evince much interest. The chief minister said it was good that Anil Ambani is keen to set up a studio in the state.


Anil Ambani's Adlabs, one of the largest entertainment companies in India, is likely to set up the studio. With two post production units for film processing and sound, Adlabs is already in place in Kolkata, along with a multiplex in the IT hub in Sector V. It will be the company's second studio after Mumbai. Tollywood, Kolkata's film land is happy at the tidings.