Amid ongoing controversy between Kangana Ranaut and Shiv Sena which has ignited “Marathi-pride versus Outsiders” debate in Mumbai, the Yogi Adityanath government has started working on establishing a “Film City” on the lines of Mumbai’s Bollywood.

CM Yogi Adityanath has planned to hold a direct dialogue with the top filmmakers to understand their needs and requirements to set-up their film studios in UP, sources say.

Four sites, Lucknow-Kanpur Road, Agra, Banaras and Yamuna Expressway, have been shortlisted for the same. One or two of them would be finalised for Film City after consultation with the producers.

“We have been asked to make our film industry policy more attractive considering the present investment scenario,” a senior official said.

UP had already declared film as an industry two years ago and upgraded the film making policy adding several rebates to attract investment in the sector.

Many filmmakers had approached the government with the proposal to set-up a production house, studio and editing labs etc. Some of them even identified the land but dragged the feet allegedly due to infeasibility.

Over 200 films and short films have been shot in UP over the past one decade, officials say.