'China is new frontier for Indian cinema today'

Mumbai : Ahead of superstar Salman Khan starrer sports film "Sultan" release in China, Avtar Panesar, Vice President at International Operations Yash Raj Films (YRF), says that China is the new frontier for Indian cinema today.

"Sultan" is slated to release in China on August 31.

"China is without doubt the new frontier for Indian cinema today and our collective successes there ratifies the belief that art has no boundaries/borders," Panesar said in a statement.

He added: "Our strength has always been to tell emotional human stories and humans are the same everywhere so it's very encouraging to see this connect."

This will be Salman's second film to release in China after "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", which garnered a good response.

Panesar says that they are grateful "to the Chinese authorities and audiences for their love towards Indian cinema and we look forward to continue to build on this success with them - exciting times".

"Sultan", which also stars Anushka Sharma, tells the story of a middle aged man named Sultan Ali Khan, who gives up the sport of wrestling after the death of his son. Years later, he sets out to revive his career as he needs the prize money and wants to regain his lost respect.

China has emerged as a profitable revenue generator for Indian films, especially following the success of Aamir Khan's "Dangal", which released there in 2017 and became one of the highest earning Indian movies in the country by raking in over Rs 1,000 crore.