By News18,Nishad Thaivalappil,Shrishti Negi

Copyright news18

American President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a sweeping 100% import duty on movies made overseas has sent shockwaves through the global film industry. The move, which drastically raises costs for foreign films entering the US market, has drawn sharp reactions across the board. For India, which boasts one of the largest overseas film markets thanks to its diaspora, the decision is a significant blow.
In an exclusive conversation with News18, filmmaker Bejoy Nambiar shared his perspective on how the new tariff could impact Indian cinema. While acknowledging the potential financial setback, Nambiar argued that Indian films are not created with the US market as their primary audience.
“It’s A Dent, But We Don’t Make Films For That Market”
Nambiar explained that while the US has been a profitable territory, it is not the driving factor in the way Indian films are conceived. “America is a market for our films but I don’t think we make films primarily keeping in mind the American market. It’s another market alongside the other international sectors… our films are mainly keeping in mind the Indian audiences and the India market and of course the OTT market. Those are the biggest revenue sources for our films,” he said.
The director pointed out that, much like tariffs affecting other industries, this is yet another ripple in an unpredictable global trade environment. “Yes, these tariffs will adversely affect us but seeing the frequency with which every day the American government comes up with different tariffs for all different industries, I think films are another collateral that has happened. We’ll have to see how the market responds going ahead,” he noted.
Nambiar added that while Indian films will indeed see a dent in box office revenue from the US, the larger creative ecosystem remains focused on domestic audiences and growing OTT platforms. “Of course they’ll get affected but because we are not making films primarily for that market, it is just a dent in the revenue source that we’ll see,” he said.
Diaspora Audiences & Big Box-Office Earners
Indian films have enjoyed massive popularity among the diaspora in America. The Producers Guild of India estimates that the Indian community spends nearly $100 million annually on theatrical releases across languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Bengali. Hits like Baahubali 2 grossed $22 million in the US, while recent blockbusters such as Kalki 2898 AD, Pathaan, RRR, Pushpa 2, Jawan, and Animal each earned between $15–19 million.
Despite these impressive figures, Nambiar maintained that India’s filmmaking approach won’t be reshaped by Trump’s new policy. Instead, he suggested, it will be treated as another hurdle in an industry already accustomed to navigating challenges be it censorship, funding or distribution roadblocks.
An Uncertain Global Future
Trump, who has been aggressive on tariffs since returning to power in January 2025, defended his decision by posting: “Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby.” However, industry experts remain unclear on what legal authority he will use to enforce this blanket import tax.