‘A blessing in disguise’: Filmmaker Anurag Basu on Trump’s tariff on foreign films

US President Donald Trump has triggered widespread controversy in the global film industry with his recent announcement to impose a 100% tariff on all movies made outside the United States. The move, revealed via a series of posts on Trump’s Truth Social account, has raised concerns across international film markets, particularly in India, where the US represents a significant box office territory.

Trump claimed that America’s film industry had been “stolen” by foreign productions, writing, “Our movie-making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries – just like stealing candy from a baby. California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit! Therefore, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.”

While the specifics of the tariff remain unclear — including whether it would target ticket prices, distribution deals, or streaming content — the announcement has sparked sharp reactions from Indian filmmakers, some of whom see a potential upside.

Anurag Basu calls it “a blessing in disguise”

Director Anurag Basu, speaking to Zoom, suggested that the policy could turn into an unexpected opportunity for the Indian film industry, provided India adopts a reciprocal approach.

“Trump's tariff on Indian movies could be a blessing in disguise, if we reciprocate on Hollywood releases, higher ticket prices for foreign blockbusters here would drive audiences to domestic films, more than offsetting any US losses. Think of it as box-office karma with better exchange rates,” Basu said.

Basu argued that such a shift could encourage Indian cinemagoers to prioritise homegrown productions, thereby strengthening the domestic industry in the long run.

Kabir Khan expresses skepticism

However, not all filmmakers share Basu’s optimism. Director Kabir Khan, in an interview with NDTV, questioned the feasibility and logic of Trump’s proposal.

“I have no idea what he means by ‘made outside of the United States’ — most Hollywood films are shot across the globe, and VFX is executed outside of the USA,” Khan said, pointing to how the US President’s statement was too vague to be taken seriously.

Bollywood's US market at risk?

The United States remains a major overseas market for Indian cinema, reportedly contributing 35–40% of international box office revenue for many Bollywood films. Distributors fear that if the tariff results in higher ticket prices or increased distribution costs, Indian films may be priced out of the American market — or choose to forgo US releases altogether.

With the full details of the tariff yet to be clarified, and the US presidential election looming, the policy’s future remains uncertain.