Bollywood Films to Help India Meet its Trade Deficit with China; 'Dhoom 3' to Release as Part of Plan

India's trade deficit with China in the year 2013-14 is understood to be $35 billion, and to reduce the trade gap, the Indian commerce ministry will seek help from Bollywood films.

The ministry is planning to sell Bollywood films to China, and they are starting with Aamir Khan's "Dhoom 3". The action drama created several new records at the box office, by earning more than ₹500 crore worldwide from its theatrical run.

"Dhoom 3" will release in China on 26 July on 200 screens, and the officials are hoping that the film can recreate its magic in the country.

In 2009, Khan's "3 Idiots" was released in China, where it created history. The film earned ₹11 crore within the first two weeks of release. The ministry is hoping similar results from the Indian films which will release in China in the upcoming months.

Indian officials are hoping that the films releasing in the Chinese market will help to reduce the trade gap. The officials are working with China's official film importer - the China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) - to import Indian films, Economic Times reported.

Even a meeting with India's top production houses, including Viacom18, Zee, Eros International and Reliance Entertainment, has been scheduled with the CFGC officials.

"We will line up a range of films for the president of China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) to choose from, who will visit India in October. Our assessment is they are willing to take 2-3 films from India this time. We will offer Queen and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag among others for a commercial release in China," a commerce department official told Economic Times.

China has a deal in place to buy five Indian films but India has not sold that many films. However, Indian officials are affirmative that Chinese officials will be interested in importing Indian movies.

CFGC officials will select a film which is technologically sound, features good content and represents different culture. And therefore, Indian officials are also planning to offer Kangana Ranaut's "Queen" and Farhan Akhtar's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag".

"We need to see movies from the Chinese context. We will offer films that will meet the requirements of the Chinese market," the official said.