BOLLYWOOD producers may join tourists, students and consumers ready to snub Australia unless more is done to stop escalating violence against Indians.

And the boycott may cost the nation billions of dollars as the fallout from attacks continues.

Yesterday, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, a Mumbai-based film industry union, called on Hindi filmmakers to “avoid kangaroo country” until the crisis was sorted out.

Join the debate that is gripping the community. Tell us what you think of recent violence in the comments below

Cricket Victoria had initiated the event but community programs officer Andy Lee said Indian students were too upset to take part.

The game was scheduled for Melbourne‘s CBD to improve relations between police and Indians.

But a knife attack on a 21-year-old Indian nursing student on Tuesday, at Chisholm TAFE in Dandenong, forced its cancellation.

“The recent attacks on Indian youth by Australians is condemnable,” federation general secretary Dinesh Chaturvedi said.

“We have decided not to schedule film shooting in Australia until things get back to normal.”

He said while Australia was not considered racist, government inaction “has forced us to stay away”.

The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association has asked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to “adopt . . . changes to make the country safe for tourists and actors”.

Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig said it was too early to see how a potential boycott could affect the industry. “It would be disappointing if it affected Victoria’s appeal as a film destination.”

Films such as Salaam Namaste and Bollywood Oscar-winner Chak De India were shot in Melbourne.

Go2India.com’s Roy Lange said the film lured tourists but they “feel they’re not safe and have lost faith in Australia’s ability to protect them”.

Attacks have led New Delhi to warn violence against students, who earn Australia $2 billion a year, could deter them from coming.

Travel Agents Association of India president Rajinder Rai said trips here were being cancelled.

STIC Travel chief Subhash Goyal said tourists were being told to choose South America and Greece over Australia.

Police believe attacks are part of rising street violence.

bollywood australia

bollywood australia

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