Overview
The Film and Television Producers Guild of India (FTPGI) is the trade association representing film and television producers across the Indian film and media industry. Founded in 1954, the Guild is headquartered at 1003-04, 10th Floor, Fun Republic Lane, New Link Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai 400 053. The Council of Management includes 26 members for 2025-26, led by President Shibasish Sarkar.
India produces films in multiple languages. The Hindi-language industry based in Mumbai (Bollywood) is the most internationally visible, but Tamil (Kollywood), Telugu (Tollywood), Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and other regional industries collectively produce more films annually than Hollywood. The FTPGI represents producers across this landscape, with its primary strength in the Mumbai-based Hindi-language industry.
The Guild engages with government bodies, broadcasters, streaming platforms, and regulatory agencies on policy issues affecting Indian film and television production. Key advocacy areas include CBFC certification, OTT regulation, the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2023, and the IT Rules 2021.
History
The FTPGI was established in 1954, making it one of the oldest film industry trade associations in India. Over 7 decades, the Guild has advocated for producers on certification, taxation, piracy, and labor relations. Past presidents include Ronnie Screwvala (2006-2008), Amit Khanna (2003-2006), and Siddharth Roy Kapur (2017-2022).
Shibasish Sarkar took over as president in 2022 and was unanimously re-elected for a fourth consecutive term at the 71st Annual General Meeting on September 26, 2025. The Guild has expanded its advocacy from theatrical film to include television and digital streaming content, engaging with the evolving regulatory landscape around OTT platforms and the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill.
Notable Members and Leadership
President: Shibasish Sarkar (re-elected fourth term, September 2025). Sarkar is also CEO of Reliance Entertainment.
Vice Presidents: Manish Goswami, Madhu Bhojwani, Aashish Singh, Dipti Kotak, Ankur Garg.
Treasurers: Ashim Samanta, Fazila Allana.
CEO: Nitin Tej Ahuja, who leads policy matters, copyright protection, government regulations, taxation, production incentives, international co-production treaties, and exchange programs.
Council of Management (2025-26): 26 members including Ramesh Sippy, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Mukesh Bhatt, Manmohan Shetty, and Randhir Kapoor.
The Guild's membership includes major Indian production companies and independent producers across film, television, and digital content. A Members Directory is published on the Guild website.
Membership Requirements
Fee Structure
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-time entrance fee | Rs 25,000 |
| Annual subscription | Rs 100,000 |
| Total gross fees | Rs 125,000 |
| GST (18%) | Added to gross fees |
The entrance fee and annual subscription are payable together at the time of joining. The membership form must be filled in duplicate and submitted with requisite documents: Memorandum and Articles of Association for companies, Partnership Deed for partnership firms, two photos of the authorised representative, and fees.
Prerequisite Work History
- Film producers: Must have produced at least 1 film in the last 2 years, or be in the process of starting a new film within 6 months of the application date
- Television content creators: Must have produced at least 1 television programme that has completed 1 year of telecast at the time of application
- Digital content creators: Must be actively involved in productions
Eligible producers must provide details of films, television programmes, and digital content produced or in the pipeline, along with a brief career note.
How Initiation / Eligibility Actually Works in Practice
Applications can be delivered to the Guild Secretariat office or emailed to the CEO. The application is reviewed by a committee whose decision is binding. If ratified, the Guild Secretariat formally invites the producer. Membership is exclusively by invitation.
The full fee structure is published at producersguildindia.com/Home/FeeStructure. The membership form is available as a PDF download from producersguildindia.com/Home/MembershipForm.
Benefits Breakdown
- Regulatory advocacy: Representation on CBFC certification, OTT regulation, the Broadcasting Bill 2023, and IT Rules 2021
- Title Registration: Service to help producers secure title rights
- Publicity Clearance: Service to navigate publicity approvals
- Members Directory: Listing on the Guild website for industry visibility
- Policy submissions: Direct input to TRAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on national policy
- International alliances: Partnerships with European film commissions and production bodies across the UK, Spain, Austria, France, and the Nordic region
- Industry networking: Access to the Guild's membership of established Indian producers
Contracts and Tiers
The FTPGI operates as a single-tier trade association. There are no graded membership levels or contract tiers. All members pay the same entrance fee and annual subscription, and all members receive the same benefits. The Guild does not negotiate individual contracts on behalf of members. It advocates on regulatory and policy matters that affect the production sector collectively.
CBFC Certification and Regulatory Advocacy
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC, commonly known as the Censor Board) regulates theatrical film releases in India. FTPGI engagement with CBFC policy is an ongoing advocacy priority because the certification process can require cuts or modifications before a film receives clearance for theatrical release.
The regulatory landscape intensified in 2025 and 2026. The film Satluj (formerly titled Punjab '95), directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh, became a flashpoint. The CBFC requested 127 cuts before granting certification, which the filmmakers refused. The film was released on ZEE5 without the cuts on July 3, 2025, and was removed 2 days later following a government order citing national security concerns under the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
Following the Satluj controversy, the Centre is considering making CBFC certification mandatory for films released directly on OTT platforms. Currently, OTT content operates under a self-regulatory framework with a 3-tier grievance system. The FTPGI has advocated for a balanced approach, arguing in submissions to TRAI that overly restrictive provisions in the draft Broadcasting Bill would curtail creative freedom and hinder ease of doing business.
The Guild's submission to TRAI on the National Broadcasting Policy 2024 is available at trai.gov.in.
Streaming Platform Relations
The rapid growth of streaming platforms in India has transformed the audiovisual landscape. Domestic platforms (JioCinema, ZEE5, Sony LIV, Hotstar) alongside Netflix India and Amazon Prime Video India have invested substantially in original Indian content. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the theatrical-to-streaming transition.
The FTPGI has engaged with both theatrical exhibitors and streaming platforms on financial structures that distribute production revenues fairly, including theatrical window negotiations and the terms on which streaming platforms acquire content from producers.
The Guild's position, as articulated in its TRAI submission, is that the government should allow unfettered creation of content for OTT platforms so that Indian stories can compete globally against Korean, Spanish, Turkish, and other content providers.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For international co-productions with India, the FTPGI provides context for understanding the Indian production ecosystem and identifying established Indian producers as partners. Guild membership signals professional standing within the Indian industry. For Indian producers, FTPGI membership at Rs 125,000 plus GST provides advocacy representation, title registration, publicity clearance, and industry connections. The evolving CBFC and OTT regulatory landscape means certification requirements can change. The Satluj case demonstrates that films rejected by the CBFC for theatrical release cannot simply bypass certification by moving to OTT platforms. The government can invoke IT Rules to block digital content. Producers should consult current CBFC requirements and IT Rules provisions before planning a release strategy for the Indian market.
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See Also
For the Indian directors associations, see IFTDA and Directors Guild of India (DGI) in this directory. For Indian film awards, see Filmfare Awards in this directory. For budgeting Indian productions with understanding of CBFC certification timelines and OTT deal structures, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to estimate costs across departments.
Recommended Reading for Guild Members
The Filmmaker's Handbook
The comprehensive reference covering every aspect of film and video production, widely used by guild members across departments.
On Directing Film
David Mamet's essential guide to the craft of directing, covering script analysis, blocking, and visual storytelling.
Professional Grip and Electric Gear
Browse B&H Photo's selection of C-stands, lighting controls, and grip equipment used on professional union sets.
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