MUMBAI, May 12 -- A delegation of Hindi film producers and production houses met cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar on Monday, to seek subsidies and concessions for film shoots in Mumbai and Maharashtra. They also urged the minister to introduce policy reforms that would facilitate ease of shooting in Mumbai and Maharashtra. "States like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have film policies that offer subsidies to Hindi films, which provides an advantage for shooting there. If the state government can consider something similar, it will be a game changer for us to shoot in Maharashtra," said Nishit Verma, CEO, People Media Factory, who was present at Monday's meeting. "A three-member expert committee will be formed to study policies and incentives for the film industry. The committee will review subsidy and support models offered by other states and international film destinations, and submit its report within three months," said Shelar, adding that a new film production facility would be developed on 100 acres near Malad. The meeting, at the state government's Sahyadri Guest House, was attended by Swati Mhase Patil, managing director of Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, also known as Film City; Shibasish Sarkar, president, Producers' Guild of India; Uday Singh, managing director, Motion Picture Association; and representatives of some of the industry's biggest production houses. The producers also pointed out that the Maharashtra government offers subsidies to produce Marathi films and demanded that Hindi films receive the same support. They also wanted the state develop a film city like Ramoji Film City near Hyderabad. Shelar said the state has developed a single-window clearance system to simplify film shooting permissions and is working to make approvals available online. He said the government plans new film cities in Nagpur and Nashik and will modernise ND Studio with government support. As earlier tenders failed to attract the expected response, the state is considering a hybrid model with private participation. Shelar added that film production facilities are planned on more than 100 acres in Malad West received from the Centre, with connectivity to the coastal road and sea link infrastructure. BJP film cell head Henal Mehta said Shelar assured producers that their demands would be discussed before a final policy decision is taken. Red Chillies CEO Aashish Singh sought an online portal listing Maharashtra's shooting locations to help filmmakers choose sites for projects similar to systems available in countries popular with filmmakers....