ABSTRACT
In the popular press across most of the globe, Indian film equals Bollywood, a term commonly used only since around 2000. In fact, much of the Indian film industry occurs outside of Bollywood. With economic liberalization came the rapid expansion of India's middle class, including an influx of high-tech jobs in software development, call centers, and other support sectors. The Cinematograph Act that codified the rules of film production and distribution was passed in 1952, and both the International Film Festival of India and the Central Board of were immediately established. Hindi cinema has enjoyed a large fan base across the world, especially in Asia, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Middle East, parts of Africa, and the South Asian diaspora, though mainstream audiences in the United States have discovered it only recently. Even with the civic and religious strife between Hindus and Muslims in the 1940s, the Hindi cinema industry was a safe and integrated space.
