Imagine Sheila waving at you from the Republic Day parade, and Salman Khan giving a Dabangg salute to the dignitaries in the stands. The film fraternity feels it’s time the country’s biggest pride, Bollywood, had a tableau to itself at the biggest national cultural event.

“It is such a fabulous idea to have a Bollywood tableau. I believe popular culture should be showcased, and what better way to do it than through cinema? Bollywood is a melting pot of world culture and has received global acceptance,” says producer-director Mahesh Bhatt.

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who directed the patriotic Rang De Basanti (2006), shares the sentiment: “Our tableaus at the Republic Day parade represent india. So, I believe there should be tableaus representing every film industry in India too — be it Hindi, Bhojpuri, Telegu, Tamil or Kannada. That would be fabulous.”

Actor Kulraj Randhawa adds, “It’d be a proud moment and a platform for us to showcase our love for the country.”

Officials at the Ministry of Defence, which plays an integral role in deciding the tableaus at the parade, say that Bollywood as a theme for a tableau has to come through the Maharashtra government. “There is no doubt that Bollywood is a part of our culture. The tableaus that are part of our parade represent the rich diversity that makes India’s heritage. The participation is mainly done through state government and PSUs. So, a Bollywood-theme tableau can be showcased but it has to come through the Maharashtra government,” says ministry of Defence spokesperson Sitanshu Kar.

It is a fabulous idea to have a Bollywood tableau ... Bollywood’s a melting pot of culture: Mahesh Bhatt, filmmaker

I believe there should be tableaus representing every film industry in India: Rakeysh Omprakash  Mehra, filmmaker