Bollywood Legends Unite for Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage After 1986 Strike

In November 2025, veteran Bollywood filmmaker Boney Kapoor decided to reminisce about the past, sharing a throwback photo from a 1986 trip to Vaishno Devi. The image shows Kapoor on a mule, accompanied by other industry members, as they embarked on the religious pilgrimage.

The Vaishno Devi trip was organized in the aftermath of a major Bollywood strike in 1986. At the time, the Government of Maharashtra had imposed a 177% surcharge on movie tickets, prompting the Theater Employees Union and All-India Film Producers Council to protest and shut down the industry. After lengthy negotiations involving prominent figures like Sunil Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan, who were Members of Parliament, an understanding was reached with the Maharashtra Chief Minister, and the strike was eventually resolved.

In a recent social media post, Kapoor expressed his hope that the "1986 show" organized after the strike would have benefited the cine workers. He also mentioned that the Vaishno Devi trip was undertaken to pray for the settlement of the strike and the reopening of the industry.

Separately, Kapoor's eldest daughter, Anshula, got engaged to Rohan Thakkar in the presence of the entire Kapoor clan. The filmmaker was visibly emotional during the Ghor Dhana ceremony, lovingly kissing his daughter's hand and expressing his blessings for the couple.