The dispute surrounding the waiting time between a film's theatrical release and its TV screening in India has led all Bollywood producers to stop releasing any films from this week onwards.

The first films to be affected by the dispute are Ishk Vishk and Pran Jaaye Par Shaan Na Jaaye, scheduled to be released next week.

Film Distributors want a 10-year gap before television rights are granted, but producers say that's too long.

At a meeting of the four main associations in Mumbai, Bollywood producers decided to extend their ban to all new releases and promised to get tough with those who violated it.

Meanwhile theatre owners have called a statewide shutdown of the 988 cinema halls in Maharastra protesting against the state's high entertainment tax, which at 60% is one of the highest in India.