Editing Premchand (section)

=== Bombay ===
Premchand arrived in [[Bombay]] on 31 May 1934 to try his luck in the [[Hindi film industry]]. He had accepted a script writing job for the production house Ajanta Cinetone, hoping that the yearly salary of {{₹|8000}} would help him overcome his financial troubles. He stayed in [[Dadar]], and wrote the script for the film ''Mazdoor'' ("The Labourer"). The film, directed by Mohan Bhawnani, depicted the poor conditions of the labour class. Premchand himself did a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] as the leader of labourers in the film. Some influential businessmen managed to get a stay on its release in Bombay. The film was released in Lahore and Delhi but was banned again after it inspired the mill workers to stand up against the owners.<ref name="Sigi_2006_75"/>

Ironically, the film inspired the workers of his own loss-making press in [[Banaras]] to launch a strike after they were not paid their salaries.<ref name="Sigi_2006_75"/> By 1934–35, Premchand's Saraswati Press was under a heavy debt of {{₹|400}}, and Premchand was forced to discontinue the publication of ''Jagaran''. Meanwhile, Premchand was beginning to dislike the non-literary commercial environment of the Bombay film industry, and wanted to return to Banaras. However, he had signed a one-year contract with the production house. He ultimately left Bombay on 4 April 1935, before the completion of one year.<ref>{{Harvnb | Sigi | 2006 | p = 77 }}</ref> [[Himanshu Rai|Himanshu Roy]], the founder of [[Bombay Talkies]], tried to convince Premchand to stay back but failed.