Pahalgam, Feb 27: Unlike other film makers, who still relate Kashmir with the militancy in their movies, the young Bollywood director, Imtiyaz Ali, says that he would never make such a film that only portrays the “negative image of Kashmir.”
 The young director who often portrays his characters as confused with a tinge of mania as in Socha na Tha, Jab We Met and Love Aaj Kal, is busy shooting for his movie Rockstar featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis in the lead role in this world famous resort in south Kashmir from past 4-days.
 Imtiyaz in an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir said, “From the last few years militancy in Kashmir has been the subject of many Bollywood movies and perhaps there is no further need to saturate and repeat the same subject.”
 He said that he was moved by the hospitality that he and his crew had enjoyed during his stay so far. “The hospitality and the cooperation of the villagers have put to rest all the fears that we had in mind before coming to the Valley,” Imtiyaz said.
 However, he refused to comment on why the media and the film makers portray negative image of Kashmir. “I cannot comment on the role of Indian media with regard to the portrayal of Kashmir. But what I have observed is that Kashmiris are peace loving, hospitable and cooperative people I have ever met,” he said. “I would love to shoot as many movies as I could here and would also encourage my fellow directors to do the same.”
 Though the director refused to elaborate on the theme of his present movie (Rockstar) but said that a part of the movie touches the Kashmiri culture and the tradition even the lead actors can be seen wearing traditional Kashmiri dresses.
 “The actress in the movie is a Kashmiri girl brought up in the Kashmiri culture. She leaves Kashmir and then comes back to get married. So most of the scenes shot in the valley revolve around that,” he said.
 On being asked about the reaction of the stars to shoot in Kashmir he said, “Though the stars in the Bollywood get excited when told about shooting in Kashmir.  But the wrong portrayal of has created doubts in their minds so they are reluctant to shoot here.”
 Expressing concern over the pollution in Pahalgam, he said, “The unabated constructions on the banks of Lidder river and in the forest areas are posing a threat to serene beauty of this place. Besides the poor sanitation also is a cause of concern. The authorities should wake up to the tragedy before it is too late”.
 Fascinated by the beauty of the valley the director says that he never ever in his career had come across the beautiful place like Kashmir. “Though I have shot movies in different European countries including Switzerland but the natural beauty that Kashmir possesses is unmatched.”
 “And among all the places in Kashmir I like Pahalgam the most,” he said.
 He said that this picturesque valley surrounded by lush green meadows, hills and covered with dense vegetation and gushing waters are enough to attract film makers to capture this serene beauty in celluloid.
 Praising the talent of Kashmiri youth he said, “The Kashmiris are not only talented but good looking too, so the industry always welcomes them”.
 `Asif Burza, the owner of the Pine N Peak hotel, where the crew is putting, said, “We are providing them all the facilities, so that Bollywood gets encouraged to shoot here again like in seventies and eighties.”

* Hospitality, cooperation of people have put to rest all the fears

* Kashmiris are peace loving and hospitable people

* I will encourage my fellow directors to shoot in Kashmir 

* Bollywood stars get excited when told about shooting in Kashmir 

* Wrong portrayal has created doubts in minds of stars 

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST