Bollywood to keep date with Kashmir

Despite recent drop in Kashmir’s tourist footfall after the Pulwama attack on February 14, popular tourist hubs across the valley continue to be popular destinations for Bollywood to shoot their films.

With Tulip and almond bloom expected during end of thismonth, a considerable increase in permissions being sought for film shoots isbeing witnessed.

   

Director, Tourism Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani told GreaterKashmir that both feature film-makers and short film producers are seekingpermission for film shoots here. “Tulip garden is a major attraction for filmcrews and we are receiving requests for film shoots of different types,” saidWani.

Javed Ahmad Bakshi, director, SKICC, who recentlyrepresented Jammu and Kashmir as the “partner state” at country’s largest mediaand entertainment event, ‘FICCI Frames’ in Mumbai told Greater Kashmir thatBollywood and even television industry is upbeat about the Valley.

“We interacted with a lot of filmmakers and televisionpersonalities during the event who expressed their love for the Valley. J&Kbeing the partner state for the event was a value addition to promotion ofValley and we hope we can have an improved footfall this summer,” Bakshi said.

Film producers and actors who recently visited the Valleycherished their experiences saying they would be keen to visit the Valleyagain. Actress Divya Dutta who has been seen in many Bollywood and Punjabifilms said her shooting in Kashmir for Bollywood film “Gul Makai”, based on theyoung Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai, waswhen she had the best time shooting. Earlier also Dutta has shot for a film inthe valley with singer and songwriter Gurdas Mann .

“With people beingabsolutely supportive and warm towards everyone, it is fun being in Kashmir. Ifthings are so nice in Kashmir, I would like to request people to show thispositive side of the place and encourage people to visit Kashmir. The negativereporting scares people while the situation may not be as bad.” said Dutta.

Producer of film “Hamid”, Siddharth Anand Kumar says Kashmirplays a vital role in the script of the movie. “The film is a tale of empathyas thematic which is essential for human being especially in our troubledtimes. The message of the film is very relevant.” 

Kumar said his soon to be released film Hamid has a relevantmessage for everyone in the valley and outside.

Actress Feryna Wazheir whoshot for ‘Sadiyaan’, that was the first film to be shot in Kashmir after a longtime when the shootings of films in the Valley had stopped for many years saidtheir crew shot at many locations in Kashmir adding that local people were warmand helpful to the whole cast and crew.

According to a tourismdepartment official, more than 15 movies and advertisements were shot inKashmir over last two years. Salman Khan has shot his movie Bajrangi Bhaijan inKashmir earlier. Last year, an ad shoot for ICC World cup shooting schedule wasalso completed in Kashmir. John Abraham starrer ‘RAW’, Manmarziyaan whichfeatured Abhishek Bachan were also shot in the Valley. A number of films havebeen shot in the state over the past year alone, including Neeraj Pandey’sAiyaary (starring Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, and Rakul Preet Singh),Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi (with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in the lead), to DivyaDutta-starrer Gul Makai (based on the young Pakistani activist and Nobel PeacePrize-winner Malala Yousafzai), to Imtiaz Ali’s brother Sajid Ali’s LailaMajnu, with newcomers Avinash Tiwary and Deepthi.

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