Following a sabbatical of more than three decades, the Indian film industry – Bollywood – is resuming filming in Kashmir in an effort to produce an aura of distinctiveness and kinship with an otherwise mostly dissatisfied audience.
Kashmir, renowned for its beauty worldwide, was an easy destination for many Bollywood directors for a big portion of the second half of the 20th century due to its proximity to the industry hub Mumbai and owing to its unparalleled and mesmerising beauty. The start of insurgency, which also led to the closure of cinemas built up around the valley, nearly halted industry personnel from visiting the region.
The incumbent Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated a new film policy at a star-studded event in the presence of actor Amir Khan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani at the Srinagar International Convention Center (SKICC) in order to offer a fresh lease of life and entice industry players back to Kashmir.
Sinha opined that the film policy aims to transform Jammu Kashmir into the preferred location for the entertainment industry, reviving its glory days as a cinematographer’s paradise and reviving the golden age of film production in the region, as well as maximising the potential of promising local talent and creating livelihood opportunities for many.
“I encourage filmmakers from all over the world to visit Jammu & Kashmir and capture the region’s natural beauty on film. In addition, take advantage of the plethora of fiscal incentives and world-class amenities provided by the Jammu and Kashmir government “Sinha stated at the time.
Afterwards, Sinha opened the first multiplex in the valley, which has rekindled the interest of many individuals in the Bollywood industry.
Karan Johar’s “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani” crew has arrived in the world-famous ski-resort Gulmarg to film one of the film’s songs, ostensibly in response to the UT administration’s approval.
As learned by GNS, the song will serve as a memorial to the late filmmaker Yash Chopra. Ranveer and Alia will imitate the looks of Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor from the late 1980s film Chandini, which was directed by Yash Chopra. Alia will be seen wearing chiffon sarees, while Ranveer will wear formal clothing for a change.
Karan Johar reportedly wanted to film the song in Switzerland, but following Alia Bhatt’s personal reasons, he switched it to Kashmir since he believes the snow in Kashmir has the same texture as in Switzerland.
It has been learned that a number of Bollywood directors are contemplating and, in fact, are already in discussions with the administration to request permission to film portions for their films in various locations in the Valley.
“Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani” is anticipated to bring the public back to Bollywood, which has been experiencing a dry spell, with the exception of the newly released Shah Rukh Khan film “Pathaan.” (GNS)
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