Top notch Bollywood stars from past few years are again visiting Kashmir to shoot for their movies here. Superstars like Salman Khan or Shahrukh Khan have been all impressed by the Kashmir’s beautiful locales.
According to a tourism department official, more than 10 movies and advertisements were shot in Kashmir over last two years. Currently shooting of a film titled ‘Notebook’ produced by Salman Khan Films is going on in Kashmir with two newcomers Zaheer Iqbal and Prannuta Behl. Salman Khan has shot his movie Bajrangi Bhaijan in Kashmir earlier.
Recently, an ad shoot for ICC World cup shooting schedule was also completed in Kashmir.
This year, John Abraham starrer ‘RAW’, Manmariziya which featured Abhishek Bachan were also shot in the Valley.
A number of films have been shot in the state over the past year alone, including Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyaary (starring Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, and Rakul Preet Singh), Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi (with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in the lead), to Divya Dutta-starrer Gul Makai (based on the young Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai), to Imtiaz Ali’s brother Sajid Ali’s Laila Majnu, with newcomers Avinash Tiwary and Deepthi.
Over the years film directors have shown their love for Kashmir by visiting valley again and again for film shootings. Imtiaz Ali a renowned director has shot his last three movies here.
“Kashmir’s scenic beauty is attracting film makers. We have facilitated their shoots and they have felt happy. It is a good sign for tourism sector too,” said Khawar Jhamsheed, who has been line producer in most of these movies.
President, Pahalgam Hoteliers and Restaurant Owners Association, Asif Burza said , “It is an encouraging sign and we are ensuring that all facilities in order to make their work hassle free. Film shooting in Kashmir has now become a parallel to tourism industry and gives us a hope that in tough situation still there are chances that tourism sector will bloom.”
