Siliguri: Bollywood is once again showing its charm in the valley! The move is expected to provide a significant boost to the economy of Kashmir and boost tourism in the region. Back-to-back Bollywood movies being shot in Kashmir have generated a lot of excitement among the locals and tourists alike. According to Sonamarg Development Authority CEO Ilyas Ahmed, the arrival of Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu will not only bring economic benefits to the region but will also put Kashmir on the global map of tourism.
Shahrukh and Taapsee reached Kashmir for the shooting of Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘Dunky’. Vicky Kaushal is also a part of this film. A local hotelier said, “We are eagerly waiting for Bollywood to come here. We are ready with all the facilities and will further develop the infrastructure.”
This love affair between Kashmir and Bollywood dates back to 1949 when Raj Kapoor shot parts of his film ‘Barsaat’ in the valley. Since then, the Kashmir Valley has become a popular destination for filmmakers, where several Bollywood films such as ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’, ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’ and ‘Bobby’ were shot in the 60s and 70s.
After a brief hiatus due to the unfortunate circumstances in the region, Bollywood returned to Kashmir in the 2000s with films such as ‘Mission Kashmir’ and ‘Haider’. In recent years, several popular Bollywood movies and web series have been shot in Kashmir, giving rise to local actors such as Mir Sarwar and Zaira Wasim.
The recent announcement of a new film policy by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and opening of cinema halls in every district of the Union Territory has boosted the aspirations of local filmmakers and actors.
A local line producer said, “We are happy to see the resurgence of Bollywood in Kashmir and hope that this will give more opportunities to local talent to shine on the big screen.” As Kashmir makes progress in its development and peace initiatives, the return of Bollywood to the Valley is being seen as an important milestone that will help showcase the region’s beauty and cultural richness to the world. .