Srinagar: Bollywood has started packing bags for Kashmir to shoot films and in latest, the film industry sensation Alia Bhatt is set to team up with Meghna Gulzar.
And after finishing his shooting for the Ittefaq remake, Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra is also headed for the shoot of Aiyaary to Kashmir.
Kashmir Valley has been the pet location for producers- directors in the Mumbai based film industry for its rich beauty and snow clad mountains. In 1970s, Kashmir has been the prime time location for film makers. However, with the passage of time, the footfall of actors reduced.
Daughter of famed producer-director, Mahesh Bhatt, Alia gave phenomenal performances in films like Dear Zindagi and Udta Punjab while Meghna Gulzar left her print on audience’s minds with critically acclaimed film Talvaar that had Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sharma.
Meghna is daughter of legendary lyricist Gulzar.
Although Alia was skeptical about her role in the new film but her father is reported to have influenced her to take the role for which she started reading a “lot of books” on Kashmir.
Meghna directed-Alia starrer film is based on Kashmir scenario content.
“Mahesh Bhatt convinced her that doing an occasional social issue-based subject along with her mainstream films was the right career move,” reported india.com. “Bhatt saab himself churned out an ‘Arth’ with a ‘Duplicate’.”
Sidharth Malhotra
Following her father’s footsteps, Alia has done a hard-hitting Udta Punjab along with Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya, as well as a Student Of The Year with Dear Zindagi.
Meghna’s film will be her next benchmark.
“Alia and Meghna have already started the legwork. Alia wants to delve into the backstory of Kashmir to prepare for her role. She has a lot of reading to do,” it added.
Sidharth, the stylish Bollywood actor who follows Amitabh Bachan and Saif Ali Khan, told reporters on Saturday evening on the sidelines of GQ Awards on Sunday night, “I just finished shooting Ittefaq. I am done with it. Now I’m going to start Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyaary very soon. I am going to Kashmir and shoot. So, I am prepping for that and looking forward for that shoot.”
Aiyaary is a crime drama written and directed by Neeraj Pandey. It also features Manoj Bajpayee in a pivotal role.
The two films set to be shot in Kashmir comes at a time when tourism industry in Kashmir is badly shattered and films have been a major source in promotion of this place as a tourist destination.
The J&K government has, on its part, offered a flat fifty percent rebate on all tourist packages to Kashmir.
