Srinagar, Aug 01: Renowned Bollywood director Madhur Bhandarkar praised Kashmir as an ideal film shooting location and urged the Tourism Department to explore offbeat and unexplored areas to further boost the film industry in the region.
Speaking to reporters at the International Convention Centre on the banks of Dal Lake, Bhandarkar emphasized Kashmir’s potential for filmmaking. “The Tourism Department should explore offbeat and unexplored locations to enhance filming opportunities,” he said.
Bhandarkar, a frequent visitor to Kashmir for the past 17 years, expressed his deep appreciation for the region. “I’ve been coming to Kashmir frequently, sometimes twice a year. The food, the locations, and the people here are amazing,” he remarked.
He commended the efforts of the J&K Administration in promoting film shooting through supportive policies. “The policies introduced by the J&K Administration to promote film shooting are commendable,” Bhandarkar stated. “The breathtaking locations here should be explored further for film shooting.”
Bhandarkar highlighted the positive impact of the J&K Film Conclave on the Indian film industry. “This initiative will send a strong message across the film industry in India and attract directors and producers to Kashmir,” he noted.
Praising the single-window initiative by the J&K administration, Bhandarkar said, “The single-window initiative introduced by the J&K administration is quite appreciable. At the end of the day, we need ease in shooting, and the step taken by the J&K administration, led by LG Manoj Sinha, deserves applause.”
He also emphasized the benefits of film shooting for the local population. “Film shooting always benefits the local population of the place where movies are shot. Today, the film industry is not just confined to Mumbai; the South Indian film industry is also making its mark in a big way,” Bhandarkar concluded.
