Bollywood actor of Kashmiri origin, Mir Sarwar, emphasised the need to build a sustainable ecosystem for Kashmir’s independent film industry by creating quality content, gaining exposure outside the valley, and reinvesting experience and resources back home. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Sarwar said he is currently in Kashmir working on a script and recently completed a song project inspired by Dadasaheb Phalke. “To take the Kashmiri film industry to the next level, filmmakers must look beyond the valley for opportunities,” he said. “The best way is to earn money and experience from outside and invest it in Kashmir. Currently, the atmosphere and infrastructure are not conducive for producers from outside to easily come and make films here.” Sarwar acknowledged that several individuals are contributing in their own capacities, but stressed that such efforts must reach national and international platforms to make a real impact. Highlighting the absence of Kashmiri narratives on mainstream platforms, he said content from the valley is largely missing from OTT platforms and television channels. “It’s not that people here cannot create content. Earlier, most artists were dependent on Doordarshan. When that stopped, the community suffered because many had invested everything in this profession,” he said. He also expressed concern over the lack of recognition for senior Kashmiri artists, saying they deserve far greater acknowledgement for their contributions. Reflecting on his own journey, Sarwar said he initially accepted roles out of survival. “When you have responsibilities, survival becomes the priority. Later, I stopped doing roles I didn’t believe in,” he said, adding that a casting director once advised him to focus on lead roles, advice he could follow only after gaining financial stability and influence. Sarwar pointed out that Kashmir has a wealth of untold stories on issues such as drugs, unemployment, mental health, and late marriages. “We can tell our own stories, but hardly anyone is talking about these themes. If we do good work, people will love to watch it,” he said. He also highlighted the lack of unity among artists in the valley and called for writers, directors, and actors to come together. He stressed the importance of good writing and regular workshops to sharpen skills. Speaking about his role in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Sarwar revealed that the film was offered to him by director Kabir Khan during the shoot of Phantom in London. “Kabir Khan told me he had something interesting for his next film. I had no idea it would be Bajrangi Bhaijaan with Salman Khan,” he said. Recalling his experience with Salman Khan, Sarwar said they first met during the shoot in Aru, Pahalgam. “Salman said my co-actor and I looked like brother and sister. While talking about beauty, he also spoke about deforestation and climate change. He is a child at heart,” he said. Comparing industries, Sarwar said the South Indian film industry is far more disciplined than Bollywood, describing his experience with acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam as “wonderful.” On mentorship in Bollywood, Sarwar said having a godfather helps, but only if the actor is talented. “Talent comes only when you work on yourself,” he added. Emphasising theatre, he said it plays a crucial role in shaping an actor’s personality, even for those who do not pursue acting professionally. Sharing details of his recent work, Sarwar said he recently shot a web series in Leh and is part of an upcoming film starring Pawan Kalyan, in which he plays the lead antagonist. “It was a challenging role. I had to speak Telugu, a language I knew nothing about. I wrote the lines in my own script and memorised them. The film involved action, and the experience went well,” he said. Sarwar concluded by encouraging young artists to explore their potential. “Everyone is talented. They just need to identify their unique strength, read more, and explore more,” he said.