Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 9: Bollywood film producer, Vashu Bhagnani, today said that they would discuss with State Government on making at least four cinema theatres functional in the Kashmir valley.
“At present, we are looking at four theatres. We will discuss with the State Government the possibility of tying up with renowned multiplex chains of the country for operations,” Bhagnani told reporters during a press conference held here as part of kick-starting promotions of his film “Welcome to Karachi” from Kashmir.
The film producer was responding to a question on there are no threaters operational in Kashmir. “We are happy to promote our movie from Kashmir. No one has thought of it before,” said.
Movie theatres in Kashmir were shut down following eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1989 and efforts to revive these in late 1990s and early 2000s did not succeed due to attacks by militants.
Jacky, who has earlier starred in movies like “Kal Kissne Dekha”, “F.A.L.T.U.”, “Rangrezz” and “Youngistaan”, said he hoped that the upcoming venture is a success.
“We hope ‘Welcome to Karachi’ does well so that we can go on to make Welcome to Beijing, Welcome to Tokyo, welcome to London” Vickky Bhagnani said. He said he was hopeful that the theatres in Kashmir will open again and local youths can also get work in the film industry.
“Our aim is to engage with the people, engage with the youth,” Bhagnani said adding Kashmir valley was 10 times more beautiful than what he had imagined.
Lauren said she was impressed by the warmth and hospitality extended by the people of Kashmir during their stay in the valley.
The senior Bhagnani said that film shooting in Kashmir has started and last year Hyder was shot here and this year Bajrangi Baijan is being shot and next year one more film will be shot here. “We want at least one film is shot here every year”, he said.
Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Shailendra Kumar, said the increasing number of Bollywood movies being shot in Kashmir will help in perception management about the valley.
“When the movies are being shot in Kashmir, it will send a message across the country that we are on the path to normalcy. We hope it will lead to more tourist arrivals,” he added.
He said that Government wants to boost tourism by such events and fight the perception which is outside.
Kumar said the State Government is not providing any incentives to the movie producers for shooting in the State but was acting as a facilitator.
“We have started single window clearance for shooting movies in the State,” he said. Although “Welcome to Karachi” has not been shot in Kashmir, Bhagnani’s Kashmir sojourn comes after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s meeting with Bollywood biggies in Mumbai last weekend during which he urged them to shoot movies in the Valley.
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