Mumbai, May 1, KNT: Extending a warm invitation to the doyens of India’s film industry, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Thursday urged Bollywood filmmakers to rediscover Jammu and Kashmir’s scenic beauty and once again make it the country’s favourite shooting destination.
Addressing an elite gathering of film stars, producers, and directors over a dinner in Mumbai, the Chief Minister described cinema as a powerful medium to showcase the splendour and hospitality of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our greatest tourism marketing will come through your cameras. Kashmir has every setting a filmmaker can imagine, from snow-capped peaks to lush valleys. You are our brand ambassadors who can present the real beauty of Kashmir to the world,” Mufti Sayeed said.
Highlighting the State’s golden era when top productions were filmed in the Valley, he said that during the Sixties to the late Eighties, Kashmir was the first choice for major Bollywood movies and a leading destination in India’s tourism map. “We want that era to return. J&K will provide every possible support and facilitation for shooting films in the State,” he assured the film fraternity.
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Prominent film personalities who attended the dinner included Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Imtiaz Ali, Ramesh Sippy, Sudhir Mishra, Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor, Madhur Bhandarkar, Pooja Bhatt, Boney Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Kunal Khemu, Soha Ali Khan, Gulshan Grover, Gul Panag, and Sanjay Suri, among others.
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The Chief Minister, who also holds the tourism portfolio, had earlier met legendary actor Dilip Kumar and superstar Shahrukh Khan to discuss ways of reviving film shootings in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several Bollywood figures, including Rishi Kapoor, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Irrfan Khan, and Anupam Kher, shared fond memories of filming in the Valley and expressed willingness to return for future projects. “Kashmir has always been magical on screen. We would love to capture that magic again,” said Rishi Kapoor during the interaction.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh, Finance and Culture Minister Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, and Minister for IT, Youth Services & Sports, and Technical Education Imran Raza Ansari were also present. Senior officials including Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister B.B. Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary Tourism Shailendra Kumar, MD JKTDC, and Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah, attended the event. [KNT]
