Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jun 26: NITI Aayog Chief, Amitabh Kant Wednesday said the valley is going to be a focal point for the film industry as more positive stories are going to come out from the region.
He was speaking on the sidelines of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Conclave-2024 at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in which many dignitaries from tourism and film fraternity participated.
Kant said he was sure that film makers will come to Kashmir and shoot films. “I was delighted to see Sachin Tendulkar playing on the streets here. Ajay Devgan and Jackie Sheroff were hugged by people in downtown. Even Bollywood divas Asha Parek, Helen and Waheeda Rehman were on their nostalgic trip to Kashmir. All filmmakers will come and shoot films in Kashmir. Kashmir is an integral part of all India stories, Kant said.
He said many positive stories will come out from Kashmir after the conclave. “Law and order and security is needed for which we have been assured now. So, we hope to see more filmmakers coming to Kashmir to shoot films,” he said.
Bollywood Actor Sanjay Suri said infrastructure and support is required to develop Kashmir into a film destination. “Kashmir has always been in everyone’s wish list. Kashmir never required any effort to sell as tourism and culture here is enough rich. The important thing is that an infrastructure and support is required so that more producers come here to shoot films. If film shooting happens in 365 days in Goa why not in Kashmir?. Such conclaves will help the tourism of Kashmir to grow further,” he said.
Suri said tourism needs to be decentralised to other far flung areas also. “There is a need to develop other places also. Producers need logistics and infrastructure, which the government has to take care of. Hotels, roads, hospitals and electricity are needed. Such conclaves start a discourage as people talk about challenges and opportunities,” he said,
Suri said the government has come up with a very “good” film policy to lure Indian producers for shooting films in Kashmir.
“Gradually it (film shootings) is happening. Government has come up with a good film policy and policies keep on evolving. I am all positive about Kashmir as a film destination,” he said.
