During the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, in an era when there was no militancy in Kashmir, the valley was the place to go for filmmakers for shooting songs in particular. Then there came a period when thanks to rampant terrorism, the practice stopped and filmmakers took to shooting in Switzerland and other snow-clad of Europe. The tide is slowly turning and of late many films are again been shot in Jammu and Kashmir. We give you a low down on the films that showcased the natural beauty of the natural treasure that is Kashmir in recent times…
1. Raazi (2018)
The Alia Bhatt starrer Raazi is the latest to join the list of films shot in Kashmir. The story, set in 1971 and based on Harinder Sikka’s novel Calling Sehmat, is about a Kashmiri woman, played by Alia, who gets married to a Pakistani Army officer in order to extract information. The film was shot in Shivpora in Srinagar and Doodhpathri in Budgam district, as also Pahalgam.
2. Aiyaary (2018)
This Manoj Bajpayee- Sidharth Malhotra starrer written and directed by Neeraj Pandey is shot in Kashmir and depicts the story of two army officers. Manoj Bajpayee, in an interview, had this to say about Kashmir, “I had a great time in Kashmir working with the entire team and brave soldiers. Kashmir is a wonderful place with magnificent locations, friendly people, and extremely pleasant climate.” The film was shot in Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Sidharth even visited the Betaab valley in Kashmir, named after the Sunny Deol starrer.
3. Fitoor (2016)
Aditya Roy Kapur-Katrina Kaif starrer Fitoor is a love story set predominantly in Kashmir. The film captures breathtaking shots of the lead pair romancing each other in the snow-capped mountains. Principal photography began in Srinagar, Kashmir in November 2014 and continued at the famous Nishat Bagh on the banks of the Dal Lake in summer capital Srinagar in January 2015.
4. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
This light-hearted movie captured the beauty of Kashmir perfectly. It takes the audience on a journey through the wide luscious green valleys to the pristine mountains covered in a blanket of snow and shows everything that Kashmir has to offer. It was shot extensively in places like Sonmarg and Zoji La. The film’s climax was shot at Sonmarg near the Thajiwas glacier (at 10,000 ft above sea level) with around 7,000 people gathered there at the time
5. Highway (2014)
Imtiaz Ali’s Highway, which won for Alia Bhatt the praise of the critics and audience alike, was shot in Kashmir at the picturesque Aru Valley. The movie aptly brings the beauty of the scenic locations to the big screen in its song sequences and outdoor scenes and makes the viewers want to pack their bags and head to Kashmir right away.
6. Haider (2014)
Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Hamlet, Haider, is a story set in Kashmir. The wide shots of pure white snow look blissful and bring a sense of peace and quiet. Haider was filmed at Pahalgam, Kehribal area in Anantnag, Mattan, Aishan Sahab Zaina Kadal Bridge in old Srinagar, Nishat Bagh, Dal Lake, Qazigund, Martand Sun Temple, Naseem Bagh (at Kashmir University Garden), Hazratbal and Sonmarg.
7. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
This may come as a surprise to many, but the wide stretches of snow-covered mountains that were sold to us as Manali were actually located in Kashmir. The scenes of the group when they were exploring the mountains and a song sequence were actually shot in Pahalgam and Gulmarg in Kashmir. The makers even got into trouble with the Chief Minister at the time, Omar Abdullah, after he expressed his displeasure for attributing the scenes shot in Kashmir to Manali. Some portions were shot in Srinagar as well.
8. Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
Kashmir was Yash Chopra’s favourite at one time and the director returned to the valley for his last film. The film was a visual delight alright. The first shot itself is of SRK sitting beside a bonfire in Ladakh. What more could we ask for. The film also features an elaborate dance sequence with Anushka Sharma for the song ‘Jiya re’ which showcased the pristine beauty of the place. The film’s climax was shot in Ladakh. Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg were also some of the places where the film was shot.
9. 3 Idiots (2009)
3 Idiots is one film that can crack you up even after having watched it over and over again. While most scenes from this super-hit comedy were shot in Bangalore and Himachal Pradesh, some portions, especially the climax was shot at the Pangong Lake, Ladakh in Kashmir. The scene shows the picturesque Pangong Lake and the wide area of open land surrounding it. 3 Idiots made us aware of another beautiful locale to add to our travel bucket list
Courtesy by: filmfare
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