Srinagar : Bollywood film producer Vashu Bhagnani today kick-started promotions of his film “Welcome to
Karachi” from Kashmir — a place which does not have operational movie theaters.
“We are happy to promote our movie from Kashmir. No one has thought of it before,” Bhagnani told reporters. The producer, whose son Jacky Bhagnani is starring in the movie alongside Arshad Warsi and Lauren Gotlieb, said he
would be discussing with Jammu and Kashmir government officials on making at least four cinema theaters functional in the valley.
“At present, we are looking at four theaters. We will discuss with the state government the possibility of tying up
with renowned multiplex chains of the country for operations,” he said when asked about lack of functional movie theaters in the valley.
Movie theaters in Kashmir were shut down following eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1989 and efforts to revive
these in late 1990’s and early 2000’s 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 and Welcome to Rio,” the
junior Bhagnani said. He said he was hopeful that the theaters 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. Gotlieb said she was impressed by the warmth and hospitality extended by the people of Kashmir during their stay in the valley.
Commissioner Secretary Tourism in the state government 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.
Kumar said the state government was 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.
