SRINAGAR, Sept 6: Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has said he hoped that his film, shot in the picturesque Himalayan region, would attract more filmmakers.
“I am not so big a person to attract people, but when they see the film made by a big banner with big names associated with it, people will come. I am hopeful of that,” said the 46-year-old star who completed his nine-day shooting schedule in the Valley for Yash Chopra’s untitled project.
Kashmir was a favourite setting of romances for bollywood movies until the early nineties when an armed conflict started, killing tens of thousands of people in violence involving militants and security forces.
With violence on a decline now, entertainment and other activities are picking up. The valley saw a huge rush of tourists for the last two seasons, with at least a million people having visited the scenic region of meadows, lakes and gardens this year.
“I am hopeful that more filmmakers will come to Kashmir. They have been coming before (militancy) on a larger scale,” Khan said at a crowded press conference in Srinagar.
“I have shot films in Switzerland, Mauritius, London and other places and the beauty of Kashmir is definitely unmatched by any other place. Inshallah, other filmmakers will come here to shoot their films in future.”
After shooting for the film in famous tourist spots – Pahalgam and north Gulmarg – Khan is scheduled to fly back to Mumbai today (Thursday). He said he was sad that his stay in the Valley had come to an end.
“It was always my father’s dream to take me to Kashmir because his grandmother belonged to this place. I could not come here in his lifetime, yet making it finally to Kashmir has been the fulfilment of a family dream. I am happy it has been finally realised,” he said.
