In February, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met several Bollywood filmmakers in Mumbai

Kashmir was once a popular destination for Bollywood. Though there has been a lull for many decades, Bollywood is once again reigniting its passion for Kashmir.

Covid-19 has had a drastic impact on the tourism industry but the situation is now improving. Things have started looking up even more with reports that many big-banner production houses will be coming to Kashmir soon for shooting their films.

In February, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met several Bollywood filmmakers including Ekta Kapoor, Dinesh Vijan, Imtiaz Ali, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari, and others in Mumbai. During this interaction, he invited them to shoot in the Valley to infuse a new life into the Kashmir-Bollywood connection.

This year, Kashmir is anticipating the arrival of many celebrities for shooting, an official confirmed.

Over the past few years, Kashmir is also becoming a favourite holiday destination for Bollywood stars, Sara Ali Khan being one of them.

Sara has visited Kashmir twice so far, the last being in January this year. Her social media account has been all about Kashmir during her holiday time.

In September last year, Rohit Shetty visited Kashmir for shooting of a series, 'Mission Frontline'. The acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker also held a discussion with the administration to revive the connection of Kashmir with Bollywood.

According to a local line producer, about 30 music videos have been shot in Kashmir during 2021 and almost eight Bollywood projects are in the pipeline this year.

"It’s overwhelming to know that big names of Bollywood are again venturing into Kashmir," he said.

From March onwards, artists like Himesh Reshammiya, Shaan, Aditya Narayan and Neha Kakkar are scheduled to visit Kashmir to shoot their music videos, he confirmed.

In the last several years, famous Bollywood movies shot in Kashmir include Raazi, Haider, Bhajrangi Bhaijaan, and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

The Union Territory’s Film Policy, launched by LG Sinha in 2021, has been worked out to facilitate the overall growth of the film industry in the region, including setting up a film development council.

It will also facilitate the development of shooting locales, infrastructure for film screening, revival of closed cinema halls, upgrading existing cinema halls, encouraging setting up of multiplexes and cinema halls, destination marketing, organising the J&K film festival, and restoration and preservation of films from the region.