Kashmir ready for film shootings, says Kabir Khan

Sonamarg, May 18

Director Kabir Khan feels Salman Khan’s presence in Kashmir for “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” shooting will send out a strong message that the Valley is safe for movie shootings.

“Of course, the place is ready (for Bollywood). There are problems... I am not saying there are no problems, but it is ready,” Khan told mediapersons here, 85 km from Srinagar.

The director says the place needs some infrastructural improvements, but that is a countrywide problem and not unique to Kashmir.

“Yes, there can be improvements. Sometimes, we feel that we lack internet speed here as our work depends on that.

Sometimes we feel the roads could be better. There is some infrastructure problem, but that is a problem all over the country,” Kabir said.

The director is confident that the shooting of a big budget Bollywood movie is a sign of how things have improved after decades of violence. “If Salman can shoot for 40 days in Kashmir, then anybody in the industry can come and shoot in Kashmir,” he said.

The film has been shot in Pahalgam, Aru, Sonamarg, Thajwas and Zojila.

The director, who previously made “Ek Tha Tiger” with Salman, said it was surprising to see no cinemas in the Valley where there were many fans of Bollywood. “We would love to release the movie here. (But) it is surprising that there is no theatre,” Kabir said, adding that the government should do something to change that. Kabir said the film’s teaser trailer will be launched in a week. — PTI