I’m Kashmir’s ambassador in Bollywood, says Arjumman

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 23

Bollywood actress Arjumman Mughal, who shot to prominence after her big screen debut in ‘Ya Rab’ last year, feels that the J&K Government should become more proactive in promoting Kashmir in Bollywood so that the Valley’s bond with the film industry is revived fully.

“Viewers got to see a glimpse of the beauty of our state in recent films such as ‘Haider’ and ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ but J&K has got so many beautiful locations that haven’t yet been fully tapped by Bollywood. The government needs to come forward in a bigger way…its support is required,” Arjumman told The Tribune over the phone from Mumbai.

Arjumman, who is originally from Rajouri in the Jammu region, moved to Mumbai in 2003.

After several modelling stints, she started her Bollywood innings by playing the female lead in ‘Ya Rab’, co-produced by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. She won many awards for her role and is presently awaiting the release of suspense thriller ‘Tera Kya Hoga Lambodar’ among others. She also shot for her film ‘Love Jehad’ in Bhaderwah recently.

Even as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed met several Bollywood biggies in May this year and invited them to shoot in Jammu andKashmir, the actress said the government should send more invites to directors and offer subsidies when film crews come here.

Arjumman said she was working like an ambassador of sorts for J&K in Bollywood so that more film crews come here to shoot. “I often tell producers that they should shoot in J&K. Unfortunately, there is fear that J&K is not safe and that needs to be dispelled. I want more crews should come here like yesteryear, which will boost tourism as well. Our youth will also get encouraged as they are highly talented but need to be properly groomed,” she said.

She said Jammu and Kashmir had got immense talent and had the potential of making it big in Bollywood. “But they (youth) need guidance and good acting schools should also come up,” Arjumman added.