J&K may have its own film city

Samaan Lateef
Tribune News Service
Srinagar October 3

The newly created union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is likely to have a film city spread over 12 sq km. It is likely to be established by Abu Dhabi-based businessman BR Shetty, who has announced to invest $1 billion in Jammu and Kashmir for the promotion of cinema and tourism.

“We have not received any written communication from Mr Shetty yet, but our team of officials is visiting various countries to attract investors in J&K and the film city is part of the agenda,” said an official in the Industries and Commerce (IC) Department.

“Navin Chaudhary, commissioner secretary of the IC Department, and Mahmood Shah, Director, are in the USA to talk to investors,” he said.

Post abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, top officials, mostly accompanied by Kashmiri officers, are visiting various countries to attract investors.

“Other officers will be visiting Australia, Malaysia and Gulf countries in the next few weeks to meet business organisations and attract investment to J&K,” he said.

Shetty had, in his recent interview to Arabian Business, said, “Jammu and Kashmir is a very scenic place and I am going to have a film city there.”

He was quoted saying that he had received various offers to buy land in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. “I’ve already got land offers (3,000 acres) from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” he said.

However, the official said Shetty had not approached them with the letter of intent to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir yet. “We have verbally heard from top officials in New Delhi about the setting up of a film city. It is a positive step and  will boost the economy,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the UAE last month, where top businessmen, including Shetty, pledged to invest in India.

Shetty has pledged investment of $1 billion in Jammu and Kashmir and an additional $5 million to the New India Development Fund.

He had been an early functionary of the Jan Sangh (predecessor of the ruling BJP) at his hometown and also the vice-chairman of the Udipi municipality on behalf of the sangh before moving to the UAE in 1968.

Wooing foreign investors 

• The film city will be spread over 12 sq km
• In his recent interview to Arabian Business, Abu Dhabi-based businessman BR Shetty had said, “Jammu and Kashmir is a very scenic place and I am going to have a film city there.”
• Post abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, top officials, mostly accompanied by Kashmiri officers, are visiting various countries to attract investors. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the United Arab Emirates last month, where top businessmen, including Shetty, pledged to invest in $1 billion in Jammu and Kashmir.