In J&K after 25 years, Alok Nath ends shoot

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 5

Back in the Kashmir valley after a gap of 25 years, veteran film and television actor Alok Nath completed a five-day shooting schedule for ‘Sargoshiyan’ on Wednesday.

Produced by Imran Khan, the movie is being shot extensively in the Valley and has a cast of well-known actors like Farida Jalal, Tom Alter, Shahbaz Khan and Sara Afreen Khan of ‘Total Siyappa’ fame.

“I am back to shoot in Kashmir after more than two and a half decades. I last shot here for J Om Prakash’s ‘Agnee’. I am going back with a heavy heart after staying here for five days. I hope to come back soon,” Nath told reporters here.

The crew of ‘Sargoshiyan’ was the first to come here after then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed invited several Bollywood bigwigs in Mumbai for the promotion of Kashmir tourism last year.

Nath said they had completed shooting for the movie without any problem and found that the situation in Kashmir was the opposite of what was being portrayed in the media.

He shared his past experience of his visit to the Valley more than 25 years ago, especially having ‘wazwaan’ (traditional Kashmiri food served during weddings) at Zaindar Mohalla in old Srinagar.

On actor Anupam Kher’s recent comments regarding issues in the Valley, Nath said, “These are his personal views. I feel an actor should not take part in politics and stay in one’s territory.”

Imran said the crew was busy with the last schedule of the movie at Tangmarg in north Kashmir at present. He said they were mulling a movie in the Kashmiri language with local actors.

Sara said she was extremely happy to be in the ‘Switzerland of India’ and had found Kashmir ‘truly amazing and fascinating’.