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40 Bollywood films shot in London in a year
With the Thames, Big Ben, London Eye and other landmarks making for picturesque backdrops, London seems to have become a big favourite with Bollywood. At least 40 Hindi films have been shot in the city in the past year.
Close on the heels of Namastey London, Cheeni Kum and Salaam-e-Ishq are the ready to release Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and upcoming ventures Goal and Chak De India, which have also been shot in London.
It's also becoming increasingly common to see spectacular song and dance numbers staged in front of landmarks such as the Tower Bridge or London Eye.
'The filming of Bollywood movies is seen as a bonus by Londoners as it brings revenue and business to the city. Indian productions are worth $28 million annually to the London economy,' an official from Film London, a film and media agency, told IANS on e-mail.
Just a decade ago, only big names like Yash Chopra or Subhash Ghai could think of shooting in the expensive city. They filmed major portions of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Pardes there respectively.
But today the dynamics have changed - not only has the city become a hot destination for all kinds of Hindi films, but there are also several cinema halls in London dedicated to screening Bollywood films. The three largest multiplex chains - Odeon, Vue Cinemas and Cineworld - routinely screen Hindi films that appear in Britain's top 15 film lists.
There were 2.6 million visits to Hindi films in Britain last year making them the most popular among foreign language films. Hindi films accounted for 16 percent of all British releases in total and grossed 12.4 million pounds at the box office.
Karan Johar's infidelity drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) was the third highest grossing foreign language film at the box office in 2006. Though KANK was set in the US, his earlier release Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was filmed in London.
With the Thames, Big Ben, London Eye and other landmarks making for picturesque backdrops, London seems to have become a big favourite with Bollywood. At least 40 Hindi films have been shot in the city in the past year.
Close on the heels of Namastey London, Cheeni Kum and Salaam-e-Ishq are the ready to release Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and upcoming ventures Goal and Chak De India, which have also been shot in London.
It's also becoming increasingly common to see spectacular song and dance numbers staged in front of landmarks such as the Tower Bridge or London Eye.
'The filming of Bollywood movies is seen as a bonus by Londoners as it brings revenue and business to the city. Indian productions are worth $28 million annually to the London economy,' an official from Film London, a film and media agency, told IANS on e-mail.
Just a decade ago, only big names like Yash Chopra or Subhash Ghai could think of shooting in the expensive city. They filmed major portions of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Pardes there respectively.
But today the dynamics have changed - not only has the city become a hot destination for all kinds of Hindi films, but there are also several cinema halls in London dedicated to screening Bollywood films. The three largest multiplex chains - Odeon, Vue Cinemas and Cineworld - routinely screen Hindi films that appear in Britain's top 15 film lists.
There were 2.6 million visits to Hindi films in Britain last year making them the most popular among foreign language films. Hindi films accounted for 16 percent of all British releases in total and grossed 12.4 million pounds at the box office.
Karan Johar's infidelity drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) was the third highest grossing foreign language film at the box office in 2006. Though KANK was set in the US, his earlier release Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was filmed in London.
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