Ranbir, Deepika and crew relish Wazwan Kashmiri style
Srinagar: It seems Bollywood has not only rekindled its love with Kashmir's scenic locales but also with its world famous cuisine – Wazwan.On the last day of shooting schedule of Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone starrer 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani' in Pahalgam, director Ayan Mukherjee threw a party for the crew in which wazwan was served.
The crew relished wazwan in a typical Kashmiri style with four members sharing food from an oversized copper plate - Trami.
Like in local marriages, the white 'dastarkhwan' was also laid at Saahil Lounge in Pine-n-Peaks of Ahad Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd on Friday where the film crew had lunch.
Director Mukherjee shared the Trami with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone and another actor Aditya Roy Kapoor.
"The film crew wanted to have Kashmiri cuisine and we served them their choice. The wazwan mainly comprised of mutton dishes," said Asif Burza, Director, Ahad Hotels and Resorts.
The crew stayed in Khyber Hotel in Gulmarg and Pine-n-Peaks Hotel in Pahalgam.
Asif said it has become a tradition for the film makers to relish Kashmiri wazwan while shooting in Valley.
"The directors throw party for the crew members at the end of the shooting. In Kashmir the crews want to taste Kashmiri wazwan," said Asif.
According to reports, at least six Bollywood film units will be arriving in the valley by March this year for shooting.
'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani' is the first such unit to shoot here this year.
The unit shot song sequences in beautiful locales such as 'Betaab Valley' (named after a 1983 film starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh), Aru Valley and Chandanwari.
Last year, filmmaker Yash Chopra shot parts of his last film 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' in Kashmir and Ladakh staring Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in the lead.
Ranbir too shot for his 2011 film 'Rockstar' in snow-covered Kashmir.
With the significant improvement in situation, Bollywood filmmakers are returning to Kashmir for outdoor shooting.
"It is a healthy sign that big bollywood members are returning to Kashmir for outdoor shooting. They are also enjoying Kashmiri wazwan. It started with Director Imtiyaz Ali who feasted our local wazwan while shooting for Rockstar and then crew members of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' also enjoyed the Kashmiri dishes," said Asif.
Before 1990s, Kashmir was the first choice for Bollywood for shooting romantic scenes and song sequences. Popular movies like 'Junglee', 'Kashmir Ki Kali' and 'Mere Sanam' were shot in Kashmir in 1960s and 1970s.
"Many other Bollywood banners have shown interest to shoot in Valley. It is a good news for our tourism sector. The movies will promote Kashmir and our local tradition," said Asif.
The line producer of 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani', Khawar Jamsheed said crew members wrapped up their shooting in Kashmir with a party wherein wazwan is served.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah too hosted wazwan for the film crew in Gulmarg.
"Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani being filmed in Kashmir at the moment. Gulmarg and Pahalgam were the locations finalised for the movie," tweeted Omar.
Minster for Tourism, G A Mir has welcomed the return of bollywood crews to Kashmir hoping that it would increase tourist flow to the valley.
"The cinema goers would watch beautiful landscape on big screen and it would attract many people to Kashmir. This is a throw – back to the 60s, 70s and even the 80s when Bollywood used to literally camp in the valley," said the tourism minister.
Ranbir Kapoor who feels a special bond for Kashmir, used to accompany his father (Rishi Kapoor) to shootings in the valley while he was a kid.
Anupamaa
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