Be it on the screen or in the books, the description of Kashmir would often be poetic. Claimed to be one of the world’s best places to feast eyes, Kashmir slowly slipped off the silver screen for quite sometime after terror broke out. Now that the peace returned to its hometown, Bollywood film makers are knocking the doors of Kashmir for shooting their films amidst lush green valleys covered with tons of tulips.

As of now five films made Kashmir their destination while shooting of one song in a film is already underway. Saroj Khan, veteran choreographer-who is Kashmir for a song shoot- feels Kashmir is the ultimate shooting destination to all the filmmakers whose stories are powered by nature.

Saroj Khan recalled her yesteryears and said she came to Kashmir for a shoot with Shammi Kapoor before militancy broke out in the peaceful valley. She, however, said a drastic change took place as she saw cement constructions instead of  Kashmir architecture. Meanwhile, a large number of people flocked Tulip Gardens in Kashmir when Saroj taught the dance moves to the new film couple.

Bollywood movies would not only get the best place as their backdrops, but would also be exempted from tax. Yes, they would not be charged in any gardens or in any place for shooting films. The local hotel owners said that the occupancy in Kashmir was full. In fact, many hotel owners have expressed their happiness as their businesses are growing better with Bollywood shifting its focus to Kashmir. Even sequel to Salman Khan’s Dabang, Dabang 2 is likely to be shot in Kashmir.

Bollywood including Kashmir in its top destination list-after a long gap-proves that situation in Kashmir has limped back to normalcy. (Phani)