The beautiful vale of Kashmir is not only a fond tourist attraction but is also dear to the heart of the many movie directors from Bollywood. A huge number of old and new movies were shot in Kashmir. ‘The heavenly beauty of Kashmir could echo perfectly the heavenly emotion of romance’-this very opinion actually urged them to shoot all the romantic scenes in Kashmir. The article will tell you about the top 20 Bollywood movies shot in Kashmir.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever! Bollywood seems to be inspired by this famous line of the celebrated English poet John Keats or otherwise how can one define Bollywood’s everlasting infatuation with the beautiful Kashmir? Bollywood’s love affair with Kashmir has only grown stronger ever since the post-independence era barring a few years of turbulence in the valley. Bollywood has a simple equation: Romance is equal to Kashmir! Whenever a romantic scene or song is to be shot, Kashmir, the ‘Paradise on Earth’ is held as the most fitting backdrop to suit the delicate heavenly emotion of love. That explains why a huge number of Bollywood films have been shot in Kashmir. Just take a look at the top 20 films from Bollywood that were shot in the vale of Kashmir. Here follows the list:
1- Junglee (1961)
Seems to be one of the very first movies shot in Kashmir, starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Bano, the story is about a humorless man finding his lady love in Kashmir after passing quite a many challenges and hurdles.
2- Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
The very first movie that comes to mind connecting Bollywood and Kashmir is Kashmir Ki Kali. This Shakti Samanta film starring the flamboyant Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore is remembered as much for its picturization of the breathtaking locales as well as for its haunting melody. It has so far remained a classic in the romantic genre.
3- Jab jab Phool Khile (1965)
Starring Shashi Kapoor and Nanda, the story revolves around a Kashmiri boatman who falls in love with a rich tourist. The songs of this movie have become eternal classics.
4- Kabhi Kabhi (1976)
A Yash Chopra classic, this film boasts of a starry ensemble of Amitabh Bacchan, Raakhee, Shashi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi Kapoor, and Neetu Singh. This film tells a romantic love story spanning two generations. The beauty of Kashmir has been aptly blended with the storyline and the charming environment is rediscovered yet again through the director’s eyes.
5- Aap ki Kasam (1974)
This film starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz is shot in the charming locale of Gulmarg. The songs like “Jai Jai Shiva Shankar” and some of the shootings are done in the serene backdrop of Kashmir.
6- Bobby (1973)
A trendsetter in its own right, the film holds relevance even now. Some scenes were shot in the astounding Gulmarg. There is a scene shot in a hut here which later became famous as Bobby Hut.
7- Silsila (1981)
The film starring Amitabh, Jaya, and Rekha became a cult movie. The storyline revolves around the complicated love triangle and the romantic songs set in Kashmir bring out the romance within the film.
8- Betaab (1983)
The biggest hit of the year, the movie starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh, explores the beautiful valley in its romantic songs.
9- Roja (1992)
The perfect life of a happily married couple becomes topsy-turvy when the duo travels to Kashmir. The abduction of the husband by militants leaves both of them in a helpless situation.
10- Dil Se (1998)
The film starring Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala aptly juxtaposes the terror-ridden turbulent Kashmir and the beautiful serene beauty of Kashmir.
11- Mission Kashmir (2000)
The action-thriller drama is set against the backdrop of violent Kashmir dealing with terrorism and the suffering of common people, especially the children of the valley. It traces the insurgency problems and religious bigotry in the fabric of love, vengeance, and responsibility.
12- Lakshya (2004)
This war drama film directed by Farhan Akhtar is regarded as a cult movie set against the fictional backdrop of the Kargil War.
13- Yahaan (2005)
The romantic war drama film is a love story about a Kashmiri girl and an Indian army officer in a violent Kashmir and what follows next.
14- Tahaan (2008)
A heady mixture of terror and innocence, the story is about a young Kashmiri boy in search of his donkey.
15- Lamhaa (2010)
Set in Kashmir, the story is about an army officer and his lady-love taking a look at the multi-layered turmoil in Kashmir.
16- Rockstar (2011)
A musical romance, the film is about a Haryanvi boy dreaming of making it big as a rockstar. A major part of the shooting was done in the beautiful landscapes of Kashmir.
17- Jab Tak Hain Jaan (2012)
This Shahrukh Khan starrer romantic film is about a bomb squad officer posted in Kashmir in search of his first love.
18. Yeh jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
The film has shots in the scenic Gulmarg in Kashmir which it passes off as Manali! The story is about the relationship of two characters at two stages of life: first, just after college when they set off for a mountain trek along with friends, and next about a decade later.
19. Highway (2014)
This Imtiaz Ali Film with Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda in lead roles is a movie on self-discovery through travel. The director trails his eyes through the varied geography including the picturesque Kashmiri vale. The protagonist Alia gets kidnapped and travels with her kidnappers around the corners of the country bound by ropes and hidden inside the truck. But, with time, she grows affection for her kidnapper, falls in love, and builds a home in a beautiful, forlorn part of the valley only to find him killed by police.
20. Haider (2014)
Vishaal Bharadwaj finds the best location for his desi adaptation of the Shakespearean drama Hamlet in the folds of the Himalayas in Kashmir. Haider starring Shahid Kapoor and co-starring Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kay Kay Menon was a critically acclaimed movie and garnered accolades from various quarters. It depicts the complicated familial ties, which find resonance in its equally complicated relationship between India and Kashmir. Since the story is fully set in Kashmir, the soundscape, language, and landscape have a typical Kashmiri flavor.
The list does not end here. Fitoor, a romantic drama based on Dickens’ Great Expectations is the first movie to be shot in Kashmir post the deluge in 2014. The beauty of Kashmir is eternal and so is Love, they say! Kashmir is going to be held synonymous with romance, love, and beauty. In coming years, Bollywood would continue to adore and woo Kashmir, the heavenly beauty, in its un-deflecting love.