New Delhi: Bollywood and Kashmir have had a long standing relationship and love for each other. Kashmir has given some of the most picturesque scenes to Hindi films and the serene and scenic town of Pahalgam has been right at the forefront in many iconic movies. Situated about 80 km to the South of Srinagar, Pahalgam has seen shoots of hundreds of films bringing legendary actors from Shammi Kapoor to Shahrukh Khan there. Here is a list of top five Bollywood films that showcase Pahalgam at its best.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Kashmir had always been Yash Chopra’s go-to location for his films and he chose to make his last film there too. From Anushka Sharma dancing merrily on Jiya Re amidst the beauty of Pahalgam to SRK emoting at his best in the climax, Yash Chopra showcased the pristine beauty of the town in a proficient manner.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
With actors like Salman Khan and Nawazzudin Siddiqui and a location as beautiful as Pahalgam, Bajrangi Bhaijaan brought out the serenity of Kashmir in the best way possible. It’s also said that Salman stayed at WelcomHotel Pine and Peak and had a specific cottage there which had become his favourite during his stay there.
Love Story
With songs that had the entire country tapping its feet, Love Story was one of the biggest superhit movies of its time. A heartwarming escapist romantic tale set in Kashmir, director Rahul Rawail had audiences enveloped in love. The popular song Kaisa Pyaar Tera, shot in Pahalgam, showcased the lead pair dancing amidst beautiful trees and under the blue skies.
Karma
Subhash Ghai’s action film Karma featured iconic actors Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah and the late Sridevi. It was shot at some spectacular locations in Pahalgam. Amidst the undulating meadows, alpine vegetation and colourful huts, the film is a visual delight with a gripping story.
Betaab
This iconic film was shot in Pahalgam which had actors Amrita Singh and Sunny Deol debuting in bollywood. This film was a run away hit. The spot where this film was shot is now know as ‘Betaab’ which is one of the most famous tourist spots in Pahalgam.
Apart from these films, there have been a host of others right from Kashmir Ki Kali in the 60s to Khamosh in the 80s, which have have had filmmakers throng Pahalgam for their vision. With a lot of political unrest in the area today, it is getting increasingly difficult to show this gorgeous heaven to viewers but directors and producers are finding ways to help salvage the situation in their own way.
ABP Live