Shillong, Dec. 13: In a step forward to realise the dream of making Shillong a film shooting location, Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang today met Tito Juneja, the producer of Har Pal, to explore further Bollywood entry to the city known as the “Scotland of the East”.
Har Pal, starring Preity Zinta and Shiney Ahuja and directed by acclaimed Assamese film director Jahnu Baruah was shot in the picturesque Smit, outskirts of Shillong, East Khasi Hills in 2007.
Zinta acts as a Khasi girl in the film, which has also the star presence of veteran actor Dharmendra.
In a statement issued here today, the state government said Tito Juneja accompanied by his daughter, Henna, met Lapang at his residence.
During the meeting, Juneja said Meghalaya with all its scenic locations should definitely be projected as a film destination.
He said his next film would also be shot in Shillong and added that he would also convince other Bollywood producers to visit Meghalaya and shoot their films here.
Har Pal is expected to be released early next year and there will be also a special screening of the movie in Shillong.
The Lapang government on November 24 had officially constituted a state task force for promoting the state as film destination in a follow up action after the recent visit of the chief minister to Mumbai.
Lapang during his tour to Mumbai met several film personalities to explore the possibility of inviting them to shoot films in Meghalaya. The decision to constitute the task force was taken considering the state’s potential as an ideal location for shooting.
Lapang is the chairman of the state task force and deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma is the co-chairman.
Besides senior government officials, filmmakers Subhash Ghai, N. Chandra and Shyam Benegal, actor Suneil Shetty, state entrepreneurs Larsing Ming Sawian, Sweety Pala and Arlene Sangma are also the members of the task force.
Filmmaker Yash Chopra will be the special invitee to the task force.
The first meeting scheduled for December 12 in Shillong was postponed because of the busy schedule of Suneil Shetty.
The duty of the task force is to prepare the policy for branding the state as a film destination, give inputs to the industries department to prepare a catalogue and brochures for promotion, besides deciding on the participation in film festivals both at the national and international level.
It will also discuss the possibility of setting up of a film city in Shillong like the Film City in Mumbai and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad and will also ensure the building up of supporting infrastructure, including connectivity, more standard hotels as indirect promotion for the tourism industry.
During the meeting with Lapang, Juneja’s daughter Henna made a presentation about her concept of projecting the tourism potential of the state by way of advertising and marketing of its unique selling points (USPs) throughout the country.
She also expressed her interest in setting up special schools for disabled children in the state.
Lapang said the government through its tourism department was also making aggressive efforts to project the tourism potential of the state.
He said investments in the tourism sector are most welcome and any contribution by private players in this regard would help the state.