Aiming to promote Chandigarh as an ideal cinema tourism destination, the UT Administration has roped in veteran actors Kabir Bedi and Kirron Kher as brand ambassadors.
The internationally acclaimed Kabir Bedi and versatile Kirron Kher would team up with the UT Administration to promote the City Beautiful as potential cinema tourism destination in the world.
The renowned actors would be in the city to attend the maiden conference on 'Integrated Development of tourism in northern India' on May 21 and will endorse the picturesque city as destination for cinema tourism.
The UT Administration would also honour the actors at the conference for stepping in to make the city known worldwide for best shooting locations.
In the recent past, the city has witnessed its fair share of films and tinsel town stars. Over a dozen Hollywood, Bollywood, Pollywood (Punjabi cinema) movies have been shot in the picturesque locales of Chandigarh last year.
Hollywood's 'Zero Dark Thirty' was shot at PEC University of Technology, Sector 15 and in Manimajra in 2012. Besides, Bollywood's 'Son of Sardar' or upcoming movie 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' were also shot in the city last year.
In the past, movies like 'Joker' starrer Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha, 'Mere Brother ki Dulhan' starring Katrina Kaif and Inmran Khan, Sadian, Namaste london, Dosti, Shortcut, Fashion, Singh is King, Veer Zara were shot here and in the nearby areas of the city.
Interestingly, the City Beautiful is not only attracting film-makers but telefilms, TV serials, albums, documentaries, Ad-films, reality shows are also being shot here now.
With mountains, lakes, alluring gardens, wide roads, five star hotels and striking buildings, the City Beautiful has all locations for shooting. And, some of the favourite locations for shooting in Chandigarh are Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP), Sukhna lake, leisure Valley area, Panjab University, Sector-17 Plaza, Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Airport, various roundabouts, markets, Sector-41 Hockey Stadium and nearby villages.
Talking to The Pioneer, AK Malhotra, CITCO General Manager (Tourism) said, "The UT Administration has planned to promote the city as cinema tourism destination in a big way. For this, renowned actors Kabir Bedi and Kirron Kher have been roped in by the UT Administration."
"Kabir Bedi being the well known international face of Indian cinema would assist in placing the city on international cinematic tourism map. On the other hand, Kirron Kher, being born and brought up in Chandigarh would be helpful in endorsing the city in Bollywood," he added.
He further said, "The city is a potential destination for film shootings and UT aims to capitalise on the booming cinema tourism industry in the country."
The setting up of Bollywood Facilitation Cell in 2009 has also eased the toilsome process of getting shooting clearance at various locations of the city.
The Cell is providing a single window clearance for filming at locations in and around the city, arranging police permission and security and even making available equipment, artistes and lodging facilities.
Besides promotion of cinema tourism, the UT Administration is also working on placing the City Beautiful on the regional tourism map.
The city plays a pivotal role in promotion of transit tourism in this region as it is located on the tourism circuit comprising Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Kullu and Manali. Besides being a capital city of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh also has a close proximity to Himachal Pradesh, which comes as a vantage to the city.
And, this way, the City Beautiful stands a fair chance to become a tourist destination attracting high number of tourists from northern region of the country besides drawing in foreign tourists.