Tax sops, free security: Jammu and Kashmir gearing up to woo Bollywood

To woo Bollywood filmmakers, Jammu and Kashmir government is soon coming up with a comprehensive film policy under which a number of sops, including free of cost security and financial assistance, will be offered for shooting.

“The draft film policy is almost complete and is likely to be released after including suggestions of the top Bollywood filmmakers to whom J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met two days before in Mumbai,” sources told DH.

They said the leading film producers and directors, who met Sinha in Mumbai and those who spoke to him on the telephone, have offered certain suggestions for inclusion in the policy. “Once the suggestions are received, the draft policy will be released,” sources said.

“In the policy, the government considers providing free of cost security to the filmmakers. The step is aimed at boosting the morale of the film unit including actors, producers and directors,” they said and added that security concerns of some of the producers would be addressed to the maximum possible extent.

The government might also offer administrative assistance to ease filmmaking in the union territory, sources said and added that the first-ever film policy might also offer attractive schemes of financial support and tax exemptions to the filmmakers.

Owing to its natural beauty, Kashmir was an integral part of Bollywood films till militancy erupted in the late 1980s and the latter lost its connection with the Valley. However, as the situation improved over the years, Bollywood again returned to its choice locations in Kashmir. Legendary Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra shot his last film Jab Tak Hai Jaan in Kashmir in 2012.

However, civilian unrest which broke out in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, not only hit the tourists footfall in Kashmir, but Bollywood crews too avoided the Valley.

The J&K government believes that the return of Bollywood to Kashmir this time will encourage tourism and send a message of peace in the union territory especially in the Valley.