It’s action time for film crews as they return to Kashmir for shoots. The picturesque landscapes of the region have, for long, been a favourite spot for filmmakers when it comes to filming romantic song sequences or weaving the local flavour into the storyline. Among the recent films being shot there is Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu, portions of which are being shot in Sonamarg, .

As per reports, SRK landed in Srinagar on Monday to film a sequence of the Rajkumar Hirani film. Reportedly, a huge security blanket has been thrown around the shoot location as well as the hotel where Khan is staying.

A source says, “SRK and Taapsee were in Sonamarg for a three-day shoot schedule. We are not at liberty to reveal the shoot sequence, but these shots were also set near Thajiwas Glacier, where Kiara Advani and Kartik Aaryan shot for their film.”

In early April, Kiara and Kartik shot Satyaprem Ki Katha in the Valley. Adding that shooting season has commenced in Kashmir, another source says, “When filmmakers come to shoot in Kashmir, they mostly film song sequences. Full-length films are shot only when the story is based against the backdrop of the Valley. Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg are the top three preferred locations. Besides, Dal Lake is the top choice when it comes to shooting in Srinagar.”

Talking about permissions, some local crew members tell us that after the J&K Film shooting policy was formed in 2021, getting permissions from the Department of Tourism has become a lot easier. A local crew member says, “We keep getting calls for film shoots from production houses throughout the year. But only production units with deep pockets come to shoot in the Valley. Flight, transport and hotel costs make shooting in Kashmir slightly more expensive.”

Highlighting that the snow-capped mountains have generated an equal amount of interest in the south film industry, the crew member adds, “We have been receiving as many queries from the south film industry as we do from Bollywood.”