For the last one month film-maker Santosh Sivan has been shooting his latest film in the Kashmir valley. The film, Daastan, features Rahul Bose, Kashmir-born actor Anupam Kher, who has returned to the valley after 21 years; Akshaye Khanna and Sarika. The film’s entire unit has been shooting in Pahalgam without fear of any threat.

Anupam Kher was deeply nostalgic. “There is no place on earth like Kashmir,” he said. “You cannot get this beauty any where else in the world”. He also remarked that “Bollywood needs Kashmir” and hoped that other bollywood producers will follow them to the valley.

Speaking about Daastan, Kher said, “It’s a film which will change the perception of Kashmir at the international level."

Rahul Bose, for one, vouches that the valley will be back on top of every film-maker's map soon. "Here is my prediction: It’s not gonna be just Bollywood, its gonna be international after this film that's being shot,” he promises. “I can guarantee you, this will be one of the places on every single great international films with real scope!” He also appreciated the warmth of the locals.

J&K Tourism Department is keen to lure the big bollywood banners back to the Kashmir valley and is committed to provide them the best of facilities for their shoots, including free access to locations. No fee is charged and J&K Tourism liaises with other departments to ensure that no hurdles are faced by any production unit.

Upto the late 1980s every second bollywood film used to be shot in Kashmir. There has been a lull but it is now hoped that producers will throng back to the Kashmir Valley and then the whole world will know what it has been missing all these years.