Sri Lanka has been selected as the shooting location for eight upcoming Bollywood films, in a move that is expected to provide a significant boost to the country's tourism industry.
Renowned Bollywood film producers Shobha Sant, Angad Dev Singh, and Karan Joshi expressed their admiration for Sri Lanka's beauty and hospitality during their visit. Shobha Sant, who is the Head of Film Content at Jio Studios of Reliance Group, revealed that they already have eight scripts ready to begin filming in Sri Lanka. She emphasized the similarities in food, culture, and environment between Sri Lanka and India, and expressed confidence in building a sustainable film industry with support from the local film industry and government.
The trio, accompanied by Sri Lankan film legend Chandran Rathnam, Chairman of Film Location Services, visited various film locations across the country, including Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Hambantota, and Kalutara. The aim of this initiative by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is to position Sri Lanka as a desirable film location for the Indian movie market, which has the potential to generate significant foreign revenue. The average budget for a Bollywood film is around INR 35 Crores (over one billion Lankan rupees), and hosting film productions in Sri Lanka would provide economic benefits through the provision of food, accommodation, transport, and other logistical services.
In addition to the economic benefits, featuring Sri Lankan locations in Bollywood films would also help showcase the country to a global audience, particularly among Indian viewers. This exposure is expected to attract more visitors to Sri Lanka, further enhancing its appeal as a tourist destination.
The decision by these Bollywood producers to choose Sri Lanka as their shooting location highlights the country's potential as a film destination and is seen as a significant opportunity to promote Sri Lanka's natural beauty and cultural heritage on an international scale.
