Bollywood turns to Dubai for business

Dubai has become a prime destination for Bollywood – both for shooting and film premieres.

Dubai has become a prime destination for Bollywood – both for shooting and film premieres.

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While Mumbai used to be the undisputed place for any film premiere, this year alone 12 films have premiered in Dubai, including Bollywood biggies like Partner and Ra.One.

“The UAE has been very kind towards my movies. Apart from that, it is an essential market for Indian movies,” gulfnews.com quoted Shah Rukh Khan as saying.

“Business-wise it makes sense to me and my partners to do the world premiere of Ra.One here,” he said.

It is not just film premieres that are attracting Bollywood, producers are also looking to locations in UAE for shooting their films.

“I have shot a part of all my movies here. And I think it's one of the world's most film-friendly countries,” said Sohail Khan, who has produced some of his brother Salman Khan’s movies.

“In terms of hotels and shooting locations, the options are plenty… a scene taken on Shaikh Zayed road is like shooting in Manhattan,” he said.

Khan is currently convincing his brother Arbaaz Khan to shoot a small segment of Dabangg 2 in Dubai.