Nepal eyes Bollywood for tourism

The love-hate relationship between Nepal and the Bollywood film industry is likely to turn a new leaf with the launch of a direct flight connecting Mumbai to Kathmandu from Wednesday.

Updated on: Dec 4, 2009, 24:45:25 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The love-hate relationship between Nepal and the Bollywood film industry is likely to turn a new leaf with the launch of a direct flight connecting Mumbai to Kathmandu from Wednesday.

The Himalayan nation, which was once one of the favourite haunts for film producers from India, is hoping that the only flight between the two cities will aid in promotion of tourism with a ‘flimi’ flavour.

“We hope that with air connectivity bringing both places together, the Mumbai film industry will come to Nepal to shoot films,” said Prachanda Man Shrestha, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board.

On Wednesday, Jet Airways started its inaugural flight between Kathmandu and Mumbai. The flight, a Boeing 737 aircraft will operate five days a week.

“Eminent producer-director Yash Chopra and lyricist Javed Akhtar are already in our board of directors. I am sure their presence will help bring more Bollywood producers to Nepal,” said PK Sinha, vice president, Jet Airways.

The scenic locales of Nepal have graced silver screens of Bollywood films for several decades from Dev Anand’s Hare Krishna Hare Ram to Sonu Nigam’s Love in Nepal.

Hindi films are still very much in demand in theatres and DVDs and VCDs of the latest films are circulated widely. But certain incidents have affected the relationship in recent years.

According to Nepal tourism authorities, there has been a 20 per cent increase in number of tourists from India during October this year in comparison to 2008.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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