Chance for KZN to star in action sequel
by: Taschica Pillay
- suntimes.co.za
The storyline in a Bollywood film could move from Mumbai to KwaZulu-Natal when the cream of the Indian film industry descend on the province for filming early next year.
The movie, Dhoom 2, a sequel to the recent Bollywood blockbuster Dhoom, is bringing to the province the likes of Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Uday Chopra and Bipasha Basu.
But there could be an even bigger role in store for the location. The director of Dhoom 2, Sanjay Gadhvi, said South Africa was the hot favourite among Hong Kong, Australia and Thailand, where the rest of the sequel would be shot.
“Shooting has begun on set in Mumbai at the Yashraj Studios. If everything works out, I am going to set the story in Durban, so it’s not just looking for locations with picturesque places and visuals.”
“The story moves from Mumbai to South Africa. It is exciting for me because I love South Africa, and have always wanted to shoot here.”
“Cape Town has been done to death — every inch of it has been shown on Indian film. We are going to be primarily in Durban but might make a trip to Johannesburg for one action sequence in which the main actors jump off the roof of the Carlton [Centre],” said Gadhvi.
Dhoom 2, which has a budget of more than $6-million, “may shoot at Zimbali, but it depends on how the schedule works out. There will be a lot of noise during filming, so we will have to ensure that we don’t disturb the residents,” said Gadhvi, who was in KZN recently to look at locations.
“I liked Zimbali and the beaches along Umhlanga and the area outside the Beverley Hills Hotel. Once I decide I’m doing it in South Africa and that I’m shooting in Durban, then I’ll come back in October or November and finalise each place, like Suncoast Casino, where I will shoot a bit.”
“It’s a matter of working out what are the benefits, advantages and facilities that the South African government offer. It’s also a good way of promoting Durban and the country by intertwining the story with Durban,” he said.
He said he had discussed his plans with MEC for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Narend Singh, and deputy mayor Logie Naidoo, and shooting is expected to take place from January to March.
AB Moosa, MD of Avalon Cinecentre Group, the South African connection who will be dealing with shooting in KZN, said a few aspects about the filming of Dhoom 2 still needed to be looked at.
