Bollywood Blockbusters Shot in Thailand
To the untrained eyes of some cinema goers in India, the location of some of the most popular films this year might not be familiar. Recognizing the beauty and the appeal of Thai natural, as well as urban, scenes, Bollywood producers are increasingly turning to Thailand as the location for their films.
In 2012, three prominent Bollywood blockbusters were shot in Thailand: House Full 2 (filmed in Krabi); Ek Tha Tiger (filmed in Bangkok); and Student of the Year (filmed in Samui, Bangkok, and Khao Yai).
House Full 2 starred Bollywood A-listers like Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, and Jacqueline Fernandez. It grossed US $ 20.73 in India alone.
Ek-Tha Tiger was one of the most anticipated films on 2012. It featured one of Bollywood’s most successful pairing, with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. The film opened on India’s Independence Day (15 August). It collected US$ 54.6 million worldwide, becoming the second most highest grossing Bollywood film of all time after 3 Idiots.
Student of the Year, directed by Karan Johar, starred newcomers Alia Bhatt, Siddarth Malhotra, and Varun Bhawan. It was shot extensively at the Banyan Tree on Koh Samui, which provided the story point of Thailand in the film. Other locations featured Thailand’s excellent sport facilities – which were featured prominently throughout the movie.
Due to excellent facilities, ease of shooting, and cost-effectiveness, Thailand will likely become more and more popular as a destination for Indian filmmakers. In the first nine-month of 2012, India is the second country after Japan that has shot the most number of films (movies, TV, documentaries, and commercials in Thailand), totaling 94 projects and contributing US $ 5.8 million to the Thai tourism industry.
Recently, Thailand was named the “Best Destination International” at CINEMASCAPE 2012 in Mumbai, held concurrently with the 14th Mumbai Film Festival.
Chamsai Menasveta
