Filming of Dharma Productions' I Hate Luv Storys
wrapped up yesterday (2 February), with the actors and crew
delighted at the scenery and hospitality offered by the Queenstown
area.
Dharma Productions' executive producer Marijke deSouza says that
the on-ground support they have received during filming in
Queenstown has made the project really enjoyable.
"From the weather, to the scenery, to the local people,
Queenstown has been extremely accommodating. I know the cast and
crew have enjoyed their time in New Zealand and will be sad to
leave this beautiful country. We would certainly be interested in
coming to film in New Zealand again," says Marijke deSouza.
Tipped as a big player on the Bollywood scene this year, I
Hate Luv Storys will showcase Queenstown as a visitor
destination to an expected audience of 150 million.
The plot of the movie revolves around a couple coming to film a
movie in Queenstown, so the movie has provided the opportunity to
include several diverse scenic locations in the filming.
"With total holiday arrivals from India increasing by almost 20
per cent for the year ending November 2009, I Hate Love
Storys is a Tourism New Zealand initiative to ensure this
growth continues," says Tourism New Zealand's Regional Manager for
South East Asia Kiran Nambiar.
"Everyone in India is talking about the film and Tourism New
Zealand is very excited about the opportunities it will bring for
marketing New Zealand as a destination in India," he says.
Bollywood mega-stars Imran Khan and the Sonam Kapoor arrived in
Queenstown over two weeks ago for filming. During the filming
Tourism New Zealand has hosted Indian media outlets that have
covered the two lead actors participating in tourist activities in
the Queenstown area.
The film is expected to gain extensive coverage in India, with
photoshoots from the filming appearing in a high-profile fashion
magazine, on one of India's leading TV news channels, and in some
of the world's highest circulating newspapers.
"The two stars are hot property in India and both are very
impressed with Queenstown. Sonam Kapoor has loved her time in New
Zealand - I think she fell in love with the destination from the
moment she was greeted with a traditional hongi," says Kiran
Nambiar.
I Hate Luv Storys is due for release in May 2010.
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Queenstown is one of the most beautiful places I have
visited. The landscape is spectacular and very diverse... The
people are extremely warm and friendly and I love the food!"
Sonam Kapoor, quoted in India's Asian
Age