Hope Bollywood returns to Kashmir: SRK

Srinagar: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan today said he is not big enough to attract people to Kashmir but hopes more filmmakers will return to the picturesque destination in future.

Shah Rukh, who completed his nine-day shooting schedule in the Valley for Yash Chopra`s untitled project, is confident that people from South Asia and South East Asia will visit the valley when they watch the movie, which has been extensively shot in Kashmir. "I am not so big but when people see the film made by a big banner with big names associated with it, people will come. I am hopeful of that," the 46-year-old actor told reporters. Shah Rukh also hoped that more Bollywood fimmakers will shoot in Kashmir, which was a favourite setting of romances before the beginning of militancy in the `90s. "I am hopeful that more filmmakers will come to Kashmir. They have been coming before (militancy) on a larger scale," Shah Rukh said. Responding to a question about negative portrayal of Kashmir in Bollywood films, he said, "Any aspect that is geographical, ideological or political, the reason I won`t comment on it in depth is that my knowledge is lacking. The biggest issue we have is that when people talk about things they don`t know." The actor said it is the filmmaker who finally decides the story to be conveyed through his movie. "In Indian film industry, the storytelling is always going to be dependent on the storyteller and they will decide what story to tell. I do understand that lot of people have issues... This kind of cinema should be made, that kind of cinema," he added. In response to a question, Shah Rukh said making movies on certain subjects cannot change the society. "The films will reflect what is happening in the society only." On the negative portrayal of Muslims in some movies, the actor said his film `My Name Is Khan` was an attempt to clear the misgiving about Islam and Muslims around the world. "There are some people from our community who do wrong but that does not mean Islam or Muslims are wrong," he added. Talking about his maiden visit to Kashmir and the movie, he said the film is a story about eternal love. Shah Rukh said that his Kashmir visit was long due. "It was a dream to come to Kashmir. My grandmother was from here and my father was very keen to bring me here. He died when I was just 15 so I was a bit sad to come here without him. People here have been very kind, patient and wonderful to me," he said. The film, which is yet to get a title, marks Yash Chopra`s return to Kashmir after a gap of almost three decades. He last shot `Kabhie Kabhie` and `Silsila` in the Valley. PTI