Snowdonia (Wales), July 03: Amongst the ruins of a 13th century castle, perched on a rock between mount Snowdon and a slate quarry, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai is dancing to the sound of taped Hindi music. The quintessential welsh backdrop, glistening in the late evening sun, has been chosen for a dream scene in "Kyon! Ho Gaya Na Pyaar", a romantic comedy to be released next year. Directed by Sameer Karnik and produced by Boney Kapoor, it the latest high-profile international film to be shot in Wales, which is staking its claim as a global moviemakers' Mecca. "Tomb Raider II" was made in the midst of Snowdonia in late 2002, while the most recent James Bond thriller "Die Another Day" was shot in part on Penbryn Beach, on Wales' west coast. "Our marketing is focused on trying to increase awareness of what Wales has to offer -- convincing people that Wales has the range of fantastic locations that they need," Mike Wallwork, national co-ordinator of the Wales Screen Commission (WSC), told a news agency.
Rai's co-star and Bollywood heart-throb Vivek Oberoi was certainly enjoying the views on his first visit to Wales.
"Absolutely gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful," he raved as filming began last weekend in Dolbadarn castle -- now just a single tower after years of wear and tear.
No doubt he was thinking the same about Aishwariya Rai, the former Miss World of 1994, stunning in a flowing burgundy robe in the midst of the highest peak in Wales and the National Park that surrounds it.
Bureau Report