• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • REVIEWS
    • TRAILERS
  • BUSINESS
  • CELEBRITIES
  • HOLLYWOOD
  • REGIONAL
  • TV
  • MUSIC
  • TOP LISTS

Bollywood Presents

Exotic locations where popular Bollywood movies were shot

You are here: Home / Film Tourism Locations / Bollywood Goes to Small Indian Towns as Plots Get Real

Bollywood Goes to Small Indian Towns as Plots Get Real

June 8, 2015 by BollywoodPresents Team

As plots get more real (and somewhat experimental) in Bollywood films, filmmakers go to smaller towns and cities in India to capture a realistic feel in the movies.


Gunday was shot in Durgapur & kolkata
Gunday in kolkata

Long back, small and realistic films were classified as ‘art films’ and were not considered as part of mainstream cinema in India. However, things have changed a lot today and there’s an audience for the small to medium budget hindi movies targeting a niche crowd.

And these movies are best shot in the bustling small towns of India, and not in some exotic locations abroad! Even the Bollywood stars are increasingly embracing the heat and dust of India’s smaller towns that offer wide open landscapes and beautiful natural backdrops for movies.


Dedh Ishqiya was shot in & around Lucknow in UP in North India
Dedh Ishqiya in lucknow

Small Town Directors & Writers

Another reason for this development is that several contemporary Mumbai directors and screenwriters in the industry from small towns. Their sensibilities and stories are, therefore, different from those of filmmakers who grew up surrounded by Bollywood alone.


Kai Po Che was shot in Ahmedabad & other places in Gujarat
kai po che in Gujarat & ahmedabad

Anurag Kashyap spent his formative years in Varanasi; Tigmanshu Dhulia in Allahabad; Vishal Bhardwaj in Meerut. Zeishan Quadri, screenwriter for Gangs of Wasseypur was born in Wasseypur, Dhanbad.

Producers & filmmakers now see enormous potential in the small/regional town stories, because of the raw edginess and power that it offers. Besides, some of them feel that big cities (especially those abroad) have been overexposed as a source of visual inspiration & even for stories.


raanjhanaa was shot in Banaras in UP, Uttar Pradesh
Raanjhanaa was shot in banaras in UP, Uttar Pradesh

Helps Travel

Research done by Lonely Planet shows that almost 60 per cent of Indian travelers are influenced by Indian cinema, aspiring to travel to specific locations shown in the movies.


Shuddh Desi Romance shot in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Bollywood in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

The fact that there is a growing and dynamic nexus between travel and cinema is well established. In November last, Lonely Planet India launched a unique guide titled Filmi Escapes: Travel with the Movies.


Lagaan was shot in Bhuj, Gujarat
lagaan shot in bhuj, gujarat

How important a film shoot could be for a state was brought home last year when Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to berate the makers of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani for passing off Gulmarg and Pahalgam as Manali. “It is irritating that we roll out the red carpet and facilitate the shoot only to have people believe it’s Manali,” he had angrily tweeted post the film’s release.

While the tourism boards of several foreign countries continue to woo Bollywood producers with tax breaks and subsidies, several Indian states, too, have now jumped into the fray.


The latest “Incredible India” TV Commercial

Have we missed some exciting locations in India? Please let us know here.

Related Posts:

  • Abhishek reveals the real reason why he married Aishwarya
  • Real car crash was the reason Shakti Kapoor got a big role…
  • Social Impact of Bollywood on Indian culture
  • Indian Make-Up Artists: Raising the Bar With Adept Use of…

Filed Under: Film Tourism Locations

RELATED POSTS

Alia Bhatt with Ranbir Kapoor

Alia Bhatt & Ranbir Kapoor’s relationship, here’s what celebrities have to say

Everybody is talking about Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s relationship, ever since they made an appearance together at Sonam K Ahuja’s wedding reception. While Alia hasn’t said anything about their relationship, Ranbir did admit that he was dating Alia (and it was very new). Whenever Alia (dated Sidharth Malhotra earlier) has been quizzed about Ranbir […]

Amitabh Bachchan vs Shatrughan Sinha rivalry

Amitabh Bachchan vs Shatrughan Sinha Rivalry: Why Big B and Shot Gun Never Got Along Well

Amitabh Bachchan vs Shatrughan Sinha rivalry: Here’s why Big B and Shot Gun (Mr Sinha is known by that nickname) never got along well. Their children, Abhishek Bachchan and Sonakshi Sinha may say that both the senior actors share an amazing camaraderie today, but there’s no denying that both of them were rivals at one […]

Kader Khan

Multi-talented Kader Khan’s extra-ordinary journey in Bollywood

Kader Khan, part of some of the biggest hits of 80s and 90s (with Govinda) died in Toronto at the age of 81. Let’s take a look at his journey in Bollywood. Update: Khadar Khan to be honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri (Posthumous-Foreigner). Kader Khan was born in Kabul (Afghanistan) and worked as a […]

zodiac star signs

Top Celebrity, Bollywood Astrologers in the Film Industry

Top Astrologers In India, who are acknowledge and respected not just in India, but the world over. Some of these names need no introduction; such is their success rate that people now expect them to be 100% right all the time with their predictions. and their clientele include big names from the film industry. Most […]

Aamir Khan

Outstanding Films of Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan today is known as a perfectionist and that’s because of his ability to get into the skin of the character (because of which many filmmakers also see him as interfering). Nevertheless, take a look at some of these popular characters that Aamir has played in movies. Aamir Khan as Ajay Singh Rathod in […]

rishi kapoor

“Khullam Khulla – Rishi Kapoor Uncensored”, Rishi Kapoor’s autobiography

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor launched his autobiography “Khullam Khulla – Rishi Kapoor Uncensored”. The event was held at The Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi. Rishi has co-authored the book with Meena Iyer. Rishi Kapoor, who is known to speak his mind, and doesn’t mind voicing his opinion on socio-political issues (which has landed him […]

youtube music awards

YouTube hits back at Critics, paid $1 billion to the music industry through advertisements

Musicians, major labels have always maintained that YouTube was “built on free, stolen content”, and that it paid peanuts to musicians for their music. But now YouTube says that it has paid $1 billion to the music industry through advertisements alone in the last 12 months. The company has indeed hit out at the critics […]

Shahrukh Abram

Shahrukh Khan gives ‘5 life lessons’ while playing with Abram’s toys

Shah Rukh Khan loves to play with his children’s toys, says he never had these when he was a kid. Read SRK give real life lessons, feel inspired. This article is not about whether SRK is a great actor or not (you can read more about who’s the real king of Bollywood here). However, there’s […]

family fun

5 Tips to Make Your City Travel With Kids Easy

Do your friends and family call your crazy or discourage you from traveling with your toddler and preschooler to big cities (like Chicago, New York, and Toronto)? With these tips, you can just laugh at them the next time they call you. Though city travel with small children can be challenging, with careful planning and […]

ravindra jain

Top ‘Simple & Soothing’ Bollywood Songs by Bollywood Film Composer ‘Ravindra Jain’

Checkout these melodious & soothing Bollywood songs, composed by Bollywood’s ‘Stevie Wonder’ – film Composer ‘Ravindra Jain’. It will surely take you back in time. Ravindra Jain, also known as Stevie wonder of India, died on October 9, 2015 from old-age due to multiple organ failure. Overcoming lifelong blindness, the versatile singer and composer scored […]

Primary Sidebar

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

RECENT POSTS

Bollywood in Poland, Country with Medieval Hot Spots & Energetic Cities

Poland is located in the heart of Europe and is well known for its history, which is reflected in … [Read More...] about Bollywood in Poland, Country with Medieval Hot Spots & Energetic Cities

movie trailers

Top Forthcoming Bollywood Movies (& Trailers): Upcoming Entertainers for 2021

Want to know when the next entertainer of your favorite star is going to be released? Want to plan … [Read More...] about Top Forthcoming Bollywood Movies (& Trailers): Upcoming Entertainers for 2021

National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC)

Social Impact of Bollywood on Indian culture

Movies are one of the most influential tools of communication and society does learn a few things or … [Read More...] about Social Impact of Bollywood on Indian culture

bollywood rapes

Representation of women in Bollywood Films

Women in Bollywood films have been subject to stereotypes and objectification, and appeared in … [Read More...] about Representation of women in Bollywood Films

Music Scene in Saudi Arabia

How's the music Scene in Saudi Arabia. Is it really frowned upon? Read more here. Young musicians in … [Read More...] about Music Scene in Saudi Arabia

Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi: One of the finest actors of Indian cinema

Shabana Azmi, an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) of Pune, made her film … [Read More...] about Shabana Azmi: One of the finest actors of Indian cinema

war movie

Here’s how much Hrithik Roshan was paid for his 2019 hit film ‘War’

Hrithik Roshan is a superstar in Bollywood and is among the highest paid actors in the film … [Read More...] about Here’s how much Hrithik Roshan was paid for his 2019 hit film ‘War’

sooryavanshi movie

Bollywood facing losses of 5000+ crore due to pandemic lockdown

Almost everybody associated with the film industry is despondent about the future. With COVID-19 … [Read More...] about Bollywood facing losses of 5000+ crore due to pandemic lockdown

Money Scandals

Indian film celebrities caught in Tax Controversies

In Bollywood and other film industries in India, there's a saying that "there's no business like the … [Read More...] about Indian film celebrities caught in Tax Controversies

celebrity endorsements

It’s 2020 and Bollywood is still obsessed with fair skin

Makers of the upcoming movie 'Khaali Peeli', starring Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khatter, are facing … [Read More...] about It’s 2020 and Bollywood is still obsessed with fair skin

Amazon Fashion

Useful Read

  • Who coined the term ‘Bollywood’?
  • Dadasaheb Phalke (Father of Indian Cinema)
  • Evolution of Hindi Films
  • Social Impact of Bollywood on Indian culture

Footer

Upcoming Bollywood Movies

  • Love Aaj Kal Movie
  • Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele Movie
  • Hawayein Movie
  • Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Movie
  • The Hundred Bucks Movie
  • BHOOT: Part One – The Haunted Ship Movie
  • Haunted Hills Movie
  • 'O' Pushpa I Hate Tears Movie
  • Guns Of Banaras Movie
  • Thappad Movie

Bollywood Movie Reviews

  • Malang Review
  • Jawaani Jaaneman Review
  • Panga Review
  • Street Dancer 3D Review
  • Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior Review
  • Chhapaak Review
  • Good Newwz Review

Top Celebs

  • Ajay Devgn
  • Kajol
  • Saif Ali Khan
  • Shraddha Kapoor
  • Varun Dhawan
  • Deepika Padukone
  • Kangana Ranaut
  • Tabu
  • Aditya Roy Kapur
  • Disha Patani
  • Rajinikanth

About Us

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in