Hong Kong is popular for its dazzling skyline, the legendary Star Ferry, and its thriving street markets. Though several Hollywood films have been shot here, Bollywood films that have been shot in Hong Kong are much fewer in number.
Bollywood Movies Shot in Hong Kong
Bollywood movies shot in Hong Kong, include Ram Gopal Verma ‘s Company, Naam and Gumrah by Mahesh Bhatt, Awarapan, Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong.
Ram Gopal Verma’s Company showed us the new HK airport, harbour view, Islands on the South China Sea, and the night view of one of the world’s most photogenic cities.
Hong Kong was used as Malik’s (Ajay Devgan) overseas base in the movie ‘Company’. It was the first Indian film to be shot in HK since the British left (in 1997). A local Chinese crew (who had shot for Jackie Chan’s Rush Hour 2) joined the crew of ‘Company’ to shoot the Hong Kong portion of the film.
Why is Bollywood Avoiding Hong Kong?
Hollywood blockbusters that have been shot in this country include ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’, ‘Rush Hour 2’ and ‘Tomb Raider 2’. So it seems Hong Kong’s reputation in the international film circuit is more of an ‘action location’.
Bollywood, on the other hand, prefers to make a lot of romantic films (even if the movie is not, there’ll be few romantic songs), which is probably one of the reason that Bollywood is shying away from Hong Kong (though Macau has featured in some recent Bollywood flicks).
Wooing Bollywood
‘Hong Kong Tourism Board’ (HKTB) & ‘The Television & Entertainment Licencing Authority’ (TELA) are well-aware of this situation and may have to think of other innovative means, to encourage Indian film makers to use the diverse locales of Hong Kong for their movie shoots. They’re all hopeful that with Indian cinema entering an experimental phase, Hong Kong will add to their appeal.
Hong Kong’s greatest brand ambassador (as a movie destination) is ‘Jackie Chan’. His movie ‘The Myth’ (also had Mallika Sherawat) was shot (partially) in India (Hampi in Karnataka). That is one way where both countries could use each other’s facilities, studios and locations.
Madame Tussauds in Hongkong has several ‘Bollywood Icons’
Hong Kong Tourism
Hong Kong is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of China, the other being Macau.
Dialing code: 852
Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Official languages: English Language, Chinese language
Couple of things you must definitely do when in Hongkong is to take the Star ferry across Victoria Harbour (best way to catch the panoramic city sights) and visit ‘The Peak’ (offers spectacular view of the city from the top).
Things to see in Hong Kong Island:
- The Peak
- Stanley Markets
- Hong Kong Park
- Repulse Bay
- Golden Bauhinia Square
Things to see in Kowloon:
- Temple Street Night Market
- Apliu Street Flea Market
- Jade Market and Jade Street
- Bird Market
- Flower Market
- Goldfish Market
- Avenue of Stars
- Kowloon Walled City Park
- Nan Lian Garden
- Lei Yue Mun Seafood Bazaar
Checkout this video of Destination Hong Kong.
Its definitely a good place, but not as popular as a travel destination as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, especially for the Indian traveller.