'Come, shoot in abode of the clouds'

At Meghalaya's urging, B-town promises to promote tourism

'The Abode of Clouds' Meghalaya can soon be the top destination for Bollywood, if filmmakers fulfill their promise of promoting the state.

Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang (pictured), who was in the city to participate in the ongoing 11th Mumbai Film Festival, met eminent Bollywood personalities who promised to promote tourism by shooting films in the state.

Said Lapang, "I visited the festival to associate Meghalaya with the Indian film industry and I believe I was successful.

I also got an opportunity to speak about the beauty of Meghalaya, which attractedu00a0 eminent filmmakers such as Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and Farhan Akhtar, who promised that they will help Meghalaya become the Bollywood destination."

Plan of action

Lapang added, "We are planning to constitute a task force which will tell Bollywood why shooting there will be favourable for them.

The core team will include filmmakers, actors and other personalities."

The tourism industry in Northeast India has not done brisk business for years, as the area has been plagued by insurgency. However, Meghalaya is the state that has been the least affected.

Shot in Shillong

Assamese director Jahnu Barua of Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara fame shot his film Har Pall in Shillong. The film, which is yet to be released, stars Dharmendra, Preity Zinta and Shiney Ahuja.