Uttarakhand is soon becoming a preferred shooting destination for many producers. The single-window clearance system has prompted a number of Bollywood producers to make a beeline for the hill state to shoot their films because the tension and time involved in getting permissions from various departments have been dramatically reduced. The Uttarakhand government also offers subsidies to producers who shoot more than 75% of their films in the state. Subsidies are also given to films made in regional languages and dialects.
Among the films shot in the state in the last few years are Student Of The Year 2, The Kashmir Files, Shivaay, Kabir Singh, Badhaai Do, Batti Gul Meter Chalu and Sadak 2.
Looking to the phenomenal response of film producers, the state’s information department has mooted a proposal for a film city in Dehradun. Land for the proposed film city is being identified. There are also plans to start a film training centre in the film city.
Kalam Singh Chauhan, former nodal officer of the Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC), was instrumental in popularising the state as an economical option for producers of feature films, web series and ad films.