ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
For the first time ever, Fiji’s traditional kava drinking ceremony will feature in a Bollywood movie.
The centuries-old cultural practice will be highlighted in Bombay Muumbai, the first Bollywood movie to be shot in the country next March, starring megastar Salman Khan.
Fiji-born pop singer Aiysha has a sing and dance role alongside superstar Khan in Bombay Muumbaai and the flick will feature a special traditional kava ceremony.
"We're going to amalgamate both the countries, both the cultures, together in the film," Bombay Muumbaai director Prem Raj told the Fiji Times last week.
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Raj, who is in the country with Aiysha and executive director Mohammed Jamal, said the idea was to promote Fiji to India and the world.
"We definitely want to talk about the Fijians, talk about the culture in the movie and promote them too because I feel that this country is as good as my country," said Mr Raj, who directed Mein Aur Mrs Khanna starring Salman and Kareena Kapoor last year.
"It (Fiji and India) has a lot of similarities, the emotions are the same. Lots of people speak Hindi here so why not be a part of Bollywood?"
Ex-Suva Grammar student Aiysha, who has done over 300 concerts around the world, said she was "very excited" about her silver screen debut.
"That's something that I always planned to do but just like everything, the timing needs to be right."
Two more Bollywood movies will be shot next year after Bombay Muumbaai.
For the first time ever, Fiji’s traditional kava drinking ceremony will feature in a Bollywood movie. The centuries-old cultural practice will be highlighted in Bombay Muumbai, the first Bollywood movie to be shot in the country next March, starring megastar Salman Khan. Fiji-born pop singer...
For the first time ever, Fiji’s traditional kava drinking ceremony will feature in a Bollywood movie.
The centuries-old cultural practice will be highlighted in Bombay Muumbai, the first Bollywood movie to be shot in the country next March, starring megastar Salman Khan.
Fiji-born pop singer Aiysha has a sing and dance role alongside superstar Khan in Bombay Muumbaai and the flick will feature a special traditional kava ceremony.
"We're going to amalgamate both the countries, both the cultures, together in the film," Bombay Muumbaai director Prem Raj told the Fiji Times last week.
.
Raj, who is in the country with Aiysha and executive director Mohammed Jamal, said the idea was to promote Fiji to India and the world.
"We definitely want to talk about the Fijians, talk about the culture in the movie and promote them too because I feel that this country is as good as my country," said Mr Raj, who directed Mein Aur Mrs Khanna starring Salman and Kareena Kapoor last year.
"It (Fiji and India) has a lot of similarities, the emotions are the same. Lots of people speak Hindi here so why not be a part of Bollywood?"
Ex-Suva Grammar student Aiysha, who has done over 300 concerts around the world, said she was "very excited" about her silver screen debut.
"That's something that I always planned to do but just like everything, the timing needs to be right."
Two more Bollywood movies will be shot next year after Bombay Muumbaai.
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