Bollywood stars filming in Wellington
Abhishek Bachchan is heading a starry list of Bollywood super stars who are currently in New Zealand filming for director Abbas Mastan’s “Players”.
A recent Tweet from Bachchan Junior declared: “So the trek to new Zealand begins!!!! Wish me luck. Thankfully have Neil N Mukesh for company.”
“Players”, staring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Sikander Kher and Neil Nitin Mukesh, is a licensed remake of “The Italian Job”.
An Auckland Airport source told the Indian Weekender Abhishek arrived in the country on Saturday with Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Neil Nitin Mukesh.
The Burmawalla brothers Abbas and Mustan are directing it with plenty of style. It promises to be another rich and stylish experience with attitude and beautiful legs like his previous “Race”.
Filming for “Players” is expected to continue until mid-February. The film expects to feature some 600 local extras and even a couple of Maori-speaking roles, the website has reported.
"It's not just the billion population in India back home, but also the Indian diaspora which is all over the world," the film's line producer Nirang Desai said.
“It's going to be huge."
For Sonam Kapoor, it is the second major Bollywood movie to be filmed in New Zealand in less than two years.
“I Hate Luv Storys”, which also featured Sonam Kapoor, was shot in Queenstown last year and became an instant box office success rating as India’s 12th best net grossing movie of all time on opening day.
The chase sequence of the British original of “The Italian Job” featured robbers driving Mini cars and was filmed in Turin, and a 2003 American remake was shot on location in Venice and Los Angeles.
Wellington is said to be "playing itself" in the Indian version and the varied terrain of the central city with its steep streets, leafy suburbs, dramatic coast and natural harbour will be on show to the world.
“Players” features New Zealand icons and even a couple communicating in Maori. Up to 600 Kiwi extras have been called in to take part in the film.
Place names like Auckland and Wellington will also be used in the movie, exposing New Zealand to an international audience of millions.
"It's going to be huge. It's not just the billion population in India back home, but also the Indian diaspora which is all over the world," said Desai.
It is estimated that up to $4 million of Bollywood money will be spent during filming in New Zealand, and Players could pave the way for even more films.
"I already have a few proposals lined up, people wanting to come," said Desai.
Wellington film manager Delia Shanly said that while local extras and crew would be used in the film, the financial payoff for Wellington would come once “Players” was released in India.
"The silver screen is where people often see their dream locations. They [film producers] want Wellington to look great and gorgeous. We look forward to people seeing that and going, 'Oh my God, I have to go there'."
The Dominion Post has revealed a shooting schedule for the movie and says scenes will include a chase on the Wellington airport runway between a chopper-style motorcycle and a private jet.
Spectacular controlled explosions will be filmed by helicopter, and part of the city centre will be closed off during the film shoot.
The film is due to be released first in India in October.
Abhishek Bachchan is heading a starry list of Bollywood super stars who are currently in New Zealand filming for director Abbas Mastan’s “Players”.
A recent Tweet from Bachchan Junior declared: “So the trek to new Zealand begins!!!! Wish me luck. Thankfully have Neil N Mukesh for company.”
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Abhishek Bachchan is heading a starry list of Bollywood super stars who are currently in New Zealand filming for director Abbas Mastan’s “Players”.
A recent Tweet from Bachchan Junior declared: “So the trek to new Zealand begins!!!! Wish me luck. Thankfully have Neil N Mukesh for company.”
“Players”, staring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Sikander Kher and Neil Nitin Mukesh, is a licensed remake of “The Italian Job”.
An Auckland Airport source told the Indian Weekender Abhishek arrived in the country on Saturday with Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Neil Nitin Mukesh.
The Burmawalla brothers Abbas and Mustan are directing it with plenty of style. It promises to be another rich and stylish experience with attitude and beautiful legs like his previous “Race”.
Filming for “Players” is expected to continue until mid-February. The film expects to feature some 600 local extras and even a couple of Maori-speaking roles, the website has reported.
"It's not just the billion population in India back home, but also the Indian diaspora which is all over the world," the film's line producer Nirang Desai said.
“It's going to be huge."
For Sonam Kapoor, it is the second major Bollywood movie to be filmed in New Zealand in less than two years.
“I Hate Luv Storys”, which also featured Sonam Kapoor, was shot in Queenstown last year and became an instant box office success rating as India’s 12th best net grossing movie of all time on opening day.
The chase sequence of the British original of “The Italian Job” featured robbers driving Mini cars and was filmed in Turin, and a 2003 American remake was shot on location in Venice and Los Angeles.
Wellington is said to be "playing itself" in the Indian version and the varied terrain of the central city with its steep streets, leafy suburbs, dramatic coast and natural harbour will be on show to the world.
“Players” features New Zealand icons and even a couple communicating in Maori. Up to 600 Kiwi extras have been called in to take part in the film.
Place names like Auckland and Wellington will also be used in the movie, exposing New Zealand to an international audience of millions.
"It's going to be huge. It's not just the billion population in India back home, but also the Indian diaspora which is all over the world," said Desai.
It is estimated that up to $4 million of Bollywood money will be spent during filming in New Zealand, and Players could pave the way for even more films.
"I already have a few proposals lined up, people wanting to come," said Desai.
Wellington film manager Delia Shanly said that while local extras and crew would be used in the film, the financial payoff for Wellington would come once “Players” was released in India.
"The silver screen is where people often see their dream locations. They [film producers] want Wellington to look great and gorgeous. We look forward to people seeing that and going, 'Oh my God, I have to go there'."
The Dominion Post has revealed a shooting schedule for the movie and says scenes will include a chase on the Wellington airport runway between a chopper-style motorcycle and a private jet.
Spectacular controlled explosions will be filmed by helicopter, and part of the city centre will be closed off during the film shoot.
The film is due to be released first in India in October.
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