Filming of Dharma Productions' I Hate Luv Stories, starring Sonam Kapoor and Imran Khan, wrapped up last week with the actors and crew delighted at the scenery and hospitality offered by the Queenstown area.
Dharma Productions' executive producer Marijke deSouza says that the on-ground support they have received during filming in Queenstown has made the project really enjoyable.
"From the weather, to the scenery, to the local people, Queenstown has been extremely accommodating. I know the cast and crew have enjoyed their time in New Zealand and will be sad to leave this beautiful country. We would certainly be interested in coming to film in New Zealand again," says Marijke deSouza.
Tipped as a big player on the Bollywood scene this year, I Hate Luv Stories will showcase Queenstown as a visitor destination to an expected audience of 150 million.
The plot of the movie revolves around a couple coming to film a movie in Queenstown, so the movie has provided the opportunity to include several diverse scenic locations in the filming.
"With total holiday arrivals from India increasing by almost 20 per cent for the year ending November 2009, I Hate Love Stories is a Tourism New Zealand initiative to ensure this growth continues," says Tourism New Zealand's regional manager for South East Asia Kiran Nambiar.
"Everyone in India is talking about the film and Tourism New Zealand is very excited about the opportunities it will bring for marketing New Zealand as a destination in India," he says.
Bollywood mega-stars Imran Khan and the Sonam Kapoor arrived in Queenstown over two weeks ago for filming. During the filming Tourism New Zealand has hosted Indian media outlets that have covered the two lead actors participating in tourist activities in the Queenstown area.
The film is expected to gain extensive coverage in India, with photoshoots from the filming appearing in a high-profile fashion magazine, on one of India's leading TV news channels, and in some of the world's highest circulating newspapers.
"The two stars are hot property in India and both are very impressed with Queenstown. Sonam Kapoor has loved her time in New Zealand - I think she fell in love with the destination from the moment she was greeted with a traditional hongi," says Kiran Nambiar.
I Hate Luv Stories is due for release in May.
- Tourism New Zealand