Srinagar: After a six-month-long hiatus, the mist-laden valleys of Kashmir are slowly awakening to the sounds of cameras clicking and footsteps echoing across their meadows.
Thanks to the recent snowfall in upper reaches, the valley is witnessing a cautious but steady return of filmmakers and wedding shoots.
For half a year, major Bollywood brands, wedding planners, and promotional filmmakers had looked elsewhere, turning their lenses to safer, more distant locales. Now, the story of Kashmir is being told again—through films, music videos, and wedding celebrations.
Danish Mushtaq Khan, the owner of Hamiasto Productions, captures this revival with enthusiasm.
“We are shooting right now. Three more film production houses are lined up to shoot in the valley. Queries are coming in from production houses interested in films and music videos, especially for December and January, when Kashmir will be blanketed in snow,” he said.
Hinting at the cinematic magic the first snowfall brings to the valley’s rivers, gardens, and houseboats, he said, “Every year, once the snow falls, interest skyrockets. It’s the best season for filming here.”
The optimism is echoed by Basharat Bhat, another line producer based in the valley. “We are getting increased queries from the South Indian film industry as well. Music videos, ad films—dozens are being shot here right now,” he shares, pointing to a crew capturing a dance sequence against the backdrop of Dal Lake.
The resurgence, however, is tempered by memory. After the Pahalgam terror attack, film shootings had nearly vanished for six months. Production houses that had invested in setting up their operations faced heavy losses, as bookings were cancelled en masse. “Yet, the valley’s timeless beauty—its snow-capped peaks, serene rivers, and lush meadows—remains irresistible to filmmakers,” Bhat said.
The film crew said that they get enough safety and. security while shooting in Kashmir. “We don’t feel any kind of threat here. Security is advanced, and our local public and line producers are taking care of everything to make our shooting schedule go smoothly,” said Kamran Khan, a crew member of a South Indian film production unit.