‘I am not a terrorist’ movie being shot in Sonamarg

“I am not a terrorist,” shouted Muhammad Afiq Muiz, a Malaysian actor clad in traditional Kashmiri attire at his Bollywood counterpart Rahul Dev on a mountain in the backdrop of Thajiwas glacier in this scenic tourist resort.

As the duo intensely glared at each other, the silence was broken by thundering applause by the crew with onlookers yelling “excellent shot.”
The scene was part of maiden Malaysian feature film ‘I am not a terrorist’ being shot in Sonamarg.
Amidst heavy rains, the crew including noted Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover, who plays villain in the film, climbed a steep mountain to shoot a scene. “I feel on top of the world. I am mesmerized by natural beauty of Sonamarg,” Grover told Kashmir POST as he readied for a shot.
As a crew member shouted ‘camera … action’, he abruptly switched into his role. As the camera rolled, Grover, donning a karakul cap, boarded a jeep with phiran-clad gunmen on a hillock. He spotted his “target” Mustafa and directed his men to catch hold of him.
After the shot ended, a large number of enthused fans including cops, troopers, horsemen, students and tourists thronged the location to meet him. But more than autographs, they insisted for selfies with Bollywood’s one of the most popular villains. Grover obliged most of them but the queue kept swelling.
The film is the brainchild of Malaysia-based producer BS Uppal who had recently visited Sonamarg on vacation.
“I was relaxing on a mountain behind Sonamarg club and found the environs serene. I looked around and saw the snow-clad mountains and sprawling meadows. Who says one can see Paradise after death? I saw it in Sonamarg and decided to depict its beauty world over,” said Uppal who has co-produced 30 films.
“This is first Malaysian film entirely shot in Jammu and Kashmir. I found Sonamarg ideal location for shooting,” he said.
The film revolves around a Kashmiri youth who migrates to Malaysia and then returns to find his roots in Kashmir.
“It is a story of emotions. It revolves on struggle of a youth to find his roots and for his girl-friend. However, the story has no resembles with Kashmir issue but it has a global message of love and peace.
“The film will project Kashmir as abode of love and peace,” Uppal said pointing towards clouds gradually draping the mountains.
Coincidentally, the film resembles with, though not based on, the life of Malaysian lead actor Muhammad Afiq Muiz whose grandfather was from Kashmir.
“He was from Kashmir, but I don’t know exactly from which place. He had married a Malaysian girl and migrated from Kashmir. I feel proud to visit Kashmir but this film is not based on my life,” Muiz said.
On his maiden visit to Kashmir, Muiz said: “I am bewitched by natural beauty… mountains, gushing streams and meadows here have energized me as in Malaysia there is monotony of tall buildings.”
Gulshan Grover, who started his career from Kashmir with Rocky in 1981, said the shooting of the Malaysian film will open Valley to international cinema.
Grover believes that the successful shooting of Salman Khan blockbuster Bajranji Baijan in Sonamarg created positive image about Kashmir.
“It is a big development that a foreign film is being entirely shot in Kashmir. Malaysian government officials are also here. The Malaysian film will send a goodwill message and help woo filmmakers from Hollywood to Kashmir. This will not only boost tourism but provide employment avenues to people here,” Grover said.
He maintained that the shooting of the film won’t have been possible without the support of people and the government. “We are grateful to Tourism department, people of Sonamarg and particularly Station House Officer Afaaq Ahmad for making us feel at home,” Grover said.
Rahul Dev, Bollywood actor said: “Media projects bad news and neglects good news about Kashmir.
“I fell in love with Kashmir’s natural beauty. Media creates a scare for its TRP. Films like Bajrangi Baijan can create positive atmosphere.
“I am not a terrorist. I will also send positive message about Kashmir around the globe,” Dev who is visiting Kashmir after 12 years, said.
He has earlier been to Kashmir during the shooting of Mere Apne and Agni Pankh.
He lauded hospitality of people of Sonamarg. “The love of people here is incredible,” he said.
The crew also lauded the management of hotel Tranquil Retreat for providing them “best services.” “I was fascinated to find state-of-the-art facilities for stay of our crew including filmstars at Tranquil Retreat,” said co-producer BS Uppal.
Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir Government and stakeholders have been making efforts to rediscover Kashmir as a favourite hunt of filmmakers. In last few years, several films including Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Highway, Jab Tak Ha Jaan, Student of the Year, Sat Khoon Maaf, Rockstar and Bajrangi Baijaan were shot in Kashmir.
Last year, the then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had promised a hassle-free business environment to woo filmmakers for shooting their films in the picturesque locales of Kashmir.