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    EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                   FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 35

             ‘Location Is the Real Hero,’ says Rahul

             Mittra at Global Film Tourism Conclave

                The filmmaker-actor highlights how cinema can transform destinations into global

                   tourism magnets at PHDCCI’s 8th Global Film Tourism Conclave in Mumbai

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            producers to deliberate on policy
                                                                                                                  frameworks and incentives aimed at
            Mumbai
                                                                                                                  strengthening India’s position as a
                  he PHD Chamber of Com-                                                                          global filming destination.
                  merce and Industry (PHD-                                                                            Prominent attendees included
            TCCI) hosted its 8th Global                                                                           Suman Billa (IAS), Director General,
            Film Tourism Conclave in Mumbai                                                                       Ministry of Tourism, Government of
            on Thursday, bringing together pol-                                                                   India; Jayesh Ranjan (IAS), Special
            icymakers,  filmmakers,  producers                                                                    Chief Secretary, Tourism, Govern-
            and tourism stakeholders to discuss                                                                   ment of Telangana; Aashish Singh,
            the expanding impact of cinema on                                                                     Producer  at  Red  Chillies  Entertain-
            destination  branding  and  economic                                                                  ment; Nitin Tej Ahuja, CEO of the
            growth.                                                                                               Producers Guild of India; Prashant
                A key highlight of the event was                                                                  Shishodia, Consulting Senior Editor
            the  felicitation  of  filmmaker-actor                                                                (Entertainment), NDTV; C Kalyan,
            and branding specialist Rahul Mittra                                                                  Vice President of the Film Federa-
            for his contribution to promoting                                                                     tion of India; Uday Singh, Manag-
            film-induced   tourism.   Address-                                                                    ing Director of the Motion Picture
            ing the special Valedictory Session,                                                                  Association; and Ravi Kottarakara,
            Mittra underscored the importance                                                                     President of the South Indian Film
            of locations in cinema, stating, “Lo-                                                                 Chamber of Commerce.
            cation is the real hero in my films.”                                                                     Film directors Umesh Shukla,
                He shared insights from his                                                                       Barnali Ray Shukla and Syed Ahmed
            filmmaking journey, explaining how                                                                    Afzal, actors Vipin Sharma and Su-
            carefully chosen destinations can el-                                                                 lakhyana Baruah, casting director
            evate narratives while simultaneous-                                                                  Shivam Gupta, Sulagna Ghosh, Sec-
            ly boosting tourism. Citing examples                                                                  retary PHDCCI, and Rajan Sehgal,
            from his work, Mittra spoke about                                                                     Co-chair  PHDCCI,  were  also  pres-
            shooting Saheb Biwi aur Gangster                                                                      ent, along with ambassadors and se-
            in Devgarh Baria, Gujarat, and how                                                                    nior delegates from embassies, con-
            the authentic setting helped create a                                                                 sulates,  airlines,  hospitality  groups
            distinctive cinematic world. He also                                                                  and media houses.
            referred to Bullett Raja, shot exten-                                                                     The discussions focused on
            sively in Lucknow, which not only                                                                     strengthening  collaboration  be-
            captured the cultural texture of Uttar                                                                tween  the  film  industry  and  tour-
            Pradesh but also marked a milestone                                                                   ism authorities, streamlining sin-
            as he became the first filmmaker to                                                                   gle-window clearances, expanding
            receive a film subsidy from the state.                                                                subsidy frameworks and leveraging
                Mittra  further  mentioned his                                                                    streaming platforms to attract inter-
            Netflix film Torbaaz, starring Sanjay                                                                 national productions. Participants
            Dutt, which was shot in Kyrgyzstan,                                                                   emphasised that film tourism gener-
            making it the first Indian film to be                                                                 ates employment across hospitality,
            filmed extensively in the country. He                                                                 transport and local businesses, while
            noted how cinema can introduce au-                                                                    enhancing cultural visibility.
            diences to new geographies and open                                                                       The conclave reinforced the
            up global tourism opportunities. As                                                                   growing recognition that cinema is
            brand advisor to the Government                                                                       not merely entertainment but a stra-
            of Arunachal Pradesh, he also led a                                                                   tegic tool for economic development.
            widely discussed tourism campaign                                                                     As  Mittra’s  remarks highlighted,
            marking 50 years of the state’s for-                                                                  when locations are treated as central
            mation.                                                                                               characters rather than backdrops,
                The conclave witnessed partic-  of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and   Tourism Boards and Film Com-  films  can  leave  a  lasting  impact  —
            ipation  from  senior  officials  across   Ministry of Information & Broad-  missions  joined  filmmakers,  pro-  both on audiences and on the desti-
            ministries,  including  the  Ministry   casting. Representatives from State   ducers,  cinematographers  and  line   nations they showcase.

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