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| Cleansed of militants, Bollywood ventures into woods | | Burnail forest no longer `haunted' | |  Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR, June 2: Once known as a militants hub, the Burnail forest located in Poonch village on the outskirts of Kishtwar town in 90s and early 2000 witnessed several encounters between the security forces and the militants.
As the militancy declined, this beautiful forest situated merely 6 KM from Kishtwar headquarter attracted many locals and tourists. These days Burnail forest has become a hot spot as Aditiya Tickoo is directing his film `Haunted Forest' there.
This is the first Bollywood venture in Kishtwar as adjoining Bhaderwah valley of Doda district has hosted a super hit Bollywood film "Noorie" in late 70s.
Though Kishtwar was known for its beauty but it hardly attracted Bollywood due to lack of infrastructure and bad roads.
Earlier, few local serials for DD was filmed in Kishtwar, but after militants snatch cameras and torture artist featuring in documentary of legendary Kashmiri singer and poet Jaanbaz Kishtwari took place in late 90s, no one turn up for shooting in Kishtwar.
While talking to "Early Times", director of the film Aditiya Tickoo said that the "Haunted Forest" team found the Burnail forest location ideal for shooting of the film which fits to the script. He said that besides shooting the bulk of the movie in this forest area, they also explore various beautiful locations of Kishtwar district that has the potential to attract the tourists if properly explore by the Government. He said that there is need to tape the vast tourism potential and added that Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir Government must need to draw a comprehensive plan for promotion of the Kishtwar tourism.
While talking about his movie "Haunted Forest", Aditiya said that the movie is a horror flick and the story is based on the incident faced by the group of college students who are on study tour to Kishtwar and had to submit the documentary in the college. He said that while entering inside the forest area, these students faces tragedy after tragedy in which all except two characters got killed in the end. He said that they are planning to release the movie in north India on the eve of Diwali.
All the actors performing in this movie are hopeful that the people will like the movie.
"Like every artist, I am also hopeful for success of the movie" said Sheetal who plays the role of witch in the movie. While commenting on her role, Sheetal said that she performed the role of Ghost in the film and the forest where these college students enter is her home.
She said that she did not tolerate if anyone enters inside the forest and added that she killed them one by one till the end of the movie before natural force curb her. She said that all the actors had performed very well in the movie and also praise the hospitality of the people of Kishtwar District who helped them lot during last seven days and ongoing shooting schedule. She urged the people to watch the movie in theaters once it get released.
Another actress Nidha Aslam Bhat said that beside horror and thrill, the movie also offered entertainment for the audience. "I am playing bubbly and hot type college girl role in the movie and I enjoyed lot on set," said Nidha. She said that this is her first mega project after she performed opposite Jimmy Shergil and Divya Dutta in Traffic movie schedule to be released next month. She said that she had already acted in many serials for DD Kashmir and DD Urdu and said that entire team of actors and the Director had done a wonderful job in this movie. She said that she would like to work again with Aditiya in future. She said that she was playing 2nd lead role in the movie after Asad and Shanayla. |
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