Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah discovered they’re the alumni of The Lawrence School, Sanawar.
And though they were a decade apart in school, Omar — one of the youngest and most dashing politicians of our time — and Sanjay — Bollywood’s latest entrant into the world of politics — found themselves enjoying each other’s company. Producer Bunty Walia (also from Sanawar) is a common contact of the politician and the actor.
And it was Bunty’s Lamha, a film based on Kashmir, that took Sanju to Srinagar on two occasions. “When we were wrapping up a 20-day schedule in Srinagar in January 2009, Omar was in office,’’ says Sanjay. And the actor, who is smitten by Kashmir, was happy to be spending time with the first family of J&K.
A fortnight ago, Sanju and Omar had a cuppa in New Delhi and on April 24, just before Omar went into a fund-raising activity, Sanju and he bonded over some photographs taken by the star.
As it turns out, Sanjay is indeed a first rate photographer. His camera (said to cost around Rs 20 lakhs) with its 600 zoom lens has captured Kashmir like never before.
With child-like pleasure, Sanju displayed his till now virgin collection of photographs taken in the valley. And each picture speaks a thousand words. Whether it is half widows of Dardpura, the army bunker at Pari Mahal, the Dal Lake captured with the char chinar in the centre, the Hazratbal Mosque or cherubic Kashmiri kids — each photograph displays a rare quality.
Says Omar, “I saw a few photos shot by Sanjay in the coffee table Lamha book. Even those I thought were very unique. I haven’t seen this current lot that he has presented me. But I may have to make place for some of these on my wall.’’ The chief minister who is happy that Bollywood film units have started to shoot in Kashmir again, adds, “We’re happy that Bollywood has started to patronise Kashmir. We are not keen to overplay the entire ‘come shoot in Kashmir bit’ — but yes, we would like those producers who are keen to shoot in our state to please come over. Kashmir is not new to Bollywood. Before they discovered Jungfrau, Switzerland, Mauritius and those other exotic foreign locations, Srinagar was always first on their list. We would like to make that possible again.’’
Sanju, who has been to Kashmir for innumerable film shoots and who truly believes that it is aptly describe by the Persian poet Firdaus as heaven on earth, is also batting for J&K. “If I can, I would encourage all my producers to shoot here,’’ says Munnabhai, who wants to spread the message of love in India’s most prized territory.
And though they were a decade apart in school, Omar — one of the youngest and most dashing politicians of our time — and Sanjay — Bollywood’s latest entrant into the world of politics — found themselves enjoying each other’s company. Producer Bunty Walia (also from Sanawar) is a common contact of the politician and the actor.
And it was Bunty’s Lamha, a film based on Kashmir, that took Sanju to Srinagar on two occasions. “When we were wrapping up a 20-day schedule in Srinagar in January 2009, Omar was in office,’’ says Sanjay. And the actor, who is smitten by Kashmir, was happy to be spending time with the first family of J&K.
A fortnight ago, Sanju and Omar had a cuppa in New Delhi and on April 24, just before Omar went into a fund-raising activity, Sanju and he bonded over some photographs taken by the star.
As it turns out, Sanjay is indeed a first rate photographer. His camera (said to cost around Rs 20 lakhs) with its 600 zoom lens has captured Kashmir like never before.
With child-like pleasure, Sanju displayed his till now virgin collection of photographs taken in the valley. And each picture speaks a thousand words. Whether it is half widows of Dardpura, the army bunker at Pari Mahal, the Dal Lake captured with the char chinar in the centre, the Hazratbal Mosque or cherubic Kashmiri kids — each photograph displays a rare quality.
Says Omar, “I saw a few photos shot by Sanjay in the coffee table Lamha book. Even those I thought were very unique. I haven’t seen this current lot that he has presented me. But I may have to make place for some of these on my wall.’’ The chief minister who is happy that Bollywood film units have started to shoot in Kashmir again, adds, “We’re happy that Bollywood has started to patronise Kashmir. We are not keen to overplay the entire ‘come shoot in Kashmir bit’ — but yes, we would like those producers who are keen to shoot in our state to please come over. Kashmir is not new to Bollywood. Before they discovered Jungfrau, Switzerland, Mauritius and those other exotic foreign locations, Srinagar was always first on their list. We would like to make that possible again.’’
Sanju, who has been to Kashmir for innumerable film shoots and who truly believes that it is aptly describe by the Persian poet Firdaus as heaven on earth, is also batting for J&K. “If I can, I would encourage all my producers to shoot here,’’ says Munnabhai, who wants to spread the message of love in India’s most prized territory.
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