Bollywood returns to Kerala's Munnar with Akshay Kumar-Vidya Balan movie
The actors, who landed at the Jayamatha School in Marayoor in a helicopter from the Cochin International Airport, are all set to shoot here for around 12 days.
The actors, who landed at the Jayamatha School in Marayoor in a helicopter from the Cochin International Airport, are all set to shoot here for around 12 days.
The actors, who landed at the Jayamatha School in Marayoor in a helicopter from the Cochin International Airport, are all set to shoot here for around 12 days.
The backdrop of hit songs in the Bollywood film 'Gupt', the tea gardens and the beautiful lake in 'Chennai Express', the serene green stretches in 'Param Sundari'... Munnar has appeared numerous times on the Bollywood screen. Now, the hill station is all set to be back, this time through an Akshay Kumar - Vidya Balan starrer.
The actors, who landed at the Jayamatha School in Marayoor in a helicopter from the Cochin International Airport, are gearing up to shoot here for around 12 days. They are reportedly staying in the IHCL SeleQtions Hotel in Anachal. The duo will be shooting in Munnar, Marayoor, Kuttikkanam and Peermade, which have appeared in many popular films in the past.
Akshay and Vidya to start shooting in Marayoor
Vidya Balan and Akshay Kumar will start the film's shoot in the quaint location of Marayoor, just about an hour and 16 minutes from Munnar. Known best for its GI-tagged jaggery, strawberry farms and natural sandalwood forests, Marayoor is also home to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thoovanam Waterfalls and even some prehistoric dolmens or burial chambers that history enthusiasts love.
Kuttikkanam, where Vismaya Mohanlal took a big step
Actor Mohanlal's daughter, Vismaya Mohanlal, who is all set to debut with the Jude Anthany Joseph film 'Thudakkam', shot the film primarily in the misty haven of Kuttikkanam. Mohanlal's visit to the film's set to meet his daughter had made headlines a few months ago. The scenic spot is also home to Marian College, an ethereal campus with a Western ambience, and it has even appeared in many movies. Popular tourist spots such as Parunthumpara, Pine Forests, Panchalimedu and Valanjanganam falls are in and around Kuttikkanam.
The hillside where Big B lived
Remember the hillside bungalow where Amitabh Bachchan's character lived in the 2007 film 'Nishabd'? The beautiful setting is none other than Munnar. Its hills, tea estates, roads and playgrounds add quite a bit of mystery and charm to the film by Ram Gopal Verma. Similarly, its dreamy landscapes have appeared in Dulquer Salmaan's 'Charlie' and 'Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi', Nivin Pauly's 'Premam', Mani Ratnam's 'Roja' and more.
The most popular tourist spots in Munnar are the Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, its tea gardens and the Gap Road. Those interested can even consider taking a double-decker KSRTC bus ride through its verdant hills to get a bird's-eye view of the evergreen spot.
The location of Charlie's lake
The beautiful lake showcased in the Dulquer Salmaan movie 'Charlie' is located in the Ladrum Estate in Peermade, about 3.5 hours from Munnar. Located at around 915 m altitude, its sprawling plantations, a palace called Ammachikottaram where the Travancore Royals once occasionally stayed, various waterfalls, and dense forests have long been a paradise for travellers and influencers.