S Africa is the new shooting destination for Bollywood

Besides being a cheaper location, the country offers good technical support as compared to Europe

DURBAN: After the success of Dhoom 2 and Race, South Africa is set to woo Bollywood producers.

With more and more Indian films being shot at the nation’s exotic locations, one of its biggest production companies, Videovision Entertainment, has decided to set up four state-of-the-art sound studios, costing $100 million, in Durban to facilitate shooting of Indian films.

“Bollywood is constantly looking for exotic locations. A lot of Indian production houses are now shooting in South Africa and many more are exploring the country. For them, it will be lucrative to shoot at both indoor and outdoor venues here,” Sanjeev Singh of Videovision said.

Videovision is owned by Durban-based Anant Singh, a close friend of Amitabh Bachchan. South Africa has of late become a hot destination for Indian production houses. Many scenes of the recently-released Race were shot in Durban and Cape Town, while four more movies, Karzzzz, God Tussi Great Ho, Sankee and Ghajini, are being shot in South Africa. In the past, Dhoom 2, Dil Ka Rishta, No Entry, Andaaz and Cash were shot here.

For Indian producers, besides being a cheaper location,  South Africa offers good technical support as compared to  Europe.

The UK is a preferred Bollywood shooting destination and according to rough estimates, about 200 Indian films were made there last year. But the new rules for cinema tax-breaks in the UK are likely to keep Bollywood production houses away.
Political unrest in some countries is also causing shift of locations.

Director Satish Kaushik recently shifted shooting of his forthcoming release Karzzzz from Nairobi to Cape Town and Johannesburg after riots broke out in Kenya.

Anant Singh said Indian production houses are increasingly using the services of artists in South Africa instead of flying them all the way from India. For instance, Kaushik shot with a group of ballroom dancers from a well-known troupe in South Africa.

“Indian films have a budget of $6 to $12 million. If they shoot in India, they spend about 20% of it. However, with sound studios available here they can now spend up to 40% of their budget,” Singh said.

Videovision plans to promote its upcoming four studios, which will be complete by the end of next year, at various “location expos”. “Winter is the ideal time to shoot in Durban and Cape Town since the weather is moderate,” Singh said.

Videovision has not done any film in India till now since the group feels there has be to a “strong reason” and “right script” for them to look east. But the company has decided to set up an academy of arts in Durban in collaboration with Shiamak Davar.
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