Forget helicopters and small aircraft, private jets are becoming the mode of transport for Bollywood stars now.
Taking a plane is slowly becoming passé in Bollywood, hiring the plane is becoming de-rigueur.
First it was actor Shah Rukh Khan who got used to private jets and chartered flights as he ferried across continents for award functions, then it was actors Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan who had a helicopter at their beck and call. And now, it’s hunks like Akshay Kumar and John Abraham who hire jet planes to fly from one location to another.
“The request for small chartered flights became a norm when an award function was announced overseas. They (smaller jets) were ideal to ferry a star or a couple of them across. It was effective as most stars couldn’t make it on time like a normal passenger would,” says an executive of a travel agency, who specialises in travels related to Bollywood films and award functions.
Stars shooting at far-off places like Pune and Nashik opt to travel by helicopters.
“When Hrithik was shooting for film Jodhaa Akbar in Karjat, a helicopter was hired for him so that he wouldn’t lose any time on travel. Similarly, in order to stick to his schedule, Salman hired a helicopter to the location. Hiring helicopters for locations are fast becoming a necessity for the biggies,” says a producer.
Earlier, there were smaller aircrafts (5 to 10 seater) that used to be hired for the stars, but now producers are going for bigger aircrafts that can accomodate 25 people effortlessly. According to most producers, private jets have become a necessity because of locations situated at far-off places.
“Some film sets are situated far away in locations quite expensive to reach by road. Helicopters are a good option to ferry two to three people and when you need to move an entire unit, smaller jets become the only option,” says a line producer.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}