New Delhi: Kashmir is bleeding again.
I’m deeply disheartened to witness such a barbaric event in my lifetime. This is not just an attack on tourists but an attack on Kashmir and its people who yearn for peace and prosperity. We demand immediate action against those responsible for this act of terror. We welcome tourists with open hearts. The people involved in this incident cannot be among us. We stand in solidarity with the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic event. I am confident that the Government of India will take appropriate action against the culprits and restore much-needed peace to the valley of Kashmir.
Will the incident affect tourism and the film shooting business in Kashmir?
The Pahalgam incident will definitely impact Kashmir’s tourism industry. We have worked very hard to bring people here for film shoots and to promote Kashmir’s tourism, but incidents like this create a negative perception, directly affecting the local economy dependent on tourism and filmmaking. Such incidents should never happen. I am sure that the government will take strong action and deploy additional forces to prevent such tragedies in the future. There must be no margin for error when it comes to protecting tourists and film crews in Kashmir. This is the first time we are experiencing something so devastating, and we hope never to see such events again. I am hopeful we will recover from this setback soon.
Recent developments in promoting Kashmir as a film destination
Recently, filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, actor Emraan Hashmi, and the team of Ground Zero visited Kashmir for the premiere of their film. We saw this as a new beginning for events that promote both tourism and filmmaking in the region. We also have an upcoming film, Songs of Paradise, produced by Excel Entertainment, which is set to release this year on Amazon Prime. We were planning to host its premiere with Farhan Akhtar and his team in Kashmir. I am confident that we will make it happen. I trust that the government will do its best to restore normalcy, allowing us to organize such events and further boost filmmaking and tourism in the Union Territory.
How many shootings are currently going on in Kashmir?
There were a couple of shootings lined up, and we were in the process of doing location recces. We recently completed the shoot for a web series Freedom at Midnight, which went smoothly, thanks to the full support of the authorities. However, given the recent incident, we will likely need to reschedule other plans until we receive clearance from the government.
Employment generated through cinema
A significant number of people are employed through the filmmaking process. In our team, about 70% of the crew members working in various departments — such as lighting, sound, makeup, camera assistance, and set design — are from Kashmir. Many productions prefer hiring locally for cost-efficiency. Local actors and extras are often cast for supporting roles and background shots. Line producers from the region assist with location permissions, transport, and logistics.
While the exact numbers vary by project, a mid-sized film production can directly employ 200–300 locals and indirectly benefit hundreds more through tourism and support services. With dozens of shoots per year, encouraged by incentives from the J&K government, the cumulative employment impact is substantial.
Tourism in Kashmir
In 2017, Kashmir received about 8 lakh tourists. In 2024, the number rose to 35 lakh. We were expecting around 40 lakh tourists this year. Unfortunately, after this tragic incident, reaching that target now seems unlikely.
I am confident that government authorities will take serious steps toward restoring peace and securing the region. Kashmir will rise again. Through responsible reporting and collective efforts, we can bring back peace and unity, which are crucial for defeating terrorism together.
(Tahir Hussain, who is producer, line producer and director of several film, music videos and OTT serials in Kashmir is heart broken and feels this is huge setback for the creative world after the Pahalgam attack. Hussain has projects like The Good News,Songs of Paradise and Hum Mile They Jahan.)
