“Filming boosts heritage sites’ popularity”
Heritage walk organizers say the concept of screen tourism or film tourism is indeed real, whereby a location becomes popular with visitors because it has appeared in a film or television series. They add that the trend is not limited to tourists visiting from abroad. According to them, even locals are interested in visiting a monument they have seen in a movie.
Sachin Bansal, Chief Explorer, India City Walks and Delhi Walks, says, “Delhi is a popular location for film shoots due to its rich historical and cultural heritage. A site like the Hauz Khas Fort, for example, has a unique blend of ancient and modern architecture, providing a blend of traditional and modern settings. Similarly, the Mehrauli Archaeological Park offers a picturesque backdrop. Often, after these locations are featured in a movie, these places gain popularity. Not only domestic tourists but also foreign travelers are also showing interest in exploring these heritage sites which are featured in a popular movie. Even those who were previously unaware of a particular historical site often show interest in visiting those places after spotting it in a movie.”
“Heritage Sites Build Delhi”
Delhi’s heritage monuments, be it Qutub Minar, Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort, Safdarjung’s Tomb, Agrasen Ki Baoli or Delhi Gate, act as stunning backdrops, making them popular with filmmakers . Pravesh Sahni, a producer, has facilitated the shooting of several Hollywood projects in India and has completed shooting an American production, Origin, at Safdarjung Tomb. He says, “These heritage sites are landmark sites. When directors (of Hollywood films) want to show Delhi in their films, they often choose these monuments to establish the backdrop of Delhi.”
