Broadcaster celebrates 25 years of India Filmmaking in Scotland

Broadcaster and ‘Bollywoodwallah’ Ravi Sagoo (pictured above) celebrates the 25th anniversary of Bollywood and Indian Cinema using Scotland as a filming location backdrop and embarks on his own ‘filmi’ journey reflecting the glitz and glamour of Bollywood in Scotland.

Ravi tells the story of why the World’s biggest film industry uses Scotland and its vista as their number one location shooting hotspot outside of Mumbai’s Film City. 

The Indian film industry has a long tradition of location shoots, the “go to” location used to be Kashmir with its stunning mountain and lake scenery. Due to the political climate in the region, it became difficult to film in the area and too risky for the star names to visit. 

So, in 1998 Director Karan Johar brought over an A-list cast and crew to shoot ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ bringing Scotland into focus in Bollywood for the very first time with its lush locations of glens, castles and lochs, complimenting the film genre’s lavish romantic musical and action-based productions. 

The film went to become the highest grossing Indian film of 1998 thus cementing Bollywood’s love affair with Scotland. Indian audiences loved the Scottish location shoots filmed at Tantallon Castle in North Berwick, Black Rock Cottage in Glencoe, Eilean Donan Castle in Kyle of Lochalsh and Loch Lomond and have since regularly visited the locations their iconic movie stars have sung and danced at in item numbers on screen.   

Ravi speaks with Bollywood experts including broadcaster Raj Dhanda and Glasgow born Bollywood actor Feryna Wazheir who both give us a further insight into Scotland’s contribution as a prime filming backdrop used by Indian filmmakers alongside Scotland’s cultural history with Indian cinema which dates to the first waves of South Asian immigration in the 50s and 60s. 

With now over 100 Indian films shot in Scotland across varying Indian regional languages including Hindi, Punjabi and Tamil, Ravi also speaks with UK based Bollywood Line producers Parag Sankhe, Deeksha Bhatia (Big Elephant Productions) and Adil Khan (Scotwood Productions) who tell him about the growth of providing location services which is on a massive upward trajectory as Adil says ‘Scotland is now the hottest location for Bollywood directors and production houses due to the lush scenery, wintry weather, natural sunlight and clear skies – unlike Mumbai there is no smog to contend with and many films look for snow and ice for which Scotland can provide both’.

The plot thickens with Ravi, who missed out on a starring role (albeit as an extra!) to his siblings in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, as he embarks on finally making his own Bollywood dream come true by trying to secure a walk on part in a Bollywood film. Ravi ends up on the set of ‘Bhai Bhai’ (Brother Brother) which is shooting in Scotland and speaks to its two main lead actors Bollywood stars Manish Paul and Kunaal Roy Kapur.

They talk about their experiences of filming in Scotland and how Indian audiences love Scotland on screen and come here on the tourist trail to visit the locations they see in the favourite Indian films. 

Ravi also chances his arm by becoming his own agent provocateur on set as tries to secure starring role, will he finally make his Bollywood dream a ‘Bonnie-fide’ reality on the Indian silver screen and make the showbiz columns via the Indian Paparazzi? 

Presenter/producer Ravi is a regular presenter for BBC Radio Scotland across music, arts & culture strands and documentaries. Ravi co-produced the Archive on 4 programme ‘The Great British Bhangra Explosion’ for BBC Radio 4 (April 2023) and Presented the Demus’s TV highlights programme ‘The Glasgow Mela 2022’ which was nominated for ‘Best Music Programme’ at the Broadcast Awards 2023.