The Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Film Vikas Parishad, Banshidhar Tiwari, recently met actor Sunny Deol and director Anurag Singh on the set of the film Border 2 in Halduwala, Dehradun.
Joint CEO Nitin Upadhyay was also present during the meeting, where discussions focused on Uttarakhand’s progressive film policy, the state's diverse shooting locations, and government support for the film industry.
Tiwari highlighted that Uttarakhand’s current film policy, developed under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s leadership, is one of the most forward-thinking in India.
The policy ensures timely shooting permissions, administrative ease, and access to local resources, creating a positive and comfortable environment that makes the state an attractive destination for filmmakers.
Border 2, produced by JP Dutta, Nidhi Dutta, and T-Series, began filming in Dehradun in February. Directed by Anurag Singh, known for the film Kesari, the movie features a star-studded cast including Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty.
Producer Binoy Gandhi explained that the film is based on the Indo-Pak war of 1971, with a large-scale set replicating a Kashmiri village built in Halduwala since November last year.
The film includes detailed war scenes involving tanks and army movements, with significant emphasis on visual effects. The art director is Mayur Sharma, and action direction is handled by Ravi Verma, praised for his previous work in Jat. Approximately 350 local residents are employed daily on this project.
Besides Border 2, Uttarakhand is currently hosting the shoots of several major films. Vinod Bachchan, producer of Tanu Weds Manu, is shooting Ginny Weds Sunny 2 in Dehradun, starring Avinash Tiwari and Medha Shankar, along with veteran actors Govind Namdev and Sudhir Pandey. The comedy satire Uttar Da Puttar, featuring Annu Kapoor, Pawan Malhotra, and Bijendra Kala, is being filmed in Dehradun and Rishikesh.
Supporting regional cinema, three Garhwali-language films—Marcha, Teri Maya, and Namak—are currently in production across Dehradun, Tehri, and Uttarkashi. These projects receive strong backing from the state government, which provides technical resources alongside promoting local folk culture, traditions, and dialects, helping to shape a distinct identity for Uttarakhand’s regional cinema.
In recent months, Uttarakhand has also seen the completion of several notable Hindi films and web series, including Vicky Vidya Ka Wo Wala Video, Tikadam, Do Patti, Putul, Rautu Ka Raaj, Tanvi the Great, Past Tense, Kesari 2, and Mere Husband Ki Biwi. To date, the state government has issued 225 shooting permissions in 2024 alone.
The Uttarakhand Film Development Council continues to work towards establishing the state as a premier filmmaking destination, where a blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, advanced technology, and streamlined administration offers a unique and welcoming experience for film producers and crews.