'Love in Nepal' to star Sonu Nigam, Nepalese starlet

By Kosmos Biswokarma

A Bollywood crew has arrived in this Himalayan kingdom to shoot the film "Love In Nepal".

Director Rajat Mukherjee of "Road" fame is in the resort town of Pokhara, 200 km west from here, to shoot the film that will star upcoming Nepalese actress Jharana Bajracharya, Kantipur daily reported Tuesday.

Indian playback singer-turned-actor Sonu Nigam will play the lead in the film.

The Maoist insurgency in Nepal has not deterred the actors and a technical crew of about 40 people that is scheduled to arrive here Tuesday.

"The country's law and order situation will not affect our work," Mukherjee was quoted as saying. "The Maoist insurgency is Nepal's internal problem and I believe the rebels would not do anything to the tourists."

Almost 70 percent of "Love in Nepal", said to be an entertaining romantic comedy, will be shot in different locations in Pokhara and the mountainous holiday spots of Mustang district, also in western Nepal, in a month-long schedule.

South Indian actress Flora Saini would also play a major role in the film.

"I'm obviously elated," Jharana, who has starred in about a dozen Nepalese films, told IANS. "This would boost my film career in Nepal and possibly India."

About 10 other Nepali artistes are also getting a break in the film to be produced by T.P. Agrawal of the Delhi-based Star Entertainment productions. Samir Arora has written the story.

"We are basically trying to exchange experiences between artistes of Nepal and India by including the Nepalese actors," said executive producer Rahul Agrawal.

He said this would open the door for other ...