New map of Bollywood's love affair with London ...

By Prasun Sonwalkar, Indo-Asian News Service

London,

April 30 (IANS) As Bollywood's love affair with London continues with

films being shot at various locations here, British film authorities have now

unveiled a new map that lists venues where recent blockbusters were

shot.

So the next time tourists from India come visiting, they can visit

locations where popular films such as "Kabhi Khushie Kabhi

Gham"(Osterley Park) or "Mujhse Dosti Karoge" (Starford Station) were

shot.

The new movie map is eighth in a series of maps designed to

encourage tourists and cinema-lovers alike to discover the capital through

films. More than 40 Hindi films were shot in London last year.

Some of the most popular locations for Indian films have been

Trafalgar Square, Natural History Museum, Tower Bridge, the Royal

Albert Hall, Millennium Dome, the houses of parliament, Nelson's Column

and the London Eye.

Some of the better-known films shot at London locations are:

- The Waterloo Station is Britain's largest station, covering an area of

24.5 acres. In "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" (2007), it is the key location around

which the story revolves, including a dance sequence starring Amitabh

Bachchan. Complex scenes were filmed early on weekend mornings, but

the majority was shot during the day while amazed passengers looked

on.

- The London Eye is one of London's most popular filming locations

thanks to its unique silhouette against the capital's skyline. Shoots include

"Bride & Prejudice" (2004), "Wimbledon" (2004) and "Thunderbirds"

(2004).

- Southall is home to one of the largest Indian communities in London

and was the setting for Simran's home in "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge"

(1995). The external shots were filmed in Southall but the internal shots

were filmed in Film City, Mumbai.

- The Albert Memorial is located in Kensington Gardens and was

commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her husband in 1861. It

features in "Mujhse Dosti Karoge" (2002) and also appears in "The Jokers"

(1967), starring Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed, and "Greystoke: The

Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984).

- Hyde Park was one of one of the locations for a song in "Kabhi

Khushi Kabhie Gham". The song culminates with an early morning dance

sequence shot at the British Museum.

Several cinemas in London screen Bollywood films, including the

Himalaya Palace, Southall; Safarai Cinema, Harrow; Belle-Vue Cinema,

Willesden Green, and the Boleyn Cinema, Upton Park. Cineworld Cinemas

in Wood Green, Wandsworth and Feltham also have regular Bollywood

screenings.

To celebrate the partnership between the Indian and British film

industries, the International Indian Film Academy is coming to Yorkshire

for a weekend of film premieres, festivals, special events and awards June

7-10.

The launch of the map coincided with the recent unveiling of a

waxwork of Shah Rukh Khan at Madame Tussauds. Two of his most

popular films, "Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gham" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le

Jayenge", are featured on the movie map.

The movie map can be downloaded at www.visitlondon.com and

www.filmlondon.org.uk.