5 foreign destinations that are favourite with Indian TV shows and why

mid-day connects with telly soap makers to learn what draws them to film on foreign turf

While they have always been a favourite with filmmakers, the picturesque locales of foreign shores are becoming a draw for those who helm TV shows as well. Shooting for a few episodes outdoors offers respite from the monotony that sets in while filming a daily. Since such schedules also carry the promise of a boost in TRPs, channel heads are willing to embrace them. Yet, a discussion around ratings rarely crops up when we ask the makers what prompts the development. They cite increased productivity and the unit's availability, instead.

1. Poland — Coz Bose loved to travel

Rajkummar Rao's web show, Bose: Dead/Alive was shot across several locations in India and overseas. Creative producer Hansal Mehta says, "The script demanded [it be shot outdoors]. No matter how much you try to recreate the set [in India], the look will differ. We went to Poland, Thailand and Germany. We recreated Austria and Berlin in Poland, and shot in remote locations of Thailand too."

2. Budapest - Coz India's no fun after being in prison

Ekta Kapoor took the lead cast of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein to Budapest. After the protagonist, Ishita (Divyanka Tripathi) broke all ties with the family while serving a prison sentence, Kapoor found the picturesque location ideal to make her leading lady reconnect with the love of her life.

3. Greece - To find love, yet again

This is not a first for Rajan Shahi, who has previously taken his cast and crew to South Africa, Thailand, Hong Kong and Switzerland. It's Greece this time for the unit of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. "We wanted to showcase a love story between the wedded protagonists [played by Mohsin Khan and Shivangi Joshi]. We needed to shoot at beautiful locations. Greece was an apt selection," says Shahi.

4. Mauritius - Coz the crew is all yours

Initial sequences of Zayed Khan's Haasil were shot in Mauritius. Producer Siddharth P Malhotra claims whisking the unit away is productive, since shooting in India is "tedious". "It may be expensive to shoot abroad, but, it's peaceful. The cast and crew is available all the time. The artistes are more efficient when you work for 10 hours, instead of the 14 that we put in while filming in Mumbai."

5. Thailand - Where you find young India

Touted to be among the most expensive Indian shows, Porus, has been extensively shot in Thailand. Director Siddharth Kumar Tewary jetted off to Khao Sok National Park to shoot the initial sequences. He says, "We had to show how India was before 350BC, when rivers were broader and there was sufficient greenery. We found those elements in Khao Sok." The director says the team facilitated travel for over 2,000 people. "Sometimes, the unit's family also tagged along. We did not object."

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