Call of the Valley

Representation Pic

Yeh haseen vaadiya, yeh khula aasmaan… the AR Rahman song from Roja (1992) playing on our earphones served as the perfect background score, as we landed in Srinagar. Within minutes, we were mesmerised by its beauty and understood why producer Siddharth P Malhotra chose the location as the setting for his next, Pashminna - Dhaage Mohobbat Ke.

Nishant and Isha

It's not new for Bollywood films to be set in the land. The late filmmaker Yash Chopra had shot several of his movies there. However, it was a first for an Indian television show to abandon the comforts of Mumbai sets and relocate to Kashmir for six months for the Sony Sab show. Siddharth says it was his dream to film in the location - after all, his father Prem Krishen had begun his television career with the show, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (1987), there.

"I was adamant that if the story is set in Kashmir, then we have to shoot here throughout. My wife Sapna [Malhotra] made my dream a reality, although she was also astounded at first. I wanted it to be different from the saas-bahu sagas we see and left the onus on her to make it happen because I don't understand numbers," says the filmmaker, who has previously produced Sanjivani and directed Hichki (2018).

Kashmir on a budget

Pashminna, starring Isha Sharma and Nishant Malkani, tells the story of Pashminna and Raghav who come from diverse walks of life and ideologies. Siddharth shares that the channel offered him unyielding support as he proposed the idea of shooting the finite series in the Valley, often touted to be ‘Heaven on Earth'. It also came with a caveat: that the show's plot would not be swayed by TRP ratings. "The story was set in my mind from the start to finish. We could, of course, insert a scene as per television's [melodramatic] language, but nothing more," asserts Siddharth.

Inside view of the houseboat

However, the hurdles were one too many. Producer Sapna Malhotra says conducting a six-month shoot on Sab TV's budget and no rebates from the government was an uphill task. Their first step was to educate local stakeholders about TV budgets and requirements since the region had little exposure to television shoots. This required not only negotiation skills but also building relationships with the local community, location owners, and government authorities. "At first, we made a budget [not fully] knowing the pricing of the locations. We then locked on the number of hours that people have to work. [People in Kashmir] have done big-budget films, but they've not shot on a budget. We sought the [state] government's help; while they couldn't provide financial subsidies, they offered support in the form of permissions and guidance. Everyone associated was extremely sweet because Pashminna was showing Kashmir in the best light possible," explains Sapna.

Blow hot, blow cold

After two months of pre-production, the cast and crew kicked off the shoot in August. Over the next two months, the unit travelled to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Baramulla as they filmed the love story. Right from the beginning, Sapna knew that a chunk of the show had to be canned before winter set in. "In August, it was hot. However, from September, the weather started becoming cooler. Once we go into December, it will become difficult to shoot. [Before that] we will can all the outdoor shots, and then concentrate on the interior shots," she says. Siddharth adds that filming in the famous Dal Lake turned out to be a tricky affair. "We couldn't shoot for more than four minutes [at a time] because the cameras have to be in the water and the actors have to row the shikaras. We are technically shooting at web pace for TV."

Siddharth and Sapna Malhotra

Leading man Malkani found it challenging to brave the unpredictable weather. "Sometimes it is hot, sometimes too cold. As we are going further, it will get much colder," says the actor, adding that shooting in Kashmir is a different ballgame as compared to the convenience that Mumbai studios afford. "We don't have vanity vans and makeup rooms because there is no place to park them in the mountains. So, we have hotels near our locations where we have lunch and then get ready. But between our shots, we can't go to the hotel as it involves a lot of travel. We sit in the sun, on the road while people watch us as if we are animals in the zoo," he laughs.

Taste of home

To ensure that her crew of 80 did not feel utterly homesick during the six-month shoot, Sapna took along a Mumbai caterer, thus giving her team a taste of home. "Although Kashmiri food is yummy, I don't think our systems can sustain it [for long]. We [initially] tried all their masalas and flavours, but then relented to stick to food from home." Special food was made by the cooks, keeping in mind Malkani and Sharma's dietary needs.

Moving base

As captivating as Kashmir is, living away from home is never easy. While the crew was put up in two hotels near the shoot locations, the leads were moved into spacious AirBnB properties. This decision allowed the actors to have their families over, offering them comfort and support during their demanding shooting schedule. Malkani shares, "Kashmir is a beautiful place with a laidback [vibe]. While I was a little bored initially, this place gradually grew on me. Now, I really love it." The actor, who was initially worried about his fitness, found a local gym. "I also made some friends, who often take me out to
try different restaurants," he adds.

Since Sharma, who plays the titular role, hails from Himachal Pradesh, the languid pace was not new to her. However, making her debut in television was definitely new. "I felt homesick. I missed my family and friends," admits Sharma, who was sharing her flat with a co-star. Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan, who play pivotal characters in the show, travelled periodically to the north to shoot their portions. Despite the challenges and sacrifices, the team's zeal to tell a story they believe in and the support from locals made this a successful endeavour.

Effort behind show

>> The crew consisted of almost 80 members.
>> Siddharth and Sapna Malhotra scouted close to a 100 houseboats before locking on the one that provided them a view of Shankaracharya temple.
>> The team auditioned at least 250 girls until they found Isha Sharma to play the titular role, Pashminna.