Malaysia has always been a close ally of Indian cinema for decades. From the superstar of the South to the King Khan of Bollywood, all have enjoyed shooting in this beautiful country. It is not uncommon to find Indian songs playing in local restaurants or public areas, as many Malaysians consume Indian content. The craze for Bollywood extends beyond the general populace in Malaysia; politicians and officials also follow this trend. Recently, the superstar Rajnikanth received a warm welcome from the Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Malaysia. The Prime Minister greeted the superstar in his own style from the film “Shivaji the Boss,” which was overwhelming.
Similarly, the King Khan of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan, was honored with the title “Datuk” by the state of Malacca, an ancient state in Malaysia. This respect and honor given to our celebrities not only strengthens the relations between the two countries but also encourages other filmmakers to shoot there. In recent years, many filmmakers have traveled to different parts of Malaysia, exploring new locations in the country. The famous Langkawi Sky Bridge was featured in the climax scene of "Don," where Shahrukh Khan and Boman Irani engaged in a fight sequence. After the movie's release, the Langkawi Sky Bridge gained widespread popularity among tourists, significantly boosting inbound tourism to Langkawi.
To highlight the soft power of Bollywood, Director Shashank Mane has created a unique travel show called “Bollylands.com,” where the host visits various locations around the globe where Bollywood films have been shot. The show is currently streaming on MX Player with 11 seasons.
In the recent season, “Bollylands.com” explored beautiful Malaysian cities like Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, and Genting Highlands, which have hosted films such as "Don," "Don 2," "Kabali," "Madras Café," "Dil Mange More," and "Shaadi Se Phele." The show also highlights unexplored locations in each city, whether newly introduced or overlooked by Bollywood filmmakers during shoots. This additional information about unexplored locations makes the show special, providing firsthand information useful for filmmakers and location scouts.
The show has been acknowledged by many Bollywood celebrities, including Farah Khan, Boman Irani, Anees Bazmee, Manoj Bajpayee, Sidharth Malhotra, and Sonu Sood. It has also been appreciated by various tourism boards, recognizing its potential to boost inbound tourism for their countries.
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