Bollywood actor Salman Khan with South Indian actress Asin Thottumkal began shooting the new movie “Ready” in Colombo yesterday. This is the first mega blockbuster shoot in Sri Lanka after the Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) awards festival held in early this month.
The film stars arrived last morning, and movie was being shot at prominent locations in Colombo and in the South during the team’s 15-day stay in the country.
The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) had threatened South Indian actress Asin Thottumkal to stop her movies being distributed if she went ahead with the shooting of her movie in Sri Lanka. Unmindful of the threats by the SIFCC, Mr. Khan and the film’s producers decided to go ahead with the shoot in Sri Lanka. The movie “Ready” was originally to have been shot in Mauritius.
IIFA-projects associate vice president Shefali Munshi said that on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa they applauded Salman Khan and movie team of “Ready” for shooting the movie in Sri Lanka. She also thanked the Sri Lankan government for its support and hospitality.
Indian media reports said Salman Khan had convinced film producer and director Anees Bazmi to shoot the film in Sri Lanka. Mr. Bazmi sent his crew to scout the country for jungle locales, and resorts for the crew to stay in. Buoyed by the feedback, he agreed to Mr. Khan’s suggestion and the Sri Lanka government wasted no time in giving permission.
