Bollywood movies to create opportunities for Fiji: Official

Suva (Fiji), May 14 (Xinhua-ANI): The Bollywood movie "3G" will have a multiplying effect for the Fiji economy, something it badly needs at the moment, said Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on Monday.

This is a great opportunity for the island country, Sayed- Khaiyum said at the launch of the movie at Pacific Harbour near the Fijian capital of Suva.

According to the official, numerous jobs have been created for locals including a crew of 40 assisting with production on the set while seven Fijians will also have speaking roles in the movie.

Meanwhile, a rebate scheme of 47 percent has been offered to attract film-makers to the island nation as this would be a great opportunity for locals.

The shooting in Fiji will begin by the end of May, said Acting Chief Executive of the Fiji Audio Visual Commission (FAVC) Florence Swamy.

The seven million Fiji dollars (4 million U.S. dollars) film "3G", will be produced under a joint production banner of Next Gen Films Pvt Limited and Eros International.

The lead role in the film would be played by renowned Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh along with fashion model and actress Sonal Chauhan.

Neil has worked in hit and world class films such as the recently released "Players", "7 Khoon Maaf", "Johnny Gaddar", "Aa Dekhen Zara" and "New York" while Sonal worked in films like " Jannat" and "Buddhah..Hoga Tera Baap".

Swamy said it would be a 30-day shoot, mostly in the Western Division with a few scenes in and around Sigatoka and a couple in Suva.

The director of the film, Vikram Rajani, who was in Fiji earlier in March, has said the film would be a thriller based on mobile telecommunications.

Two more Bollywood films under the same production with a joint budget of around 14 million Fiji dollars (8 million US dollars) will be shot in Fiji soon.

The movies being produced are expected to be released in at least 700 to 800 screens in India and are going to be distributed to countries worldwide.

For Fiji, this is considered a major break into Bollywood's mega-budget film production industry and for some a chance in a lifetime they are definitely excited and over the moon to be part of. (Xinhua-ANI).