10 Hollywood Movies Shot in Stunning Indian Destinations where you should travel
With beautiful architecture, deep history, multiple cultures, and natural beauty, India is a mix of different people and locations, providing a great background for different movie scenes and shootings. The people are loud and welcoming, the places historic and awe-inspiring. Many directors from the US, Canada, and Australia, among various other countries, have chosen India for the scenes of their movies due to the contrasts, history, and rich cultural background it provides. Some directors may play up this and make it a big part of their movies, others yet may choose to let the richness of the setting be, framing the characters well. If you’re looking to travel and personalize your own experience, head over to our travel support page now! “India is a curious place that still preserves its past, religions, and history. No Matter how modern India becomes, It is still very much an old country.” Anita Desai We’ve picked some of the best Hollywood movies based on India, some you may not have heard about and some you never knew were shot in India. Either way, we recommend you watch all of them, if not for their fabulous storylines then for the stunning Indian destinations they feature! Salaam Bombay The Namesake Eat Pray Love Viceroy’s House The Darjeeling Limited Jobs Trishna Lion Dark knight rises Million Dollar Arm 1. Salaam Bombay Features – Outskirts of Bombay, Bombay city Year – 1998 This highly acclaimed popular film directed by Mira Nair broke many hearts and garnered international praise for her risky choice of plot and sensitive topics touched upon with all the expertise of brilliant direction. The film follows a little boy, Krishna, who is taken into the chaotic, brutal, and unforgiving slums of Bombay following a string of unfortunate events. Nair introduces a range of characters to the setting, centering them around the city’s brothel, touching upon topics such as poverty, prostitution, child rape, enslavement, drug addiction, and child labor. Although she does so smoothly, incorporating them into the setting, viewers get a brutal glimpse of the unforgiving streets of Bombay and its state in the 80s – 90s. The movie captures the rush and adrenaline of Bombay, its old streets, older monuments, and the ever-present poverty. This movie will give you shots of what Bombay is, and make you see the glamorous city in an entirely different light. 2. The Namesake Features – Calcutta, Agra Year – 2006 The Namesake directed by Mira Nair is a movie that touches upon Indian-Americans and the cultural identity crisis that is often experienced by them. The movie, screened in India, Japan, US, and Canada, did well in theatres and received praise for the topics it tackled. The story follows Gogol, a man born and brought up in the US and estranged from his Indian heritage unlike his parents, who then goes on to explore and understand his culture through the city of Calcutta/Kolkata where his parents lived before moving to America. The movie captures the contrasts of both cultures, depicting scenes of the beautiful, messy streets of Kolkata, with a focus on Howrah station and Shantiniketan. The scenes range from Gogol exploring the old city streets of his hometown to getting off an auto near the busy Howrah station. It also has short depictions of the city of Agra (filming the iconic Taj) and its busy streets, along with the older tuk-tuks used in some parts of Kolkata. The movie succeeds in capturing the best parts of Calcutta – its people, its culture, its language, and its history. Visit the locations of Kalighat, Howrah station, Howrah Bridge, Shantiniketan, Bengal markets, and the winding, rich streets of the city of Calcutta for a feel of the movie and the culture that eventually sways all Indians back. Travel to Calcutta now 3. Eat Pray Love Features – New Delhi, Pataudi, Mirzapur, bits of Gurgaon Year – 2010 Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love (one of the classic Hollywood movies based on India) was a game-changer for many readers across the globe and adapted into a film four years thereafter. Directed by Ryan Murphy, the blockbuster follows the journey of Elizabeth (played by Julia Roberts) across a journey of self-discovery where she ‘Eats’ in Italy, ‘Prays’ in India, and experiences the balance of ‘Love’ in Indonesia. What we loved about this movie is that the director and producer chose locations, people, and lines with care while filming in India, not wanting to get details wrong or offend the culture in any way. Elizabeth sees in her journey Delhi, a city which’s speed and chaos she is fascinated by. You’ll spot famous places like the India gate and bustling Hauz Khas market, but only for a short time as Gilbert moves to the quiet village of Pataudi, Haryana, where she has her real spiritual experiences, exploring the town and its devoted residents, the famous Hari Mandir ashram, and other spiritual locations. The filming places special emphasis on the ashram, its quietness, the history of the architecture, and the beliefs of the people, respecting the details and importance of each. Some shots are also taken in the town of Mirzapur (yes, like the show) in Uttar Pradesh, showing its small local eateries, the chai stalls, and its small colorful buildings. We highly recommend you visit Delhi with its bustling markets and streets, then on to Pataudi, exploring the quaint town and the famous ashram, and Mirzapur, with its unique layout, busy roads, and colorful buildings for the complete Eat Pray Love experience. We recommend you read this blog by Breathe Dream Go on her take on the movie, the story of Julia Roberts’ amazing experience in India, and what the film stands for. 4. Viceroy’s House Features – Jodhpur Year – 2017 Viceroy’s House is a British-Indian historical film with multiple storylines
