Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi film at Miracle Garden

Nearly 30 per cent of the movie, which centres on the love story of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s parents, has been shot in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since October.

Vidya Balan on the sets of the film Hamari Adhuri Kahani at Miracle Garden in Dubai. Photo by Mukesh Kamal/ Khaleej Times

Happy New Year and Bang Bang showed us the glamorous side of the UAE. Now director Mohit Suri wants to capture the real romance of the city in his Vidya Balan-Emraan Hashmi starrer Hamari Adhuri Kahani. The cast and crew of the film, who were in the UAE for a 20 day shooting schedule, wrapped up the last scene at the Miracle Garden on Sunday evening. We hear that Vidya and Emraan have shot scenes at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Sarab desert resort, Hatta Village, Dubai Airport Terminal 3, Meena Bazaar, the local sand dunes and Dubai Corniche for this romantic drama that is scheduled for release on June 12, 2015.

While talking to City Times, Mohit Suri said, “We were supposed to shoot this a month back but since we cannot control a lot of things in life, like weather especially, it’s happening now.

“The UAE is usually seen as a place where we go for new high tech buildings and for a kind of modern landscape, but unlike that common perception, I have romanticised the entire UAE. These are places that we have heard of but we have never really seen in an Indian film before and not just for a song sequence or people dancing around trees; I am trying to get the real meaning out of it. The Miracle Garden stands for over forty thousand different kinds of flowers in one landscape and in a controlled environment. If you look at it, it’s a marvel of landscaping. I am trying to work on the romantic side of the UAE because Dubai and Abu Dhabi do not need to be only about advanced buildings, high bridges and high-end cars, they are also about sand dunes... I saw the most beautiful sunrise this morning. We shot at Hatta Village. It is a traditional village; those kinds of things add a true flavour to a particular country.”

“It is great to see another Bollywood blockbuster choose Dubai as its filming location. We strive to establish Dubai and the UAE as the premier filming destination for local and around the globe productions and this is a testament that the Emirate enjoys a wide variety of backgrounds and places that cater for all types of productions,” Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of the Dubai Film & TV Commission and Managing Director of Dubai Studio City commented.

• City Times