If you're a film fan who keeps up with celebrity news, you might have noticed that Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra was recently in Kenya. What you might not know is that she was there to shoot scenes for the biggest film to come out of Asia yet, in which she plays the lead actress.
Kenya is set to feature heavily in the film, which will also star the popular Indian actors Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Titled Globetrotter, the film is directed by legendary Indian filmmaker Srisaila Sri Rajamouli and is set to cost a staggering $116 million (approximately Ksh14.9 billion).
It is described as an action-adventure film inspired by classics such as the Indiana Jones series and African adventure films.
According to a synopsis of the film, it follows Babu as a “rugged explorer who sets out on a high-stakes mission through uncharted terrain, battling nature, mystery, and a powerful enemy to uncover a long-lost secret that could change the world. Think ancient legends, wild landscapes, and edge-of-your-seat thrills."
Kenya was chosen as the primary filming destination for nearly 95 per cent of the film's African scenes after extensive scouting across East Africa.
Filming locations include the Maasai Mara, Naivasha, Samburu, and Amboseli, showcasing Kenya's diverse landscapes.
While in the country, Chopra shared some behind-the-scenes footage and also took time to enjoy Kenya’s tourist attractions.
The crew consisted of 120 people, with shooting going on for a fortnight. Considered one of India's most ambitious and largest film productions, the film, planned for release in over 120 countries, is expected to reach more than a billion viewers worldwide.
Billed as one of India’s most ambitious movies, the makers are expected to unveil its first look in November.
On Tuesday, September 2, the film’s director Rajamouli met with the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi with Mudavadi revealing that the country was ready to share its story with the world and strengthen its position as a premier destination for film, tourism, and international collaboration.
Apart from the exposure, the movie is also expected to inject millions into Kenya’s economy, with local talent, hospitality services, and logistics providers benefiting.
This will not be the first time Kenya has been used as a site to shoot a Bollywood movie. Renowned film director Raj Kumar also recorded the movie 'Love in Mombasa' in Mombasa City in 2019.
Aside from Bollywood movies, Kenya has also featured in many other Hollywood movies like The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and Tomb Raider.
