Dulquer Salmaan on Sita Ramam: Being in Kashmir is like stepping into a photograph or a painting or a film

Dulquer Salmaan, who has had a busy calendar year with two releases Hey Sinamika and Salute, is getting ready for Sita Ramam next. His second straight Telugu film after Mahanati, Sita Ramam has him paired alongside Mrunal Thakur and is directed by Hanu Raghavapudi. The film is heading for a release in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil on August 5.

The film, which has him playing Lieutenant Ram, was extensively shot in Kashmir in many beautiful locations including Thajwass Glacier, Dal Lake, Jalali House, and Rockstar house. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the shoot went as per schedule for over a month. Dulquer and Hanu Raghavapudi opened up on their Kashmir experiences in an interaction recently.

For Dulquer Salmaan, who was visiting Kashmir for the first time, it was a one-of-a-kind experience. Being in Kashmir is like stepping into a photograph or a painting or a film, he says. Sharing that it’s impossible to take in the depth and beauty of Kashmir with your eyes, he added, “It’s awe-inspiring. In a heartbeat. I would love to visit Gulmarg and Pahalgam.”



Talking about shooting the film at a high altitude, Hanu Raghavapudi opined that Kashmiris were great hosts and the place is definitely the paradise on earth. The local people were reportedly friendly, gentle, helping and welcoming. Despite shooting during the early phase of COVID-19 second wave lockdown, the cops and government allowed them to complete the shoot as per the plan with required protocols in place.

“We finished our shoot schedule as per our exact plan. We even got the chance to indulge in some local food and experience a new culture,” Hanu added. Kashmiri officials say that they are witnessing a terrific response from production houses across India to shoot films in their city. Over 130 film shoot permissions were granted to several banners recently.

A special officer on duty, during the shoot of Sita Ramam, opined that attempts like theirs will go a long way in showcasing the beauty of Kashmir to a wide audience across the globe. For the uninitiated, Sita Ramam is a period romance set in the backdrop of a war in 1965. Rashmika Mandanna, Sumanth Akkineni, Gautam Menon, and Prakash Raj too play key roles.

Presented by Vyjayanthi Movies, Sita Ramam is produced by Ashwini Dutt for Swapna Cinema, has cinematography by PS Vinod and music by Vishal Chandrasekhar.