Filmi packages hot on tourist circuit

New Delhi, 1 March (PTI): The slums of Dharavi in Mumbai, which formed the backdrop for multiple Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire along with the narrow bylanes of Amritsar where Sharukh Khan crooned in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi have become hot destinations for tourists.

Post Slumdog Millionaire, Dharavi is in international limelight and according to several private tour operators they are ready to encash this global attention.

"We have drawn ambitious plans for filmi packages. After the success of Slumdog we are trying to arrange tours to Dharavi also," says Ankit Rastogi, Business Head, IndiaHotelReview.Com, which has initiated package in India.

Package tours offering a visit to Amritsar or even Manali where Bollywood films were shot are also increasingly becoming hugely popular, he says.

"Indians are crazy about films and we recognized this innate potential of linking Bollywood to places. We are trying to showcase 'filmi' locations and urging tourists to relive moments of their favourite stars," says Rastogi.

Some of the famous destinations offered in Bollywood packages are Ram Nagaram (Sholay), Amritsar (Rang De Basanti and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi), Jaipur and Bharatpur (Jodhaa Akbar and Umrao Jaan), Munnar (Nishabd), Manali (Jab We Met), Bhuj (Lagaan) and Delhi (Delhi 6 and Chandni Chowk to China).