The first Bollywood movie is expected to be shot in Cyprus, starting this summer, and to be released on Valentine’s Day, next year. “Ishqa”, meaning “the state of love”, is financed by Eurobank and it was presented on Wednesday evening in an event in Mumbai, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, who pays the country a state visit.
In his address, the President said that this is a special occasion for Cyprus’ creative industry. “Cinema has a unique power. It transcends borders. It seamlessly bridges cultures and people. And creates a space of interaction that allows people to connect with a country, long before they physically visit it,” he said.
He noted that the location of an artistic production is about identity and emotion, what breathes life into a story. “I can confidently say that my country, Cyprus, is an open studio. A remarkable, diverse, versatile and unique canvas. With the blink of an eye – and in very short distances - you can be transported to coastlines, countryside, heritage architecture, contemporary urban settings and unique cinematic landscapes,” he said.
He added that Cyprus knows how to host and support international productions, all while offering reliability, professionalism and partnership, with highly skilled human resources in the creative industries.
“I am in India for a state visit, less than a year since Prime Minister Modi visited Cyprus. I am very proud to say that the Cyprus-India partnership goes from strength to strength, and cooperation between our industries – including the vibrant industry that you represent – is growing,” he pointed.
The President stressed that Cyprus is committed to supporting international productions through a competitive and reliable framework of incentives, designed to help creative projects thrive. “Precisely because culture is not separate from the economy. Creative industries create jobs, attract investment, strengthen tourism and inspire new business opportunities. A successful film does more than entertain. It invites people to discover, to visit and to connect,” he said.
President Christodoulides noted that this evening reflects the growing cultural and creative partnership between Cyprus and India, “a partnership built not only on economic cooperation and connectivity, but also on people, talent and culture. This is exactly the kind of international partnership we want to encourage: outward-looking, practical and built on cooperation.”
He referred to the collaboration between Anjali Bhushan Mago, Producer, Writer and Director, and the Cypriot producer, director and co-founder of Ray Films, Athena Xenidou, noting that this is an example of how the two countries can share creativity, talent and ambition. “I would like to warmly thank the production and creative team for choosing Cyprus as the setting for their film and for placing their trust in our country, our people and our creative community. And I will be there when you will be in Cyprus, in June or July,” he said.
The President also thanked Eurobank for organising the event and for supporting initiatives that foster more links between Cyprus and India. He also thanked PWC and Invest Cyprus.
Fokion Karavias, Eurobank’s CEO, said that the Republic of Cyprus has received an official application for the first Bollywood movie to be shot in Cyprus. “I think this is marking a great milestone of strengthening further the bilateral relations between the two nations,” he said.
He added that “at Eurobank, we are really proud that we are evolving from an institution that provides capital, funding, flows of financing, to enabling flows of culture.”
Karavias noted that on Thursday the Group will inaugurate its Indian office in Mumbai to become the first Greek and Cypriot bank with a physical presence in India. “Hopefully, through that, we are going to enhance the flows of trade, of investments between the two regions. And we would like to promote the idea that Cyprus can become a strategic gate to Indian companies that want to expand their businesses across the EU.”
Anjali Bhushan, Director, producer and writer of the movie, said that she got connected through Tugnait, Fairfax President and CEO, to Invest Cyprus, PWC, and Eurobank. “I didn't even know that there was a film industry in Cyprus, let alone a scheme to apply for it,” she said.
Sanjay Tugnait underlined that a Bollywood movie is not just a cultural exchange, but it's an economic engine. “To us today, ‘Ishqa’ is the economic engine for exposing Cyprus to Indians. We today, as Indians, are the largest tourists going abroad, bigger than even Chinese. So to me, this movie is not just a cultural exchange, but it's an economic engine to drive growth in Cyprus,” he said.
“There's so much war and chaos going on in the world today. ‘Ishqa’ means the state of love and we are releasing the movie next year on Valentine's Day on the 14th”, he announced.
(Source: CNA)
