Superstar Rajinikanth arrives in Kurseong

SILIGURI/DARJEELING: Ahead of the release of controversial movie ‘Kaala’, superstar Rajinikanth arrived at Bagdogra airport on Wednesday for shooting of yet to be titled film directed by Chennai based director Karthik Subbaraj in the hills of Darjeeling. Hundreds of people flocked at the airport premises to see the glimpses of superstar.

He then proceeded towards Kurseong where his shooting schedule at Kurseong Ranger’s College and various other locations of hills for next 11 days. He arrived in Kurseong  amidst heavy security and to the cheers of elated fans, After completion of shoot in urseong he will be visiting Darjeeling for his next round of shoot at St. Paul’s and Mount Hermon School. He will be staying in hills altogether 40 days.

Superstar Rajinikanth arrived in Bagdogra, Kurseong, Darjeeling to shoot Movie

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Rajinikanth will start the first schedule of shooting on the premises of the Eastern Forest Rangers College at St. Mary’s Hill in Kurseong from June 7 to 15. A battery of crew members including carpenters and painters are also accompanying the superstar. Many have already reached Kurseong earlier to decorate the shooting area and make preparation for the shoot. The college premises have been converted into a set by the film’s art director. The first half of the film’s story is being shot in the Hills, it was learnt. Like all Rajinikanth films this was also a big budget.
Besides Mt. Hermon School in Darjeeling,the production team has visited a number of locations including St. Paul’s School at Jalapahar in Darjeeling and Mirik and Sukhia Pokhari. People of hills are quite excited to find Rajanikanth in the hills for the first time and to enjoy the shooting in various locations.

Read our previous post: Superstar Rajinikanth scheduled to arrive in Darjeeling hills

Rajanikanth is the first actor to stay for such a long period in Darjeeling hills and this is his first film ever shot in Bengal. Ever since Raj Kapoor shot his Barsat way back in 1949, Darjeeling has hosted other top Hindi film stars. Bollywood’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna was in Darjeeling in 1969 for the shoot of Aradhana with Sharmila Tagore. Amitabh Bachchan was in Darjeeling to shoot Do Anjaane in 1976. More recently Shahrukh Khan’s blockbuster Main Hoon Na was shot in various locales in Darjeeling in 2004, Ranbir Kapoor was in Darjeling for Barfi in 2012.
The presence of Rajinikanth would boost the hill tourism and also bring in big banner film makers and stars in the region, it was hoped.  It would be a boost for the hills. Besides, local directors in film production in Darjeeling hoped they would be able to learn a thing or two about the trade from the elaborate shooting schedule under a big banner. (EOIC)