By Hindustan Times
The city of Chandigarh is getting its share of Hollywood flavour at the present time. The Hurt Locker-fame Hollywood director Kathryn Bigelow is within the Punjab capital to shoot some scenes for her much-anticipated film in keeping with Al-Qaeda chief, Osama Bin Laden’s killing.
For the shoot, some markets within the city has been made to appear like a bazaar in Rawalpindi or Islamabad in Pakistan. The film will relive the operation led by American Navy SEALs to kill Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan in 2011. While the production team plans to reportedly recreate Abbottabad in Rajasthan, Chandigarh will feature extensively within the film, that is said to be titled, Zero Dark 30.
The unit will shoot scenes at various locations in Chandigarh for roughly a month, and the locals are eager about the Hollywood crew stationed within the city. One of the vital stores in Sector 15, one of the most popular shopping areas within the city, got urdu nameplates for the shoot. Some local artists too, got a possibility to be part of the shoot as a neighborhood production company gathered about 140 junior artists for “the crowd” scene.
“The make-up artist took over an hour to present me a Pakistani makeover,” said Girdhari Lal, who got an opportunity to join the scene. “It is a challenging job to create Pakistan in India but we're doing our best,” said a member of the unit, wishing to not be named.
The production companies from Mumbai and Delhi have also been roped within the. crew of the film, including Kathryn, didn't speak to the media, but there have been reports that Hollywood actors, including Jessica Chastain, are expected to be on the town for the film, with a view to even be shot in Patiala.
No ‘pitt’ stop
The ongoing shoot for Bigelow’s movie took an amusing turn when a rumour spread that Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is shooting for the movie in Chandigarh. A unit member later confirmed that Pitt doesn't star within the film, and was not within the city.
