Vishal Bhardwaj

Srinagar, Nov. 11: Kashmiris, always seen as happily rowing boats in picturesque lakes in Bollywood films, have finally got a part to play.

For this, some Kashmiris may want to thank Vishal Bhardwaj, whose next offering, Haider, has cast about 20 local faces.

Bhardwaj’s casting of Kashmiris is the first time so many people from the Valley have bagged roles in a Hindi film, though many have been shot here.

Haider, being shot in the Valley, is believed to be an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Bhardwaj had adapted Macbeth to make Maqbool and Othello for Omkara.

A crew member said most of the actors for Haider, apart from leads Shahid Kapoor, Shradha Kapoor and Tabu, are Kashmiris.

Khawar Jamsheed, a line producer for the film, said the film has 15 to 20 cast members from the Valley, among them several teenagers. “There are two other professionals (from Kashmir) assisting Vishalji in direction, not to forget around 10 who are part of the production team,” Khawar said. The film crew had auditioned scores of local artistes.

Among those selected is Ainan Ahmed, a Class VI student from Anantnag. “I am thrilled to be a part of it,” the 13-year-old boy said, though he was clueless about his role. “It is a dream come true.”

Nazir Bakshi, a businessman, said locals have never had it so good. “The locals didn’t get any role in films earlier. The movies were shot in Kashmir but were not about Kashmir,” he said. “It will open doors for our young talent.”

Kashmir was Hindi cinema’s favourite romance location till militancy struck in the 1990s.

Most Bollywood films shot in Kashmir would have a song on the Dal Lake — think Kashmir ki Kali — that would have local women and the lead pair in pretty flower-laden boats.

Bollywood has made a return to Kashmir and big-banner films like the late Yash Chopra-directed Jab Tak Hai Jaan have been shot in the Valley.