Shah Rukh Khan Brings Bollywood Splendour to Budapest
Production service company Flatpack Films has brought its expertise to Jab Harry Met Sejal, a new feature film starring Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, that premieres today.
The romantic drama was written and directed by award-winning director Imtiaz Ali, and marks the third collaboration between actress Anushka Sharma and cinematic legend Khan, who has been named one of the 50 most influential people by Forbes.
Shot and set in Budapest and Mumbai amongst other locations, this film indicates the increasing trend for Indian filmmakers to feature European settings, attracted by the distinct architecture and unique foreign flavour they lend to the narrative. For the past three years, one Bollywood film per year has been produced in and around Budapest.
This project relied on the expertise of Budapest-based Flatpack Films - which has delivered world-class locations for some of the biggest brands such as Hyundai, Montblanc, and Samsung, as well as music videos, and feature films – for local production knowledge to achieve the scenes set in Budapest.
Flatpack Films provided full production service, sourcing locations, coordinating secondary castings, securing the tech facilities, wardrobe, and beauty team. Shooting in Budapest took place in the Royal Palace district, the Nyugati railway station, Liberty Bridge, and the city’s underground clubs, whilst the downtown area doubled for Prague for the chase scenes. The Flatpack team was invited to Mumbai for the closing scenes of the film.
Zita Kisgergely, Producer at Flatpack, comments: “We’ve worked with clients from all over the world but this was a truly amazing new experience. The Indian cast and crew have such an infectious positive attitude, while their dedication and respect for the craft and the people are very inspiring. We worked closely with the Indian team to understand their unique needs. They see the true value of shooting in Hungary as they want to present a different world and feature European faces. Rich visuals are a key focus in the Indian market, and we were able to deliver some beautiful sequences that showcased the variety of local architecture and cast.”
Director Imtiaz Ali comments: “I was delighted to be able to share the positive messages of Indian cinema with Hungary. Due to its vast international experience and intimate understanding of production challenges, Flatpack was the perfect partner for this project. It was instrumental in ensuring the smooth running of the shoot, which allowed us to tell our story with beauty. The collaboration was enjoyable to the end, and it was a pleasure to welcome the team to Mumbai for the closing scenes of the film.”
With Jab Harry Met Sejal, Flatpack Films builds on its rapidly growing reputation as the go-to partner for productions looking to shoot in Hungary. Most recently, it delivered underwater scenes, explosions, and cosmopolitan romance for another Indian blockbuster, Raabta.
Jab Harry Met Sejal is scheduled to be released in cinemas internationally 4th August 2017.
Shooting in an underground club in Budapest
Director Imtiaz Ali on set
Shah Rukh Khan on set
