bolly wood block buster

A new Bollywood blockbuster is being shot at the University of Leicester and in the city and county.

Raakh which means Ashes is being described as a 'sophisticated gangster movie' and stars Sohail Khan, the brother of Bollywood megastar Salman Khan.

Promoters of the film have been in discussion with the University of Leicester where a part of the film will be shot. The University of Leicester was also the venue of the very first film to be shot in the East Midlands.

Organiser and Promoter Dipesh Majithia of Siddhi Entertainments and Productions(UK) said over 50 percent of the film will be shot in Leicester over a period of two-and-a-half weeks.

Raakh stars Isha Koppikar, Sohail Khan, Mithun Ckakraborty and Aamir Ali. It is directed by Hansal Mehta.

"Most of the second half of the film is being shot in Leicester- the director is delighted with the city and county. Bollywood fans are tired of seeing the familiar sites of Marble Arch and Trafalgar Square- Leicester's Clock Tower is what they haven't seen before!" Majithia said.

In addition, the University of Leicester's sumptuous Botanic Garden will provide the idyllic setting for some of the scenes of the film. The Garden also houses examples of the University's international sculpture exhibition.

University spokesperson Ather Mirza said: "The University of Leicester is pleased to be playing host again to a Bollywood movie. India is the biggest film producer in the world -the potential to reach out to global audience and showcase the University is huge."

Leicester is being touted as Britain's Bollywood capital. Research conducted by the University of Leicester has examined the feasibility of the region providing a one-stop-shop facility for Indian film makers wishing to film in the UK and Europe.(ANI)