Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff close the film with a colorful number in the sand dunes of Wadi Rum
Teaser stills
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Why would the producers of big-budget, high-profile movies choose to star in movies? Akshay Kumar And Tiger Shroff decided to shoot it in the middle of nowhere? That’s the first thing we thought when we landed on the Bade Miyan Chote Miyan set near Wadi Rum, Jordan, on the last day of filming. The term “off the beaten path” is not used lightly here. I would appreciate it if you could show me the images taken. Unfortunately, they are embargoed. But imagine this. Dramatic clouds against blue skies, endless deserts, and rugged mountains as far as the eye can see.
A 250-member unit shot the song in Wadi Rum over seven days under the direction of Ali Abbas Zafar.
We arrived at Wadi Rum after two flights from Mumbai and a four-hour drive from Amman. From there, MohammedMichael Schumacher, better known as Michael Schumacher, drove us to the location for another 30 minutes, battling gusty winds and 3 degrees cold. This was followed by a trek to the location where the troops were firing. Enough for my writing buddies to joke, “Akshay and Tiger are the only people fit to do this every day.” He was right.
Soon, we heard Hindi and the break began. Sure enough, we arrived on set. A 250-member unit was shooting the song with Kumar, Shroff and lead actors Manushi Chhillar and Alaya F. On this day, choreographer Bosco Martis was running the set and discussing next steps with director Ali Abbas Zafar. It’s okay in the end. While we were shivering under two jackets, Shroff was practicing his steps shirtless. “I love the warmth of the sun,” he told us enthusiastically. Perhaps this is the passion behind creating an action extravaganza, one in which actors, directors, and crew go to great lengths to give a sense of scale. The magic of the big screen comes at a price.
Although in Jordan, the prices are significantly lower. In recent years, the country has been the setting for several blockbusters, including Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). Producer Jackie Bhagnani explains that local staff are trained, cheap and easy to hire. Shooting here is cheap, with rebates provided by the government, allowing him to shoot for 10 months without additional taxes. But what captivates Zafar is its stunning visual palette, from the sea to the mountains, from the rustic to the grand.
Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff in Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan
After eight hours of filming, we all headed to the film’s finishing party where we saw the making of the action thriller. Even if the teaser was action-packed, the movie promises much more – tanks, helicopters, cars being blown up, all of which Jordan has left over. The country’s military has helped the Royal Jordanian Film Commission maintain replica and authentic weapons dating back to World War I. For the Indian audience, Zafar and Bhagnani have found an untapped spot. It helps that it works seamlessly as the locals have an undying love for Hindi films.
On the final day of our visit, we headed to the Jordanian coastal city of Aqaba to experience it firsthand. Aqaba is characterized by a strange confluence. To the south is Saudi Arabia, to the west is Egypt, and not far away is Israel. While we were drinking coffee on the waterfront, the owner played us a song called “Bole chudiyaan”.
Avoiding the topic of how the region has become a hotbed of activity these days, they discussed how insatiable Bollywood is. A shopkeeper in Petra, just a two-hour drive from Aqaba, who is from Kareena Kapoor Khan, offered us some freebies and told us that Bollywood is bigger than we think. It made me realize.
(Tag Translation)Akshay Kumar
