Is a Bollywood blockbuster film being filmed in Wanaka, Central Otago?The secret behind large-scale production

Blacked-out helicopters and hundreds of film crews have been spotted in and around Wanaka over the past week, but officials believed to be involved in the production of the Bollywood film are keeping mum about what is being made. ing.

Locally-owned company Aspiring Helicopters, which is believed to have been transporting some of the crew around Central Otago, said: herald No further information can be provided.

Queenstown Lake District Mayor Glyn Lewers also had no knowledge of large-scale production.

This was confirmed by both NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission. herald They were not involved in the production.

On September 25, Bollywood star Vishnu Manchu posted on his Twitter account (formerly known as Twitter), where he has more than 678,000 followers, announcing that he has begun shooting his New Zealand-based film. Cannappa‘ He will also appear in ‘.

New Zealand-based Ki Productions was thought to be providing local production services, but owner Darshan Shetty confirmed: herald He said the film crew had been working around Wanaka but had to cancel filming in the South Island as they lost several days to bad weather in the north and needed to catch up on the backlog.

“In just a few days, 600 cast and crew members from all over the world converged on New Zealand. Cannappa In life. “Their sacrifices, leaving behind their loved ones, are a testament to their unwavering belief in this project,” he said.

“I feel great joy in being able to reveal that.” Cannappa It boasts a stellar cast of superstars, the list of which will be announced soon. Although we have done our best to keep the details secret, leaks are proving difficult to contain. ”

in a magazine interview variety Last week, director Manchu described the film as a big-budget blockbuster. Lord of the RingIt was also filmed in New Zealand.

“New Zealand is known for Peter Jackson.” Lord of the Ring Movie…that’s how I envisioned it Cannappa,” He said.

“I’m not saying it will exceed, but Lord of the RingThis is a huge move, but we want to make sure that the visuals we are going to bring to the screen will definitely be some of the best in recent Indian cinema. ”

Manchu’s film reimagines Indian folk tales. Cannappaan atheist hunter who became a follower of the Hindu god Shiva and had his eyes gouged out in an act of extreme devotion.

According to the article, the film was shot in New Zealand in Auckland, Rotorua, Glenorchy, Wanaka, Pukaki, and Christchurch.

Manchu reportedly chose New Zealand as the venue after considering options including Ireland, Scotland, the US state of Minnesota, Australia, Switzerland and Canada.

“(New Zealand) is probably the last beautiful painting of God still intact,” Manchu said.

Locations around Wanaka and Central Otago are famous for being used as the backdrop for several big-budget Hollywood productions, including: Lord of the Ring trilogy, mission impossible 6 and wrinkles in time.

The $280 million film studio, developed by Silverlight Studios near Wanaka, has been in the planning stages for several years after being given the green light in December 2021 under coronavirus “fast track” legislation. Ta.

The film park includes 12 soundstage buildings, sets representing Venice, Paris, and New York, visitor parking for 518 vehicles, 1,545 cast and crew parking spaces, and 126 golf carts. It will include a green screen 19.6 meters high and 225 meters long.