Srinagar, Sep 8 (PTI) Mesmerised by Kashmir’s beauty and hospitality, Bollywood playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan on Tuesday said it was her childhood dream to visit the valley and hoped to organise a concert here.
“I cannot express how happy I am because it was my childhood dream to come to Kashmir. Over the years, I have travelled to so many places, but I never had the opportunity to visit Kashmir. Finally, I am here, and it feels like I am in heaven,” Chauhan told reporters on the sidelines of the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK).
Wondering whether a place as beautiful as Kashmir can even exist, the singer said her eyes “are just left wide open in awe”.
“The people here meet you with so much affection. The food, the peace, I just do not feel like leaving. I really hope I get the chance to bring my concert here because I have fallen in love once again. First, I fell in love with Kashmir just by seeing it on screen, and now being here, I want to do my bit for all the people of Kashmir,” she said.
Referring to the festival, Chauhan said it is a very, very good initiative.
“It showcases films that don’t always receive much appreciation or those made with immense hard work where the makers don’t know what their fate will be. People with open minds and true film lovers are coming to watch the movies, and I think it is a great start,” she said.
She said such events provide a platform for the people.
“When festivals like this happen, the youth who are interested in direction, acting, or singing get a platform to learn a lot. If they have any confusion about these fields, it gets cleared up by coming here because there is so much to explore. I am very happy for the youth of Kashmir that they are attending, and I hope they have a great time,” she said.
She said the festival will also give a huge boost to the valley’s tourism sector.
“Whether it is tourism or filmmaking, it has been happening in Kashmir for many years; people yearn to come here. Any frame you shoot in Kashmir looks like something you have never seen anywhere else. The film festival will give this an even bigger boost. It is a great opportunity for our new generation, if they do not know what a treasure exists here, to discover Kashmir and spend time in these beautiful valleys,” she asserted. PTI SSB APL APL
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