𝐏𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam has delivered a major setback to Kashmir’s budding film tourism industry, leading to a wave of cancellations and delays in scheduled shoots. The incident has sparked fear across the entertainment sector, prompting production houses to pull out of the Valley and upending what was expected to be a bustling shooting season.

Local line producers and artists, who were banking on a significant boost in media-driven tourism this year, say the effects have been both immediate and severe.

“We had four major projects planned for May and June, including feature films and high-budget web series,” said Saima Bhat, a line producer based in Srinagar. “These were set to be filmed in the meadows of Pahalgam—right where the attack occurred. As soon as it happened, producers backed out overnight and moved operations to places like Manali, Shimla, and even Switzerland.”

Despite continued efforts to reassure filmmakers about security measures, fear still dominates their decisions. “We’re reaching out constantly to let them know things are under control, but their anxiety is real,” Bhat added. “It’s not just Bollywood—Tollywood teams have also cancelled plans.”

Veteran line producer Tahir Hussain confirmed the trend. “A major feature film slated for mid-May to June, along with several music video shoots, have either been postponed indefinitely or moved to other locations. Some directors are even altering scripts to fit new settings,” he said.

The sudden freeze has struck a heavy blow to the Valley’s tentative cinematic revival. Kashmir, once a prime destination for Indian cinema, had recently seen a resurgence with high-profile shoots that had revived the local economy and created opportunities for local talent.

“It’s devastating,” said Hassan Javed, an aspiring actor from Anantnag. “We were finally seeing chances for real work, both in front of and behind the camera. Now everything’s stalled again.”

For many in the industry, the attack erased the fragile sense of safety that had just begun to return. “There was a time we were swamped with filming requests,” Hussain recalled. “Now, no one is locking dates.”

Still, there is a glimmer of hope. Director-producer Mushtaq Ali Khan remains optimistic. “I’ve been in talks with Bollywood insiders planning a campaign to restore confidence in Kashmir as a safe filming and tourist destination. If the industry, public, and government work hand in hand, we can rebuild that trust,” he said.

The impact stretches beyond film sets. Pahalgam’s local economy—heavily reliant on tourism—is also suffering. Shop owners, hotel staff, pony operators, and drivers have seen a sharp decline in work.

Abdul Rashid, a local driver who regularly transported film crews, called the situation dire. “For the past two years, I was always busy with Bollywood teams. This year, not a single job. This wasn’t just an attack on tourists—it’s an attack on our livelihood.”

While security has been beefed up across key tourist areas, the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack highlights the fragile nature of Kashmir’s economic recovery and how quickly progress can be reversed.