06 Jun Bollywood: The Hollywood of India

India is a beautiful country, attracting numerous visitors. Some of them come for vacations, others returned to their sources and some celebrate their honeymoon ! India is a cultural country, with a unique cuisine… But not only ! Since 2000, we can see a globalization of Bollywood, a typically Indian cinema revealing to be a venerable industry. In addition to being adored by the locals, many are charmed abroad.

Bollywood what is it ?

The term “Bollywood” combine “Bombay” (called Mumbai today, the economic capital of India) and “Hollywood”, but it doesn’t mean a location. It is a cinematic genre that now is exported worldwide. In India, cinema is more than art; it inspires locals who identify themselves to the actors. It happens that groupies wait hours in the sun in front of  “the houses of stars” in the upscale area of Bandar, in the north of Mumbai.

In some figures…

• Bollywood equals 1600 movies produced per year and “only” $ 2 billion of revenue (2014)
• Hollywood produce 500 movie per year with a revenue of more than $ 50 billion (2014)

Must know…

However, the movie industry in India is still appreciated, and for the ones that never tried yet, you will have to spare 3 hours to watch the movie with dance choreography every 20 minutes. Indeed, it is a lot but it’s worth it !

It is in Mumbai that are located the Bollywood studios, the stars of the Indian movie industry as Shahrukh Khan or Aishwarya Rai (former Miss World 1994). The visit of the Bollywood studios is a must-do during a trip to Mumbai, do not hesitate to check it out. You will have a guided tour of the studios for the price of 100 dollars per person. Indeed, it is not that cheap but the prices differ according to your desires !

You might meet the Bollywood stars in the trendy area of Mumbai as in Juhu or bandar. And who knows you might end up in an Indian movie… Indeed, it is likely for Westerners to be addressed in order to perform in an Indian movie. However be sure of the honesty of the project before you start !

Must see…

Before traveling to India, learn the basics and make sure you’ve seen some of the basic Indian movies as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, My name is Khan, Om Shanti Om or Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. You will notice that you will get attached to the characters pretty easily and you will go through joy to sadness quickly. Bollywood movies are an explosion of emotions.

Between friends, family, couple or even alone, if you want to go to Mumbai, we suggest you to discover the Bollywood studios and even conquer the Indian movie industry as Kalki Koechlin did, a french actress born in the fabulous region of Pondichéry !