Top 10 Best Indian Movies That Were Shot in Kashmir
Kashmir, often described as the “Paradise on Earth,” is a haven for Indian filmmakers. It’s no surprise that the range of the country’s landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to green valleys, lakes, and quiet villages, overflows with visual richness and metaphorical depth for directors who are drawn to simile and poetic comparison. For decades, movies made in India, including those in Bollywood and the country’s regional film industries, have lovingly depicted the stunning landscapes of Kashmir. Some focused on love, others on history, conflict, and transformation.
Here are 10 Indian films, cutting across languages and genres, that were entirely or at least mostly filmed in Kashmir. These are movies that are not just visually iconic, but great stories with great performances that have stood the test of time.
1. Haider (2014)
Language: Hindi
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor
Haider is a riveting modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and it is set entirely in the Kashmir of the 1990s. A young man returns to his hometown and learns his father is missing and his mother is with his uncle. The movie is political right from the start, emphasizing insurgency, AFSPA, and personal tragedy.
Shot in Pahalgam, Srinagar, and the Martand Sun Temple, Haider integrates Kashmir into the narrative rather than just using it as a backdrop. The snow, quiet, and darkness make it beautiful, though harrowing. It went on to win five National Awards and is still considered one of Indian cinema’s most respected depictions of Kashmir.
2. Tahaan (2008)
Language: Hindi
Director: Santosh Sivan
Cast: Purav Bhandare, Rahul Bose, Anupam Kher
Tahaan, directed by acclaimed cinematographer and filmmaker Santosh Sivan, is a poignant coming-of-age drama entirely set in Kashmir. The film revolves around an eight-year-old boy named Tahaan, who embarks on a meandering voyage to reclaim his prized donkey. Although it initially seems to be a simple fable targeted at children, it is replete with reflections on innocence and the depravities of conflict and choice in a troubled region.
The film has a naturalistic and grounded appearance and is shot at picturesque and lesser-known Kashmiri spots such as the secluded mountains of Pahalgam and adjacent villages. You can read a deeper breakdown of Tahaan, including its cast, review, and technical analysis, at the movie review site Tamilyogi. It focuses on ordinary Kashmiris’ daily lives amidst the political turmoil and is not preachy in the least.
Tahaan won several international honors and accolades for its sensitive filming, moving performances, and genuine cinematography. It is a tiny yet mighty effort that leverages its advantages not just for its attractiveness but also to give its kids and future.
3. Fitoor (2016)
Language: Hindi
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina Kaif, Tabu
A filmic recreation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Fitoor is remembered as much for its fantastical rendition of Kashmir. Each frame has poetry and nature overflowing, from Dal Lake to Gulmarg. The movie examines unrequited love and class differences, and emotional baggage.
It received mixed reviews for its story, but the visuals and Tabu’s acting were widely praised. It presented Kashmir as a soft, gentle, romantic landscape, which could mirror a protagonist’s inner angst.
4. Notebook (2019)
Language: Hindi
Director: Nitin Kakkar
Cast: Zaheer Iqbal, Pranutan Bahl
A love story unfolds through the exchange of letters in Notebook, set in a remote school on the banks of Kashmir’s Wular Lake. The film is not star-driven, depending instead on its locations and atmosphere. The beauty of Dal Lake, Betaab Valley, and Gurez is captured in its pristine best.
The film did not do very well at the box office but was well-liked for its visuals and innocent narrative. It has also revived interest in Kashmir among young couples and tourists.
5. Shikara (2020)
Language: Hindi
Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Cast: Aadil Khan, Sadia
Shikara is a unique Bollywood movie that takes on the 1990 Kashmiri Pandits exodus. A romantic film at its core, it portrays the heartbreak, pain, and longing for home experienced by thousands of people. The movie was shot in real places, such as the famous Dal Lake and a dozen ancient temples. The forgotten Kashmir of before the war was presented along with one after.
The film has received a great deal of well-deserved attention for its intent and visual representation, while the storyline did not impress the audience. Regardless, many knew more about this essential part of India’s history due to the release.
6. Raazi (2018)
Language: Hindi
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal
Inspired by a true story in Harinder Sikka’s book Calling Sehmat, Raazi depicts a young Indian woman who is married to a Pakistani army officer to work as a spy. Even though the majority of the scenes have been shot in Punjab and Mumbai, the film has been filmed in Kashmir as well to signify Sehmat’s home and heritage.
The valley scenes were crucial in representing the protagonist’s attachment to her roots. The film was a success in terms of box office revenue and comedy, illustrating a blend of success and private bereavement.
7. Silsila (1981)
Language: Hindi
Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha
Yash Chopra was one of the first directors who showed his audience Kashmir’s beauty. The film Silsila, which tells a love triangle, for the first time demonstrated the tulip gardens and snowy landscapes of Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Yash’s film, full of songs on tulips “Dekha Ek Khwab”, attracted thousands of those who till these gardens on a thousandth caravans to the valley. Afterwards, many more directors used his cinematic template.
8. Mission Kashmir (2000)
Language: Hindi
Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Preity Zinta
A combination of action and emotion, it is rather an exploration of how war and violence can impact kids and families in conflict zones. Based on a boy who became a terrorist as a grown man, to later come after his adopted father, a police officer.
The movie used many actual locations in Kashmir, politics, and visual novel, and music elements that were still one level higher than before, and continue to influence film today. It was a critical attempt at the human aspect of terrorism.
9. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Language: Hindi
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone
Although the location did not have a deep connection to the story, the scenes are cherished forever. It was a living testament to the filmmakers that Kashmir could accommodate adventure and youth-oriented stories. Most people believe that the trekking scenes were shot in Himachal Pradesh.
However, the snow trek sequence in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was filmed in Gulmarg, Kashmir. Hence, with pathbreaking films came moments worth cherishing forever.
10. Rockstar (2011)
Language: Hindi
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri
In Rockstar, Kashmir is where the lead character’s emotional journey finds its high point. The scenes filmed in the valley are graphically beautiful and filled with high emotion, especially those around Dal Lake and in the valley’s rural interior.
Music, heartbreak, and inner conflict combine with the region’s quiet beauty in the movie. It is an example of how Kashmir can reflect a character’s internal struggles.
Kashmir as a Storytelling Character
These ten Hindi-language Indian films have treated Kashmir not merely as a setting but as an extension of their soul. Whether through gripping stories or stunning visuals, these films show just how significant places can be in influencing emotion, culture, and connection in Indian cinema.
Together, these movies demonstrate why Kashmir continues to be one of Indian cinema’s most emotionally charged and visually stunning shooting destinations. Its backgrounds work not only as image framing, but also as narrative centers that affect the mood, tension, and even metaphorical elements. With changing times and better times, Kashmir is again likely to become an attractive canvas for filmmakers in India.
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