look news india
The panoramic view and infinite horizon of ‘Sambhar Lake’ situated on the sacred land of Rajasthan is once again ruling the hearts of Bollywood filmmakers, directors and cinema lovers. This country’s largest salt water lake is not only famous for salt production, but is also known all over the world for its unique, magical and natural beauty like a sheet of white salt. Whether it is to serve as a backdrop for heart-touching romantic songs on the big screen or to shoot heart-pounding high-octane action sequences, Bollywood filmmakers turn to this beautiful location again and again. The vast white plains, the limitless expanse of blue sky and the golden rays of the setting sun provide Sambhar Lake with a magical canvas that breathes ethereal life into the scenes of Indian cinema.
The landscape of Sambhar Lake, located at a short distance from Jaipur district, looks like an exotic desert or another planet. This is the reason why film directors find it easiest and most appropriate to turn to Sambhar Lake instead of spending crores of rupees abroad like water to give a bigger and grander canvas to their stories. The vast expanse of the lake, the white layer of salt and the miniature trains running along the historic railway tracks passing through it (Sambar Salts Historic Train) give a very classic and vintage cinematic feel to any scene. Be it the dazzling white desert in the scorching heat of the day or the hazy and romantic shadows formed in the evening, every color of Sambhar fits perfectly into the camera lens.
The magic of this enchanting backdrop of Sambhar Lake has been seen in many big and blockbuster Bollywood films. The famous scene of Aamir Khan’s all-time blockbuster film ‘PK’, in which Aamir Khan descends naked on earth for the first time carrying a radio, was shot on the infinite white earth of this Sambhar Lake. Apart from this, romantic songs of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grand film ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’, Salman Khan’s ‘Dabangg’, Ajay Devgan’s action film ‘Keemat’, ‘Gulaal’, ‘Dron’ and many of Karan Johar’s films have been shot at this place. In recent times also, producers and directors of OTT web series and big budget music videos are giving first priority to Sambhar Lake for their shooting.
Not just for mainstream Bollywood cinema, now Sambhar Lake has become a major hotspot for pre-wedding shoots of photographers, music video directors and newly married couples coming from India and abroad. The reflection of the sky in the shallow water of the lake during sunset gives it the look of ‘Mirror of Rajasthan’, which dozens of crews reach here every day to capture on camera. Apart from this, many TV commercials related to car racing, bike stunts and off-roading are also shot on a large scale on the rough and flat sandy surface. Local tourism operators believe that this pull of Bollywood has given a tremendous boost to the economic condition of Sambhar region and new employment opportunities.
Sambhar Lake is not just a shooting location, but it is also the temporary home of thousands of foreign guests i.e. ‘flamingos’ (swans) and other migratory birds that come every winter. When a flock of pink flamingo birds lands on the white salt lake, the scene looks like a fairy tale. The frequent use of this location by Bollywood films and big banners has not only given the area a new identity at the international level, but has also given a big boost to the local hotel industry, guide and handicraft business. With strict implementation of environmental protection and shooting guidelines, now Rajasthan Tourism Department is also promoting Sambhar Lake as a major ‘Film Tourism Destination’.