Hollywood meets India: 10 iconic films shot across Indian locations

There is something about India that attracts filmmakers from across the globe to its lakes, palaces, forts and other locations. There’s a unique charm in the chaotic noisy streets of India that draws filmmakers to its people, and places. Beyond its postcard beauty lies tales of self-discovery, survival, surrender, and connection that have been beautifully portrayed on the big screens globally.
In the past decades, several Hollywood cinemas have been shot in India, which have been a blockbuster. These movies have played an important role in popularising these spots on an international level and attracting globetrotters.
Let’s have a look at some of the masterpieces shot in India:

Octopussy (1983), starring Roger Moore in the lead role (James Bond), includes prolonged sequences shot in the beautiful locales of Udaipur, Rajasthan. The movie features some of the city's most iconic attractions, including the Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, City Palace, and the Monsoon Palace. Udaipur's grand lakes, royal structures, and rich cultural nuances were the ideal setting of this spy thriller.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007), which features Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, was largely shot throughout India, with important scenes filmed on a train and Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The movie is about three brothers who set out on a spiritual journey aboard a train journey through India in an attempt to heal their broken relationships. The colours of Rajasthan, desert landscapes, and historical buildings enrich the movie's themes of loss, reconciliation, and self-realization

Released in 2011, this Julia Roberts-starrer movie was shot at several peaceful locations in India, including an ashram in Pataudi, Haryana. The movie follows the main character on a quest of self-discovery, and India is the "pray" chapter of her life which is mostly about meditation, healing, and inner peace. The Ganges scenes in the movie are shot in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

Ghost Protocol is the fourth installment in the Tom Cruise-starrer Mission Impossible series released in 2011. One of the most thrilling action sequences in the movie was shot on a high-rise building in Mumbai. It’s the scene where Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) team carries out a mission that incorporates deception and state-of-the-art gadgetry.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), featuring Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith, was primarily filmed in Rajasthan’s Jaipur and Udaipur. The film captures the everyday drama and quiet magic of life in Rajasthan. The vibrant markets, grand havelis, and timeless charm, the local culture doesn’t just serve as a backdrop, it takes centre stage, adding warmth, colour, and humour to the story.

With Suraj Sharma and Ang Lee as its director, Life of PI (2012) has a number of pivotal scenes shot in Puducherry and Kerala. The colorful streets, botanical gardens, and colonial buildings of Puducherry represent the childhood home of Pi. Scenes at the zoo, school, and places of worship were captured in and around Puducherry. Other scenes, such as the green surroundings and backwaters, were shot in Kerala.

Starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, and Anne Hathaway, this 2012 movie is a cult! Some important scenes of the movie were shot at the legendary Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The fort was used as the backdrop of the underground prison where Bruce Wayne (the Batman) is incarcerated. Its imposing walls, craggy textures, and medieval architecture perfectly complemented the dark tone of the film, investing in the climactic transformation of Christopher Nolan's ‘Batman’.

Million Dollar Arm (2014) is a Disney biographical sports drama that follows the life journey of a struggling American baseball scout. The man travels to India in search of talented cricket players to convert them into major-league baseball pitchers. Major filming took place in Mumbai’s Jamboree Maidan, where the reality-show competitions unfolded, and at Lucknow University, where the players were scouted. Iconic sequences near the Taj Mahal in Agra lend a rich cultural backdrop.

Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki, Tenet (2020) features scenes from Mumbai. One of the film’s key action sequences takes place atop a high-rise building in Mumbai’s business district. The city’s modern skyline and intense energy provided a sleek, urban backdrop for the film’s complex and narrative The Mumbai scenes were choreographed with precision and added a fast-paced, international edge to the film’s unique storyline.

Extraction (2020), starring Chris Hemsworth, is an action-packed thriller that has intense scenes shot in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The crowded streets and complex alleys of Ahmedabad were used to re-create high-tension chase sequences, while Mumbai offered fast-paced cityscapes, both of these destinations added to the raw, gritty feel of the film and served to anchor its hyperactive story in a realistic Indian environment.