DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Bright lights and camera equipment took over a Best Western on Mayport Road Tuesday for a Bollywood film production.
The crews are working on “Romance Complicated.” It is a Bollywood motion picture, and a good portion of it is being filmed in Duval County.
The movie will not only promote the city worldwide, but it is leaving a mark on the local economy.
The owner of Luminescence Films told Action News that choosing Jacksonville was a “no-brainer.”
“Jacksonville has one characteristic, it gives us beaches, it gives us very lovely gardens, it gives us a downtown, which is not having too much traffic,” said Kirti Jain. “We can shoot very easily.”
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The production is also putting people to work by hiring about 60 local professionals. The company has also booked more than 200 hotel rooms.
"That roughly works out to about $200,000," said Said Jain. "That is the kind of money which we have spent over here."
Todd Roobin, who manages Jacksonville's film and TV office, said it's the first time a Bollywood film chose to shoot in the city, because the state doesn't have funding to offer incentives. He said his office is focusing on attracting smaller productions like this one.
“We have steady business in that realm, and we gonna focus a lot of our energies toward attracting more of those types of productions, as well as national regional and international commercials,” Roobin said.
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The makers of “Romance Complicated” told Action News they would consider Jacksonville for more projects.
“It has a lot to offer. I think the best part about it is the people of Jacksonville, the way we have been welcomed,” said Shashank Desai, line producer.
The film will be released in the U.S. in September.