Akshay Kumar meets CM Dhami in Dehradun to boost Uttarakhand film shoots
Synopsis
Akshay Kumar's courtesy call on Uttarakhand CM Dhami in Dehradun turned into a policy conversation — with Film Policy 2024's single-window permits and financial grants on the table. With a major Bollywood star already shooting in Mussoorie and Landour, the state is making a clear pitch to become India's next big film production hub.
Key Takeaways
Akshay Kumar met Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun on 18 October 2026 to discuss expanding film production in the state.
Kumar is currently shooting his upcoming film in Mussoorie and the Landour area.
The Uttarakhand Film Policy-2024 offers a single-window system for shooting permits and financial grants for productions.
CM Dhami said the government's goal is to create employment and self-employment opportunities for local artists, technicians, and youth.
Film shoots have boosted associated sectors including tourism , hospitality , and transportation in the state.
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar called on Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence in Dehradun on Sunday, 18 October 2026, with both sides exploring ways to expand film production in the hilly state. Kumar, who is currently shooting for an upcoming project in the Mussoorie and Landour areas, paid what officials described as a courtesy visit that quickly turned into a substantive policy discussion.
What Was Discussed
According to an official statement, the meeting covered Uttarakhand's film policy, the untapped potential for larger-scale film production, and concrete steps to strengthen the state's standing as a filmmaker-friendly destination. Chief Minister Dhami highlighted that the state's natural beauty, diverse terrain, rich cultural heritage, and administrative support have already made it one of the country's preferred shooting locations.
Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 at Work
Dhami noted that the 'Uttarakhand Film Policy-2024' is delivering measurable results. Under the policy, production houses receive shooting permits through a streamlined single-window system, and provisions for financial grants have been introduced to encourage more projects to base themselves in the state. The Chief Minister said the volume of film shoots conducted under the policy has only reinforced Uttarakhand's reputation as a top-tier destination.
Employment and Local Economy in Focus
Beyond screen value, Dhami stressed that the state government's ambition extends well beyond backdrop aesthetics. The official objective, he said, is to create new employment and self-employment opportunities for local artists, technicians, and youth. Film production activity has already generated downstream benefits across tourism, the hospitality industry, transportation, and local businesses — sectors that collectively employ a large share of Uttarakhand's working population.
Why Uttarakhand Makes Strategic Sense
Uttarakhand's valleys, mountains, rivers, and varied landscapes provide backdrops that production teams often travel abroad to replicate. Developing the state as a structured film production hub could, according to officials, prove transformative in generating both tourism revenue and direct employment. The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government remains committed to providing all possible support to filmmakers who choose Uttarakhand as their base.
With a marquee name like Akshay Kumar already shooting in the state and engaging directly with its government, industry watchers will closely track whether additional big-budget productions follow suit in the coming months.
Point of View
But the policy substance matters more than the celebrity photo opportunity. The single-window permit system and financial grant provisions in Film Policy 2024 are precisely the friction-reducers that smaller productions — not just marquee Bollywood names — need. The real measure of success will be whether mid-budget and independent films, which generate proportionally more local hiring, start choosing Uttarakhand over Himachal Pradesh or foreign locations. A star shooting in Mussoorie draws attention; a functioning ecosystem keeps productions coming back.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Akshay Kumar meet Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami?
Akshay Kumar met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 18 October 2026 at his official residence in Dehradun to discuss ways to promote and expand film production in Uttarakhand. Kumar is currently shooting his upcoming film in Mussoorie and the Landour area, and the visit was described as a courtesy call that included a detailed conversation on the state's film policy.
What is the Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024?
The Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 is the state government's framework to attract film productions, offering a single-window system for shooting permits and financial grants for filmmakers. CM Dhami said the policy is already yielding positive results, with an increase in film shoots strengthening Uttarakhand's reputation as a premier filming destination.
How does film production benefit Uttarakhand's economy?
Film production activity in Uttarakhand creates direct employment for local artists, technicians, and youth, while also generating business for tourism, hospitality, transportation, and other local industries. The state government sees film production hubs as a dual driver of employment and tourism revenue.
Where in Uttarakhand is Akshay Kumar currently filming?
Akshay Kumar is currently shooting his upcoming film in Mussoorie and the Landour area of Uttarakhand, two of the state's well-known hill-station locations that are popular with film productions.
What facilities does Uttarakhand offer filmmakers under its film policy?
Under the Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024, filmmakers are offered shooting permits through a single-window clearance system and can avail financial grants to support production. The state also provides a film-friendly administrative environment to ease logistics for production teams.
