Hindi
Switzerland woos regional Indian films with its locales
MUMBAI: After being the scenic backdrop of a lot of Hindi films shot in Switzerland so far, the country that is famous for its Alpine settings and beautiful scenic locales is pitching for regional Indian cinema.
The Swiss tourism industry has started working in tandem with the Film Location Switzerland, an organisation to attract regional Indian filmmakers from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Bengali cinema.
Says Switzerland Destination marketing general manager Ashish Saran, “We offer all facilities to filmmakers by way of package deals. Technical help, shooting equipment, or scouts to fix locales are all available in plenty in Switzerland. Though the Hindi film industry has been regularly making use of our locales in particular, we now want to give the regional Indian cinema here as a major business opportunity – to promote our tourism industry,”
India makes around 1,000 films a year, the largest by any country. Estimates suggest that more than 200 Hindi films have been shot in Switzerland till date. Recent Hindi films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Khabhi Gham and Mujhse Dosti Karogi have all presented Switzerland in a new light to Indian tourists.
Recently, Swiss Consul-General in Mumbai Josef Renggli had gone to Hyderabad to woo Telugu and Tamil producers to shoot in his country. Avers Renggli, “The response I got from the filmmakers was encouraging and heartening. There are a whole lot of non-Hindi filmmakers waiting to tap our locales.‘‘
It may be noted that several scenes from the late Shakti Samanta‘s An Evening in Paris had major scenes shot in Switzerland. A scene in the film, supposedly depicting the Niagara Falls was actually filmed at the Rhein Falls, Switzerland.
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
