Need to show India as 'shooting destination': Anupam

Actor Anupam Kher, who has been applauded for his crossover projects like "You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger" and "Silver Linings Playbook", says India is not being sold as a shooting destination.

"I think we are not selling India as a shooting destination. Foreigners are coming to India to shoot crowded areas of Kolkata, shoot in Mumbai slums or to capture the beauty of Kerala beaches. But I think India has much more than all this," said the actor.

"The Shaukeens" actor was in the national capital for a conclave about Indian cinema. Anupam also stressed on how shooting of Indian films in other countries made them emerge as travelling destinations.

"Many countries like Georgia and Mauritius have understood that our shooting has made them popular as destinations. There's a train named after late filmmaker Yash Chopra in Switzerland. When we can go and make them so popular, I think it's time we had some serious discussion about the issue with film industry people," he said.

With abundant cultural diversity in India, the actor feels India is "gold mine yet to be explored".

"The country needs to work on its infrastructure and subsidies to attract filmmakers from abroad to come and shoot in India. Indian film industry people are going to Italy or some other country as cultural ministries are calling them...I don't know how many producers and makers are being invited to India," said the 59-year-old actor.

However, the actor also showed faith in the present government of India.

"I have an optimistic state of mind about it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about tourism. I think change will come soon," he said.