Credits Kashmir for his film journey, urges others to visit ‘peaceful’ valley
SRINAGAR: Veteran Bollywood actor and politician Raj Babbar on Wednesday said he never felt Kashmir unsafe. He credited the valley for shaping his film career and urged tourists and filmmakers to visit what he described as “a land of love, peace and warmth”.
Babbar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said Kashmir had been central to his acting career. “It is the valley where I truly began. From 1980 to 1996–97, there wasn’t a single film which I didn’t shoot in Kashmir. Be it Armaan, Aapas Ki Baat or many others, Kashmir has always been part of my work,” he said in Gulmarg.
He described the valley as safe and welcoming. “I never felt Kashmir unsafe or terrorised. People here greet you with smiles and love, and that love has never decreased,” he added.
The veteran actor appreciated the local administration and officials, including the CEO of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), for their hospitality. “This is what Kashmiriyat means. Kashmiriyat is another name for Insaniyat,” he said.
Urging tourists and filmmakers to visit, Babbar said the atmosphere in the valley was peaceful. “There’s no terror here. Everyone should come and see the beauty and peace of Kashmir themselves. It is fit for everything, from tourism to film shooting,” he said. “No matter where one travels, Kashmir remains the final destination.”