Dubai set to woo tourists with Bollywood-themed park

Dubai is all set to woo tourists with the world's first Bollywood-themed amusement park where visitors will be able to enjoy immersive 3-D and 4-D rides and stunts from movies such as 'Krrish' and 'RA.One' and savour a "Mughal-e-Azam" style banquet.
Dubai Parks and Resorts complex, a Dh 10.5 billion (about USD 2.75 billion) venture, will have 16 cinematic rides, six themed restaurants and 30 live shows inspired by contemporary Hindi-language blockbusters such as superstar Salman Khan's 'Dabangg', Shah Rukh Khan's 'Don', Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan' and Hrithik Roshan's 'Krrish' as well as classics like 'Sholay' and 'Mughal-E-Azam' among others.
General Manager Bollywood Parks Dubai Thomas Jellum said he is sure that apart from Indians, people from other countries will also come to Dubai to experience the vibrant celebration of India's film industry at this attraction, spread over 1.7 million square feet.

The theme park will also include Broadway-style live shows with fine-dining. Tourists will have to shell out extra at Rajmahal, a 850-seat theatre that will house a separately ticketed Broadway-style Bollywood musical.
The theme park will have a glittering opening ceremony in October attended by some of the biggest stars in Bollywood, Jellum said.
Unveiling an exclusive preview and tour of the upcoming park at a press conference here, Chief Destination Management Officer of Dubai Parks and Resorts Vinit Shah said he and his team members have tried to take all the ingredients that go into a Bollywood movie to create an experience that stays with people visiting the park.

"We went directly to the production houses to talk about the films for the concept development and for insights for the story development for our rides," Shah said.

Director, Branding and communication, Muna Harib Al Muhairi and Director Marketing, Neelabja Chowdhury said they have started selling annual passes for its parks, which will grant pass holders unlimited year-long access to as many as 100 rides and attractions across its three theme parks and one water park, among other benefits.
"Dubai Parks and Resorts is encouraging sales of the passes by throwing in exclusive preview access to the parks with early purchase," they added.

The Bollywood Boulevard zone will be home to Rock On, a
restaurant with a live rock band recreating a scene from the 2008 film of the same name, starring Farhan Akhtar.
In Mumbai Chowk, Don-the Chase will bring to life the classic car-chase sequence from the film, while the Rustic Raven zone will shine the spotlight on movies with a rural focus.
The Lagaan corner will be set up as a carnival, with a Ferris wheel, carousel and games. The ride Sholay The Hunt for Gabbar will have visitors fighting the 'bad guys'.
The Bollywood Film Studios' Hall of Heroes area will provide a sneak peek into the making of movies, including the coming-of-age drama 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'.

Retail outlets such as Chalte Chalte', the Bollywood Studio store, Desi Emporium and Mumbai Bazaar, will sell movie memorabilia and themed merchandise.
The park, which is located half an hour away from downtown Dubai, will also have 30 live shows, across six stages -- Rock On, Crossroads, Mumbai Express, Rangmanch, Stars on Steps and Cinema Circle.