At a grand event held in Mumbai, the upcoming film Ishqa was officially unveiled, marking a major cultural collaboration between India and Cyprus. The romantic dramedy is being positioned as the first Bollywood feature to be shot, co-produced and post-produced in Cyprus under the CIPA Scheme. The launch event took place at The Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba, and was attended by prominent names from cinema, music and business, along with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. The occasion also highlighted strengthening cultural diplomacy and creative exchange between the two nations’ entertainment industries.
The project is spearheaded by Anjali Bhushan Mago, who began her career assisting Karan Johar on Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Now making her feature directorial debut, she has teamed up with the musical duo Meet Bros, known for hit tracks like Baby Doll and Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, to launch their production banner Yantra Films. The film brings together Indian storytelling sensibilities with the scenic and cultural backdrop of Cyprus. This collaboration also involves Ray Films Cyprus, strengthening international production ties and expanding the film’s global reach.
The unveiling saw the presence of several film industry personalities including Jaaved Jaaferi, Ravi Kishan, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Gaurav Chopra, Elnaaz Norouzi, Rajesh Khattar and Preeti Panigrahi. Entrepreneurs Sanjay Tugnait and Fokion C. Karavias also attended. President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the growing India Cyprus partnership, noting that cinema plays a powerful role in connecting cultures even before audiences physically travel. He also spoke warmly about hospitality and shared memories of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus last year, underlining the deepening bilateral relationship.
Speaking at the event, Anjali Bhushan Mago described Ishqa as a romantic dramedy weaving four stories of unconditional love into a comedy of errors. She added that audiences today need light and uplifting cinema. The film aims to offer a blend of romance, humour and emotional storytelling aimed at global audiences. She further said that Cyprus, known as the birthplace of Aphrodite, offers a natural emotional and visual setting for the narrative, with its beaches, villages like Lefkara, and cities such as Nicosia and Limassol enhancing the film’s world.
The Meet Bros, Harmeet Singh and Manmeet Singh, expressed excitement about stepping into film production through Yantra Films. They shared that years of working in music helped them understand storytelling closely, making this transition a natural progression. The evening concluded with a Bharatanatyam performance by Apeksha Niranjan followed by a live musical act by the duo. Casting for Ishqa is currently underway, with further announcements expected soon. The project is also expected to open new doors for Indo European film collaborations in the coming years.
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