Lights, camera, action! 'Raja The Great' starts shooting in Darjeeling

Amidst gyrating music, the shooting of Raja the Great commenced in Darjeeling on Tuesday. It is the first-ever Telugu movie to be shot in this hill town.

The first day's shoot involved a dance sequence starring both the leads — Ravi Teja and Mehreen Prizada. As much as 30 percent of the film will be shot in the Darjeeling Hills.

Raja The Great is written and directed by Anil Ravipudi and produced by Dil Raju under the banner Sri Venkateswara Creations.

The locations for the first day shoot was in a Hotel and an empty car park in Darjeeling town. With the picturesque backdrop of the Darjeeling town, a market set was created in the parking lot where both Teja and Prizada of the Phillauri fame did takes of a dance sequence.

"Darjeeling is cool. Nice location. It's superb. The people are great too. I'm enjoying Darjeeling. This is my first visit," stated Teja, talking in between the takes. In Darjeeling, the shoot will continue for the next 15 days.

Teja is known for his acting versatility and is one of the highest paid in the Telugu film industry. This is for the first time he is playing the role of a visually challenged person. Sources state that the film will be fun-filled with a few stunts to be performed by Teja himself.

"I had come here in August 2016 and had liked Darjeeling. One month back I had returned for reconnaissance. That is the time I decided on the locations," stated director Anil Ravipudi. The film will be extensively shot at the Darjeeling Chowrasta (Mall), Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in the stretches between Darjeeling and Ghoom and Sukna to Rongton; tea garden and lake side shots in Mirik along with St Paul's School in Darjeeling.

"Along with the dance sequence, there will be a fight sequence and action sequences shot in Darjeeling. The film is scheduled for release in August or September this year," added the director.

The director hopes that the film becomes a super hit. "If the film becomes a super hit, Darjeeling too will stand to gain. It is such a beautiful location that I am sure that South Indian film shoots will make a beeline for the Queen of the Hills," stated Ravipudi.