Govind Namdev: More film shoots in UP will help improve the state’s image

Having shot in Lucknow in March and in Noida in October this year, actor Govind Namdev says that frequent film shoots in UP will help the state leave its ‘bad reputation’ behind.
READ: Govind Namdev: I've heard a lot of positive things about Lucknow
Veteran theatre and film actor Govind Namdev was in UP recently for the shoot of his upcoming film. But this was not his first visit to the state. His association with this region dates back several years.In a chat, he opens up about his relationship with UP, the changes he has seen here, and how films can help the state transform its image.
UP matlab sasural
Govind elaborates about his connection with UP and tells us about his favourite aspect of the state, “UP se mera bahut purana connection hai. I have my sasuraal in Mathura so my association with the state goes back several decades. I keep making frequent trips to UP, particularly to Mathura and Vrindavan. What I love about the state is the culture and ambience of spirituality here. There is so much vibrancy here that it is fun to keep coming back. UP gives you mental peace. The people are relaxed and it reflects in the daily activities and happenings of the region.”
The state always gets a bad reputation
When we shot in Noida for instance, we received a very warm reception in the locality where we shot. It was a small shoot but the people there made us feel very comfortable and welcome, which is always nice when you are shooting in a new place. Cities in UP always gets a bad reputation due to some incidents that are reported from there, which is unfortunate. But I believe if artistes and film stars shoot here more often and then go back and tell colleagues in Mumbai how warm the people here are, the image will change.
UP cities are developing fast
While he shot in Lucknow mostly, Govind was the most surprised to see Noida when he shot in UP. The short visit wasn’t his first to the city, having shot here over two decades ago. The actor tells us the changes he witnessed in Noida after so many years, “I visited Noida for the first time in 1991 while shooting for a movie. Now that I returned to the place so many years later, I was pleasantly surprised to see the change in the city. Pehle se bahut develop ho gaya hai Noida ab. It’s a proper planned city, structurally very well-made and very modern in its feel. Back then, there was only a film city which was in one secluded corner of the city but now it’s a bustling city. I think it reflects how the cities in UP have developed over the last few years.”