Kashmir snowfall brings film sets to a complete standstill

The intense snowfall that recently blanketed Jammu and Kashmir didn’t just disrupt everyday life — it brought film shoots in the region to a sudden halt. Actors and crews from the Kannada film industry, who were shooting on location, were forced to pause, reschedule, and adapt as nature took centre stage. Actors Ramesh Aravind, who was in Pahalgam shooting Yours Sincerely, Ram, and Priyanka Upendra, who is in Srinagar for the shoot of her son Aayush’s debut film, share their experiences with Bangalore Times.We were stuck on the road for 18 hours: Priyanka UpendraPriyanka Upendra and Upendra are in Srinagar for the shoot of their son Aayush’s debut film. Recounting their ordeal, Priyanka says, ”We were initially scheduled to fly from Jammu to Srinagar on the day of the snowfall, but flights were cancelled. We then had to travel by road. With snow blocking the roads and multiple checkpoints along the Jammu–Srinagar route, it took us 18 hours to finally reach our destination.”Having lived in the US and experienced extreme weather conditions during her time there, Priyanka says she tried to remain calm. “I was more concerned about the younger members of the crew. What we witnessed was unprecedented. It reminded us that when nature takes over, all you can do is bow down to it,” she says, adding, “Uppi had joined us on set for a few days, but his return plans had to be postponed due to the weather. He finally managed to get himself a ticket on a flight back to Bengaluru on Thursday (January 29).” The film’s team plans to remain in Srinagar until the end of February. Flights were cancelled, and traffic was at a standstill everywhere: Ramesh AravindDespite witnessing one of the heaviest snowfall spells in the region, Ramesh Aravind is all praise for the experience. “I’ve seen snowfall in many countries, including Switzerland and the US. But seeing snow in Kashmir is unparalleled,” he says. Ramesh and his team were stationed in Pahalgam, shooting in bright sunlight for most of their schedule. “Despite forecasts predicting snowfall, it didn’t happen — until suddenly it did. Flights were cancelled, and traffic was at a standstill everywhere. It was fascinating to watch how tyres are chained for grip on snow-covered roads,” he tells us.The actor, who had commitments back home and needed to return, tells us that he managed to secure a single seat on a flight to Bengaluru two days later. “However, the rest of his crew faced longer delays. The hotel-to-airport journey usually takes two hours; it took me three even though I left in the wee hours. My crew left later and took nine hours on the same route,” he shares.“Plans had to change, delays happened, and nature took over — we were just witnesses,” he reflects. “Yet, I chose to marvel at the beauty of it all. Life doesn’t always pan out the way you plan it. It’s the challenges and how you deal with them that make things interesting,” he adds.