Shah Rukh Khan’s film Happy New Year will be the first Bollywood film to be shot entirely in Dubai, said a top industry official. “It will be the first time where an entire Bollywood feature is shot in Dubai. It’s a dream come true,” said Jamal Al Sharif, chairman of Dubai Film And TV Commission (DFTC) in an interview with tabloid!. Currently, he’s swatting phone calls from overzealous fans (mostly female) who are eager to catch a glimpse of the superstar on UAE soil. “Girls are crazy about him. I have to tell these girls, I am not his agent,” he quipped. He was speaking on the sidelines of an industry insider meet on Tuesday that saw production companies voice their concerns about location approvals and fee structures..

So far, only a couple of South Indian films have been shot exclusively in Dubai, while Bollywood filmmakers and stars such as Salman Khan have visited Dubai to shoot song sequences only. “Shah Rukh’s movie Happy New Year has been in discussion over a year. Last year, I met [director] Farah Khan who wanted to know more about shooting in Dubai. I was like: ‘Farah, tell me what you want’. Also, for Shah Rukh, Dubai is like a second home and having him give Dubai this credibility is important to us” said Al Sharif.