Abu Dhabi sends off Katrina, Hrithik; set to welcome Akshay next

Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan have wrapped up their two-week Abu Dhabi shoot for the upcoming ‘Bang Bang’ amidst high security and few prying eyes.

Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of twofour54, the commercial arm of the Media Zone Authority Abu Dhabi, said in a statement: “Abu Dhabi’s popularity as a destination to produce films has grown beyond Hollywood to include Bollywood; this is another step forward in the emirate’s emergence as an international filming and production hub.”

When quizzed by Emirates 24|7, a rep from the local production house confirmed the Bollywood actors stayed in the UAE capital for two weeks only and not one month as earlier media reports stated.

The actors flew out on May 19.

‘Bang Bang’  is the official remake of the Hollywood Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz starrer ‘Knight and Day’ and is scheduled for release in October 2, 2014 at over 4,500 screens globally according to Fox Star Studios and twofour54.

Filming took place at various locations in Abu Dhabi including the Corniche, Liwa Oasis, Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel, Qasr al Sarab, Emirates Palace and Yas Island.

twofour54 has also confirmed that ‘Bang Bang’ is using the production services of Intaj, the company’s film and television services provider and benefiting from the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30 per cent production rebate in the emirate.

Other major international film and TV productions to film this year include ‘Fast & Furious 7’, the latest instalment of the globally popular action franchise, BBC’s Top Gear and Clacket Production’s ‘The Brothers’, along with ‘Star Wars’.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is also expected to fly into Abu Dhabi ‘soon’ according to his spokesperson to shoot for the upcoming Hindi language film, ‘Baby’.