Queenstown will take a starring role when a major Bollywood film production shoots on location in late January.
Mumbai-based Dharma Productions will film I Hate Love Stories in Queenstown, Glenorchy, Kingston, Skippers Canyon and Coronet Peak.
The love story features young Bollywood stars Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor and will be directed by newcomer Puneet Malhotra.
It is due for release in May 2010 and expected to be watched by 150 million cinema-goers.
Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings said Dharma Productions had a good track record at the Indian box office.
"Queenstown is going to feature as Queenstown. It's going to have pretty good exposure to the massive Bollywood film base, a huge market.
"The Indian tourists travel here in April, May and June, so it's going to help fill the shoulder season.
"There will be some talent, film makers and equipment hired [in the Wakatipu], but the reality is the Indian crews generally work as a unit."
Tourism New Zealand acting chief executive Tim Hunter said the production would showcase New Zealand in India and the opportunity for media coverage there was significant.
"The movie itself will attract a huge audience, but the media surrounding the filming and the release will also present great opportunities for promoting New Zealand as a visitor destination."
Mr Jennings said it was a "good opportunity to demonstrate how the two industries can work together".
Tourism New Zealand will be hosting Indian media, who will follow the two lead actors as they participate in tourist activities in the Queenstown area.
