Bollywood stars arrive in Israel in bid to boost India-Israel ties

[Vehl]

A group of Indian Bollywood stars are set to arrive in Israel on Sunday to explore joint ventures and scout location sites as part of the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) “Project Interchange” in conjunction with the Australia/Israel Jewish Affairs Council.

The project’s Executive Director, Sam Witkin, called the exchange “part of a broad initiative by Project Interchange and AJC to deepen bilateral ties between Israel and India.” “We from India come with our strengths, to learn of your strengths, so that we can collaborate and take our love and passion for cinema to the next level,” said Three’s Company Productions Producer and Director Shirish Kunder.

The group will meet with meet with political figures as well and will be addressed by Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, and other influential figures across the political and social spectrum. "I find that Israelis and Indians both have strong family bonds,” observed Producer Sundeep “Bobby” Bedi, Kaleidiscope Studios Founder. “I look forward to a heightened creative interaction.”

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/bollywood-stars-arrive-in-israel-in-bid-to-boost-india-israel-ties-1.372485

This is welcome news. I wonder if the next Bollywood movie might have song-and-dance number filmed in the Negev :P

On a historical note, some of the earliest Indian Bollywood actors, especially the actresses were Indian Jews


Ermeline (the Jewish Indian actress known as India’s Clara Bow)



Nadira-Jewish Bollywood Star


Rose Ezra. Ruby Myers


Jews in Bollywood
http://uberdesi.com/blog/2009/07/01/jews-in-bollywood/

India and Israel have always had close relations, historically. The Jewish community in India is ancient, the earliest of them date from the the time the first temple was destroyed in Israel, more came after the destruction of the second temple, the Spanish inquisition and the Baghdad conflicts. India was also the only country where the Jewish people did not face anti-Antisemitism. They flourished and still flourish there. Today India and Israel share a strong relationship, one that is based on mutual respect as well as mutual threats faced by these two nations. In the field of industry, especially the military-technological one, both nations have a plethora of Joint development projects in process.


on a related note

India Tops US as the most Pro Israeli country in the world

Study on behalf of Foreign Ministry ranks India, US as most pro-Israel countries

Itamar Eichner

The greatest level of sympathy towards Israel can be found in India, according to international study on behalf of the Foreign Ministry, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday.

According to the study, which was unprecedented in scope and was undertaken by an international market research company, 58% of Indian respondents showed sympathy to the Jewish State. The United States came in second, with 56% of American respondents sympathizing with Israel.

more here
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3696887,00.html

Jews of Cochin - Part 1 of 2
http://youtu.be/Q2a2bxhAdOQ

Jews in Cochin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsYjstngUE4&feature=player_embedded#at=74

[tammywammy]

1. Interesting. rec. n/t

[Name removed]

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