By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 25: As the nation grieves the loss of Bollywood’s eternal “He-Man” Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday at 89, Meghalaya holds a quiet, tender memory of the legend — one that lives in the minds of the people through an unreleased film called Har Pal.
Shot extensively in Smit, Laitlum, and some parts of Shillong in 2007, the film remains one of the most prominent Bollywood projects to have been filmed in the region.
Directed by Jahnu Barua and starring Dharmendra, Preity Zinta, and Shiney Ahuja, Har Pal was completed between 2007 and 2008 but never made it to theatres.
Its release was indefinitely delayed following legal controversies surrounding the male lead, Shiney Ahuja. Despite intermittent announcements suggesting a possible release, director Jahnu Barua confirmed in November 2014 that the film had been shelved permanently.
Yet, for Shillong, the memories of the shoot linger vividly. During the filming at Laitlum, Dharmendra spoke warmly of Shillong’s serene charm, saying the city’s peaceful environment deeply appealed to him. The role had originally been offered to Amitabh Bachchan, who later backed out due to scheduling conflicts, paving the way for Dharmendra’s involvement.
The actor had expressed hope that Har Pal would help promote Shillong as a tourist hotspot and a permanent film-shooting destination, given its stunning landscapes.
His co-star Preity Zinta, who portrayed a local girl in the film had also shared her admiration for Meghalaya’s natural beauty and its matrilineal society.
“It is really impressive to see that women are being respected here,” she had remarked at the time, adding that she was captivated by the scenic vistas of the “Scotland of the East.” Preity had even questioned why Bollywood had not explored Meghalaya more frequently, choosing instead to rely on Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh.
The film’s production was facilitated in part by the initiative of former Chief Minister late D.D. Lapang, who engaged producer Tito Juneja to explore the idea of bringing Bollywood projects to Meghalaya.
Motivated by this vision, the state government had established a task force to brand Meghalaya as a film destination.
This task force included prominent names such as filmmakers Subhash Ghai, N. Chandra, late Shyam Benegal, actor Suniel Shetty, and local entrepreneurs Larsing Ming Sawian, Sweety Pala, and Arlene Sangma. Legendary filmmaker late Yash Chopra was expected to be a special invitee.
The team was tasked with drafting a film promotion policy, creating promotional material, participating in national and international film festivals, and even exploring the possibility of setting up a Film City in Shillong—on the lines of Mumbai’s Film City or Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City. Improving infrastructure, including connectivity and high-standard hotels, was also part of the broader long-term vision to boost tourism through cinema.
Though Har Pal never reached the silver screen, its making left an indelible mark on Meghalaya’s cultural landscape.
