MUMBAI: Vishesh Films’ latest offering Awarapan, slated for release on 29 June 2007, has been extensively shot in various locales of Hong Kong.

Awarapan marks the first time that Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has supported the shooting of an Indian feature film.

With the worldwide release of Awarapan, the Bhatts will bring Hong Kong closer to the Hindi film audience. The location of the story was an integral part of the film since its scripting stage. “While Bhatt saab (Mahesh Bhatt) and Shagufta Rafique were writing the film, Mukesh sir and I were on a location recce. The location for every scene was falling into place from the scripting stage itself,” says director Mohit Suri.

He adds, “More than 70 per cent of the film was shot within 20 days in Hong Kong.” The rest of the film, featuring Shriya Saran and Emraan Hashmi, has been shot in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

“The laser show was the best shot captured and everyone in the unit was so happy after we filmed it. Awarapan is a special film and Hong Kong has made it possible,” says Suri.

Adds Mahesh Bhatt, “Emraan Hashmi and Hong Kong were unchangeable elements of Awarapan since its inception.”

Bhatt’s love affair with Hong Kong dates back to the 1970s, when he shot Lahoo Ke Do Rang with Vinod Khanna. He revisited the city with Naam in the eighties and Gumrah, featuring Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi, in the nineties.

In the recent past, HKTB has also hosted Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar, who came specially to meet Hong Kong’s Tourism Ambassador Jackie Chan.