The filming of a Bollywood movie in Cyprus for the first time ever marks a major milestone for the island and its growing presence in global pop culture.
Anjali Bhushan Mago is the director, producer, and writer of the film Ishqa, a romantic drama and comedy which will be filmed in Cyprus within the next few months.
In an exclusive interview, Bhushan has spoken to en.philenews about what inspired her to bring the production here and how it could benefit the island.
Personal connection
Bhushan has had a long-standing personal connection to Cyprus and even said she thinks she lived in the country in a past life.
“The only country I knew of as a four year old was Cyprus, which is bizarre, right?,” Bhushan said, explaining that her grandfather used to take long business trips to island when she was young.
“He would tell me about this beautiful place, all white sands and blue seas, quite unlike anything that he had seen in India.
“Cyprus has probably been my home in a past life, because there are certain visions I have had, including a particular church, and the Aphrodite Rock.”
Bhushan feels like Cyprus is a “second home” and is struck by the island’s unique atmosphere, adding that the copper tones of island and its landscapes give it an almost “sci-fi” quality.
Beyond the scenery, what stands out to her is the energy of the place and its people. She described Cypriots as warm, open and full of life, with a strong sense of hospitality and togetherness, which reminds her of the Punjabi culture in India.
From Brighton to Cyprus
Bhushan reveals that the film was originally set in Brighton, a seaside town in England, as she was searching for a location where she could build an “isolated world” and in which everyone feels closely connected.
But when she came to Cyprus, she said she found a better fit for that atmosphere in places like Lefkara and old Nicosia, particularly through their coloured houses and close-knit feel.
She said: “In Bollywood, we like to have song and dance, and we need a glossy image for the audience to look forward to, especially in a romantic drama, which is what my film is. So I wanted to create a world within a world, and I found that in Lefkara.
“Cyprus has that lovely mix between the small town and the big city. It has so much going on for it.
“The script has houses overlapping with each other, like relationships, which is what we are showing in the film, they are meddling into each other, overlapping, and Cyprus lent itself very beautifully to that.”
Financial appeal
Away from the non-financial incentives, the director also pointed to Cyprus’ film rebate scheme as a practical factor in choosing the island, highlighting the financial support available to international productions. Under the scheme, filmmakers can receive up to 45 % cash back on qualifying expenditure spent in Cyprus, making it significantly cheaper to shoot compared with some other locations.
There is also an alternative tax credit of up to 35%, depending on how the production’s spending and cultural test score are assessed.
High Commissioner Mr. Manish @ManishGIfs met Ms. Anjali Bhushan Mago, writer, director and producer of Ishqa, along with Cypriot film partners Ms. Athena Xenidou and Mr. Ronan Le Du of Ray Films Cyprus, and other members of the film's creative and production team, at the High… pic.twitter.com/SSReIzzOy2
— India 🇮🇳 in Republic of Cyprus 🇨🇾 (@IndiainCyprus) June 9, 2026
The cash rebate is paid after filming is completed and reimburses a significant portion of costs incurred on services, crew, equipment and other eligible local expenses, while the tax credit option reduces the corporate tax liability of the production company.
“There is such a beautiful scheme of rebate, which is available in Cyprus, but people don’t know enough about it.
“As an Indian filmmaker we are in an industry of equity investments and in Cyprus we are practically in Europe so my team at Ray Films helped structure the application, making sure everything is done, all the I’s are dotted and all the T’s are crossed, so we’ve managed to get this pre-approval.”
Bhushan is referencing Cypriot producer and Ray Films co‑founder Athena Xenidou, who played a key role in bringing the project to Cyprus. She runs Ray Films alongside her partner, Ronan Le Du. Bhushan’s company Yantra Films is the primary producer of the film, and is structuring the equity investments and casting.
PWC is also helping to structure the investment.
What’s the film about?
The word “Ishqa” comes from Hindi, Urdu and Persian and means deep, passionate love or intense romantic affection. It is the state of being in love, in the context of this film.
Bhushan said the film is a romantic drama with comedic elements, and that the film will be “happy with bright colours”.
“We’re shooting in Old Nicosia and Lefkara, with additional scenes in Paphos and Protaras, and we are also touching on locations in Ayia Napa,” she said.
“We are stitching these locations together to create a very beautiful, happy, romantic drama centered around a wedding. The film also has four love stories. But I’m not going to say more; you’ll have to watch it!”
How will Cyprus be represented in the movie?
Bhushan said that Ishqa will be a great advert for Cyprus both as a holiday destination a place to live.
“It will be shown as a place to live, because we’re shooting a wedding in the film and we are also filming homes. I would say about 60% of the locations are homes or indoor settings, capturing the lifestyle people have there.
“But we also have the beaches, the streets, and the drama between the characters. So of course, it will be seen as a holiday destination in a big way, and also as a wedding tourism destination.”
Bollywood films have historically boosted tourism significantly in other countries, such as Spain, Switzerland, and the UK, where productions have attracted large Indian audiences. Bhushan said she expects Ishqa to have a similar effect, drawing Indian tourists to Cyprus and increasing interest in the island as both a holiday and wedding destination, particularly with its six to seven songs and planned wide release.
Finally, Bhushan expressed gratitude to the Cyprus government, Invest Cyprus, Eurobank and PwC for their support, and for the President’s visit, which she said helped provide a platform for the production. She added that part of their motivation was likely to boost tourism in Cyprus, and said her and the team will ensure Ishqa helps achieve that goal.
The core Isqha team consists of the following:
Production Team
- Harmeet Singh, Manmeet Singh and Anavi Bhushan Nugyal – Co-founders and Producers, Yantra Films
- Athena Xenidou & Ronan Le Du — Co-Founders and Producers, Ray Films
- Alexia Makrides & Giorgos Babanaras — Line Producers
Creative & Technical Head of Departments
- Gianni Gianelli — Director of Photography
- Maria Sarri — Production Designer
- Harmeet Singh & Manmeet Singh (Meet Bros) — Music Directors
Post-Production
- Pavlos Neocleous — Post-Production Producer
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