Nowadays, it seems as if every country wants to host a Bollywood production. In the past year, countries such as Malaysia, England and Switzerland have bolstered attempts to keep Indian filmmakers returning to their respective countries to film Bollywood-type movies. Other countries have thrown their hat in the ring, including Ireland, Canada, Poland, and even the United States.

On April 23rd, it was announced two Indian movies will be shot in the island nation of Fiji by the end of 2009. According to Neelu Singh, secretary of Fiji-born pop singer Aiysha Saagar, several top Bollywood actors, producers and directors have made plans to film projects on the island. Saagar has regularly worked with top Bollywood talent and producers, and apparently convinced some of her Bollywood partners to use Fiji as a backdrop for its movies.

The announcement follows a similar news item two weeks earlier, when the Fiji Audio Visual Commission revealed it had lured Purple Post Productions to film Pump up the Mandali on the island beginning in May.

“The Bollywood productions are great news for us because the production will be bringing an impressive lineup of Indian stars and crew to Fiji — they will be hiring local crew, locals will be employed as extras and they will be utilizing film industry-related support services available in Fiji,” FAVC chairperson Sharon Smith-Johns said in a released statement, adding the addition of international film production in its country will help develop strong infrastructure, improve local services, bolster the local economy and workforce, and increase tourism to Fiji.

To continue attracting Bollywood productions to Fiji, the commission has set up a Bollywood Committee which includes members of local business people who have key links with Bollywood. As part of its mission, the committee will host several promotions and activities in Mumbai, the home of Bollywood.

While filming for the other two films is not scheduled to start until September, Singh stated production crews will be arriving in the country soon to scout specific locations and interview locals for supporting roles.

In September, production of Mohammed Burmawala’s Prankster is expected to commence. Burmawala previously produced a music video for Aiysha. A few weeks later, Abbas Mastan, who introduced Aiysha to Bollywood, will direct Players in Fiji, which is expected to star Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, John Abraham, Kajol, Ritesh Deshmukh, Upen Patel and Johnney Lever, among others.

An archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji has strong Indian roots. According to various census data, approximately 40% of the Fiji population hails from the Indian subcontinent. The island nation sometimes refers to itself as “Bulawood” or “the Hollywood of the South Seas.”