Top News

The unveiling event included the attendance of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and members of the Indian film industry such as Jaaved Jaaferi, Ravi Kishan, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Elnaaz Norouzi, Gaurav Chopra, Aaditi S Pohankar, and Preeti Panigrahi. Entrepreneurs Sanjay Tugnait and Fokion C. Karavias were also present.

Casting for the film is underway, with a well-known ensemble cast expected.

President Christodoulides welcomed the partnership, stating, “The first Bollywood movie in Cyprus. I am looking forward to receiving you this summer. I am sure that this is going to be the beginning of a lot of more cooperation. It is a great word of confidence for Cyprus and I am sure that you will enjoy it.” He added, “We are excited for the collaboration in this sector. Last year, we had the honor of receiving PM Modi in Cyprus in June. It was a visit after 22 years. It was the beginning of a new era in our relationship. We have turned a page and we are working very closely together in all sectors, including filming.”

The President emphasized growing economic ties between India and Europe, noting, “Cyprus currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. We are very glad that during the first week of our presidency, we had the announcement of the very important agreement of the European Union with India – the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). We are working hard to sign this agreement by the end of the year. Cyprus is the entry point, the gateway of India into Europe.” He concluded, “And that’s why I’m here and be sure that it’s not going to be the last time, I will be back.”

Anjali Bhushan Mago explained her motivation to direct her first feature now, saying she has been directing since 1996, usually television and documentaries. However, directing a fiction feature required a deeper understanding of filmmaking. She described ‘Ishqa’ as “a romantic dramedy about four stories of unconditional love interwoven in a comedy of errors. I truly feel audiences today need a happy film.”

She selected Cyprus as the location because “Cyprus is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love… making it the perfect setting for Ishqa. From its white sandy beaches and blue Mediterranean waters to the old-world charm of the village of Lefkara and the urban energy of Nicosia and Limassol, the country has a magical aesthetic that beautifully complements the emotional world of my film.”

Meet Bros, known for hit songs such as ‘Baby Doll’, ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’, ‘High Heels’, and ‘Pink Lips’, are now entering film production with Yantra Films. Harmeet Singh said, “As music composers, we have spent years interacting with directors, producers and filmmakers, understanding storytelling and watching films come together from close quarters. Through that journey, we met Anjali and instantly connected over the kind of cinema we believe in.”

He added, “We have always felt that music and cinema are deeply connected, and stepping into film production felt like the natural next chapter for us. With Yantra Films, we want to create stories that are entertaining, emotionally honest and capable of connecting with audiences across every background.”

Manmeet Singh expressed enthusiasm about the India-Cyprus collaboration, stating, “Meet Bros may be synonymous with Bollywood, but our hearts beat for India. We are extremely proud to be partnering with Cyprus and grateful for the support extended by the country and its people.” He noted, “This is only the beginning for us… we already have another film planned in Cyprus, and we are incredibly excited about what lies ahead!”

The unveiling ceremony featured a Bharatnatyam dance performance by Apeksha Niranjan and concluded with a live performance by Meet Bros.

‘Ishqa’ is produced by Anjali Bhushan Mago alongside Harmeet Singh, Manmeet Singh, and Anavi Bhushan Nugyal under Yantra Films AVC Ltd, in collaboration with Ray Films Cyprus as delegate producers, and Bulb Chamka as the line producers.