Europe Through the Lens of Bollywood
Famous Hindi Films Shot Across the United Kingdom and Europe
By Lokanath Mishra, MA, LLB, IRS (Retired)
Europe has long been one of Bollywood’s favourite outdoor studios. Snow-covered mountains, crystal-clear lakes, medieval castles, colourful flower gardens, romantic rivers, historic cities, and modern skylines have attracted Indian filmmakers for more than five decades. Millions of Indian tourists have later visited these destinations after watching them on the silver screen.
During my recent European tour, I realised that many places we visited had already become familiar through Bollywood films. Standing in those locations brought back memories of songs and scenes that generations of Indian cinema lovers have enjoyed.
Here are some of the most famous Bollywood films shot across the United Kingdom and Europe.
UNITED KINGDOM
- Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Major Locations
- London
- King’s Cross Station
- Horseguards Parade
- Hyde Park
- Various streets of Central London
Although much of the romance unfolds in Switzerland, the story begins and ends in London, where Raj and Simran’s families live.
Box Office: Blockbuster. One of the greatest successes in Indian cinema history.
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
Locations
- Buckingham Palace area
- Trafalgar Square
- Tower Bridge
- Millennium Bridge
- Canary Wharf
- Several residential neighbourhoods in London
The film beautifully showcased London’s modern skyline alongside its royal heritage.
Box Office: Blockbuster.
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- Namastey London (2007)
Locations
- Tower Bridge
- Piccadilly Circus
- Trafalgar Square
- London Eye
- Houses of Parliament
- Central London streets
The movie portrayed the lives of the Indian diaspora living in Britain.
Box Office: Hit.
- Queen (2014)
Locations
- London
- Soho
- Oxford Street
- Camden area
The heroine begins her solo journey in London before travelling across Europe.
Box Office: Super Hit.
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SWITZERLAND
No country has contributed more to Bollywood romance than Switzerland.
- Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Locations
- Saanen
- Gstaad
- Zweisimmen
- Montbovon
- Lake Lungern
- Interlaken region
These breathtaking Alpine landscapes became symbols of Bollywood romance.
Box Office: All-time Blockbuster.
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- Chandni (1989)
Locations
- Jungfraujoch
- Interlaken
- Lake Brienz
- Swiss Alps
The songs featuring Sridevi remain classics.
Box Office: Super Hit.
- Darr (1993)
Locations
- St. Moritz
- Jungfrau region
- Various Alpine resorts
Box Office: Super Hit.
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- Mohabbatein (2000)
Locations
- Swiss Alps
- Mountain villages
- Green valleys
Box Office: Blockbuster.
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- Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008)
Locations
- Interlaken
- Jungfrau region
- Lake Brienz
- Bernese Oberland
Box Office: Hit.
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NETHERLANDS
- Queen (2014)
Locations
- Amsterdam Canals
- Dam Square
- Red Light District
- Amsterdam Central area
The Amsterdam chapter represents the heroine’s growing confidence and independence.
Box Office: Super Hit.
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- Hum Tum (2004)
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Canal areas
- Streets and cafés
Box Office: Hit.
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ITALY
- Housefull 2 (2012)
Locations
- Rome
- Venice
- Italian villas
Box Office: Super Hit.
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- Befikre (2016)
Although mainly filmed in France, portions were also photographed during European travel sequences.
Box Office: Average.
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FRANCE
- An Evening in Paris (1967)
Locations
- Eiffel Tower
- River Seine
- Champs-Élysées
- Arc de Triomphe
This film introduced many Indian audiences to Paris.
Box Office: Hit.
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- Befikre (2016)
Locations
- Eiffel Tower
- Seine River
- Louvre Museum surroundings
- Montmartre
- Notre-Dame area
Almost the entire film celebrates Paris.
Box Office: Average.
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AUSTRIA
- Tiger Zinda Hai (2017)
Locations
- Innsbruck
- Tyrol region
- Alpine roads
Several action and scenic sequences were filmed in Austria.
Box Office: Blockbuster.
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SPAIN
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
Locations
- Barcelona
- Seville
- Costa Brava
- Pamplona
- Buñol (La Tomatina Festival)
- Andalusia
The film significantly increased Indian tourism to Spain.
Box Office: Super Hit.
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CZECH REPUBLIC
- Rockstar (2011)
Locations
- Prague
- Charles Bridge
- Old Town
- Prague Castle surroundings
Box Office: Hit and later achieved cult status.
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ICELAND
- Gerua Song – Dilwale (2015)
Locations
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Black sand beaches
- Icelandic waterfalls
The spectacular visuals made Iceland a dream destination for many Indian tourists.
Box Office: The film performed well commercially, though it was not as successful as some earlier Shah Rukh Khan blockbusters.
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SCOTLAND
- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
Locations
- Edinburgh
- Scottish countryside
- Boarding school surroundings
Box Office: Blockbuster.
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GREECE
- Chalte Chalte (2003)
Locations
- Santorini
- Greek Islands
Several romantic sequences were filmed amid the famous white-and-blue architecture.
Box Office: Hit.
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DID ALL EUROPEAN FILMS BECOME HITS?
Certainly not.
While Europe’s scenic beauty has enhanced countless Bollywood productions, a film’s success ultimately depends on its story, screenplay, performances, direction, music, and audience appeal. Magnificent locations alone cannot guarantee commercial success.
Examples include:
- Blockbusters: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Tiger Zinda Hai, Mohabbatein.
- Hits: Namastey London, Hum Tum, Rockstar, Chalte Chalte, Chandni, Darr.
- Average performers: Befikre.
- Some other films with European locations have underperformed at the box office despite outstanding cinematography, demonstrating that audiences value compelling storytelling more than beautiful scenery alone.
Bollywood’s Gift to European Tourism
European tourism authorities soon recognised Bollywood’s influence. Switzerland, in particular, actively welcomed Indian filmmakers, understanding that successful Hindi films inspired countless Indian families to visit the same mountains, lakes, and villages they had admired on screen. Similar tourism initiatives later emerged in the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, France, and Italy.
Today, many Indian tourists happily recreate famous film scenes at Jungfraujoch, Interlaken, the Eiffel Tower, Amsterdam’s canals, Venice’s waterways, London’s landmarks, and Spain’s colourful streets.
Bollywood has therefore done more than entertain audiences. It has built a cultural bridge between India and Europe, encouraging millions of people to explore new countries while appreciating their history, landscapes, and traditions. Few industries have promoted international tourism as effectively as Indian cinema.