Auckland is using star power to build lasting links with India’s screen industry. Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan is in Aotearoa for a program that celebrates 25 years since Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai and, more importantly, opens a new chapter in film collaboration, tourism, and cultural exchange.

The visit is led by the Film India Screen Collective (FISC) with support from Screen Auckland. Organisers are positioning the anniversary as a launchpad for a 2026 Indian Film Festival of New Zealand and a steady pipeline of India–NZ productions.

Why this matters

  • Soft power with real money on the table: Indian films and series reach hundreds of millions of viewers. A single high-profile shoot or influencer series can lift visitor interest, student flows, and location bookings across regions.
  • Auckland’s first strategy: By anchoring events, filming, and community outreach in Tāmaki Makaurau, local agencies aim to make the city the first stop for Indian producers scouting New Zealand.
  • Modern promotion model: Farah Khan will create digital-first content for her audience, turning a goodwill tour into measurable views and bookings for Auckland and Waikato.

Farah Khan in focus

Farah Khan is one of Indian cinema’s most adaptable creators. She is a hit-making director, an award-winning choreographer, and a savvy digital entrepreneur. Her recent content series has built a large global audience that engages with travel, food, and behind-the-scenes storytelling. That reach is central to Auckland’s strategy because it showcases locations to viewers who already follow her work.

What is happening in November

Flagship screening

  • A special 25th anniversary show of Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai at Hoyts Sylvia Park celebrates the film that helped introduce New Zealand’s landscapes to a mass Indian audience.
  • The event doubles as an industry gathering to socialise plans for the 2026 Indian Film Festival of New Zealand.

Community and industry engagement

  • A meet and dine evening in Māngere is designed for fans, local creators, and small businesses that service productions.
  • Roundtables with Auckland screen stakeholders will cover visas, crew, locations, and incentives to shorten the path from interest to filming.

Digital travelogue production

  • Filming in West Auckland highlights urban and eco settings that are underused on Indian shoots.
  • A short feature from Waikato, including a stop at Hobbiton, connects Bollywood audiences to New Zealand’s most famous screen location.

The KNPH effect, 25 years on

The 2000 release of Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai put South Island and central North Island vistas in front of a huge audience and helped inspire Indian travellers to visit New Zealand in the early 2000s. The 2025 program reframes that legacy for today’s platforms. Instead of relying only on a big cinema release, Auckland is pairing events with creator-led video that can be posted, shared, and searched right away.

What Auckland wants next

  1. A festival with year-round outcomes
    The proposed Indian Film Festival of New Zealand 2026 is intended to be more than a week of screenings. Plans include producer labs, location tours, and school outreach so that students, crews, and suppliers benefit throughout the year.
  2. A one-stop welcome for Indian shoots
    Streamlined guidance on permits, transport, and local crew can reduce risk for first-time producers. The goal is simple: make it as easy to shoot in Auckland as it is in long-standing overseas hubs.
  3. Regional spreads
    West Auckland forests and coastlines, South Auckland’s cultural venues, and Waikato’s screen assets offer distinct looks within a short travel radius. Packaging these choices lets producers design a whole show within one trip.

Tourism boost in plain numbers

  • Discoverability now: Creator videos rank in search, surface in reels, and can be translated or subtitled for Indian languages.
  • Conversion later: Each clip can link viewers to venue pages, tour operators, and festival tickets, turning attention into bookings.
  • Repeat value: Location features keep working for months after a visit, unlike a one day press call.

Voices from the ground

Local organisers say the goal is to move from one off nostalgia to a repeatable bridge between creative industries. Community leaders see the visit as recognition of Auckland’s large Indian diaspora and a chance to bring youth into film, media, and events.

What success will look like

  • Confirmed dates and partners for the 2026 festival before the end of summer.
  • At least one Indian feature or series locking Auckland and Waikato locations for 2026 production.
  • A clear lift in search and social interest for featured spots such as Sylvia Park, West Auckland’s parks and beaches, and Hobbiton.

Reader guide

  • Fans: Watch for event clips and Farah Khan’s travel videos.
  • Creators and producers: Contact Screen Auckland or FISC for location packs and crew lists.
  • Local businesses: Hospitality, transport, and boutique accommodation near filming zones can prepare shoot-friendly offers now.

Bottom line

Farah Khan’s anniversary visit is more than a celebration. It is a working blueprint for how Auckland can turn shared film history into future shoots, a national festival, and steady tourism. If agencies keep the focus on easy production and smart digital promotion, the 25-year bridge from Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai can become a durable two-way corridor for stories, skills, and visitors.

PC: Farah Khan’s Instagram Account