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Bollywood film brings £1.2m to city's economy

Stuart HarrattEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Northern Films Two vintage Rover police cars, white with a red stripe across the side and blue light on top, parked up outside a row of grand-looking early 20th Century buildings, including the former Bob Carver's chip shop. A sign reads "police slow". In the foreground, another sign reads "caution, filming in progress, apologies for any inconvenience caused".Northern Films
The Indian film Dastaar is a crime drama set in 1980s Britain

A Bollywood film was worth more than £1.2m to the Hull area, according to a company that helped support the production.

Dastaar, a crime drama set in the 1980s, was filmed in and around the city for nine weeks in late 2025.

Andrew Fenton, from Northern Films, said the money was spent on hotels and catering for 130 crew members who flew in from India.

Other expenditure included employing local actors, equipment hire, renting period cars and fees to film at locations such as Carlton Towers, a stately home near Goole.

Northern Films A film crew on location near the Humber Bridge, a towering suspension bridge with a "H"-shaped tower. There are a number of actors in costumes, standing beside crew members and among filming equipment, including tents and cranes.Northern Films
The Bollywood production was filmed at locations including the Humber Bridge

Fenton said Dastaar was originally going to be filmed in London.

"I understand nearly 95% of the film was shot here," he said.

"I don't think there's a film that's had that level of shooting within the same area.

"So we were quite pleased with that and we did think obviously these locations, once they get on the map, it may encourage other film companies to come to the region."

The Hindi language film stars Tarsem Singh Jassar and was inspired by the experiences of Sikhs who came to the UK decades ago and faced discrimination.

It is due to have its premiere in July and there are hopes for a special screening in Hull.

The city has become a popular filming location in recent years, with movies and series such as Victoria, Bodies, Enola Holmes, The Crown and Blitz using the Old Town area.

Fenton, whose firm has a production facility in Hessle, said those shoots relied on crews and equipment coming from London for a few days, "almost like the circus visiting the town and then leaving".

He said he hoped local facilities could be developed in order to provide employment and training for local people who might otherwise have to leave the city to pursue a career in the film and television industry.

"We've just got to get a little bit of infrastructure built," he said.

"If we could get a little bit of infrastructure with a sound stage, I think the skills would then bolt on to that."

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