Film Shoot at Chail Palace Brings Much-Needed Buzz, Boosts HPTDC During Lean Tourist Season
CHAIL, AUGUST 2, 2025
The haunting corridors of Chail Palace are alive once again — but not with royal banquets or tourists.
This time, they’re buzzing with film crew instructions, eerie dialogues, and camera cues and arch lites.
AB Bansal Productions has rolled cameras on its upcoming psychological thriller, “Behind the Mirror,” at this historic HPTDC property here.
The palace, once a symbol of royal defiance, is now the backdrop of a chilling cinematic tale. The film shoot has brought a welcome buzz to the region.
And more importantly, it’s come as a lifeline for HPTDC, which has been reeling under a funds crunch and a dull monsoon tourist season.
Directed by Prem Thakur, and produced by Abhey Bansal with Shyna Sunsara as co-producer, “Behind the Mirror” promises to be a genre-defying psychological horror film exploring the darker alleys of the human psyche.
The ensemble cast includes Swati Semwal, Rajveer Singh, Pooja Pandey, Aashit Chatterjee, and Viney Sharma, with the story unfolding across the haunting grandeur of Himachal's untouched terrain.
But what makes this shoot stand out isn't just the star power or storyline—it's the symbolism of the very location itself.
A Palace Born Out of Ego, Now a Star on Screen
The Chail Palace, constructed at a higher altitude than Shimla, was the result of the bruised ego of the Erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala, who was expelled from the British summer capital for a romantic scandal.
In defiance, he built his own summer retreat at Chail — higher, grander, and prouder, staring down at the British from above.
Today, that same palace is making headlines for defying the current lean tourism curve by attracting the film industry instead.
“This film has brought a fresh lease of life to the Chail Palace,” says Project Head Kumar Vijay Sippy, who played a pivotal role in facilitating the shoot.
“It’s not just about cinema. It’s about tourism, local livelihoods, and showing what Himachal can offer beyond the beaten path.”
With the local production line managed efficiently by Vinay of Cherry Films, and an enthusiastic team comprising Accountants Charan Singh and Narayan Singh, and Production Controller Anshika Shivhare, the shoot has been swift and professional.
Shooting in the Shadows of a Lean Monsoon Season
With Himachal’s monsoon season seeing a significant dip in tourist arrivals due to rain-induced travel advisories and recent natural calamities being played out as reels brown out of proportion to get more hits the film shoot couldn’t have come at a better time.
The crew's stay and logistics have brought in steady business for local vendors, hotel staff, transport providers, and guides—helping offset some of the losses from low footfall.
HPTDC Sees Silver Lining
Dr. Rajeev Kumar (IAS), Managing Director of HPTDC, visited the film set and interacted with the cast and crew.
Appreciating the cinematic potential of Himachal’s lesser-known locations, he assured full support for similar ventures.
“We are not just looking at short-term gains. If more filmmakers discover places like Chail, Jibhi, or Barot, it can diversify and decentralize tourism, bringing benefits to far-flung areas,” Dr. Kumar said, hinting at a possible HPTDC policy shift to court Bollywood and regional cinema more proactively.
Curtain Raiser for Himachal’s Film Tourism?
As the cameras roll at 7,500 ft above sea level, Behind the Mirror is not just crafting a thriller — it’s framing a new narrative for Himachal's tourism economy.
One where forgotten palaces, ghost stories, and haunting hills could become the next big cinematic attraction.
The film is slated for theatrical release in April 2026, but for Chail Palace and HPTDC, the real show might have already begun.
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