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Looking at Bollywood's exotic locales

From Swiss Alps to Eiffel Towers and Big Bens to South African splendour and busy streets of Bangkok to stunning landscapes down under and more, there's abundant beauty all around.

Only we've seen too much of them in too many movies. Taking a break from these regular fixtures, Indian movies are extensively scouting for brand new locations to give their product that additional edge and poise.

If Shankar's Sci-Fi bonanza, Robot starring Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had the duo filming in South American nations like- Peru and Brazil, forthcoming espionage thriller Agent Vinod (Latvia, Morocco) directed by Sriram Raghavan, Zoya Akhtar's multi-starrer Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Spain) and Himesh Reshammiya vehicle Kajraare (Jordan) too will boast of spectacular, uncommon locations.

On that note, here's a look at Hindi cinema's earlier rendezvous against exotic backdrops.

Greece

Mixing business with pleasure doesn't work out for everybody. But Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are more than happy to enjoy an all-expenses-paid holiday against the Greek island of Milos while making the action-packed spectacle, Tashan.

Shah Rukh Khan's home production Chalte Chalte and Salman Khan's 2009 superhit Wanted too haven't been able to resist the ancient Grecian lure.

Seychelles

The virginal quality to the island nation of Seychelles found a fond admirer in Mahesh Bhatt who's shot quite a few of his productions like Papa Kehte Hain, Tamanna and Dushman around its sparkling blue waters and pristine white sands.

Namibia

The stunning sand dunes of Namibia have attracted Bollywood attention to portray a backdrop for a romantic duet between Aamir Khan and Asin in Ghajini and a edge-of-the-seat action sequence led by Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2.

Brazil

The energetic vibe of Brazil and its sizzling beach life is for all to see and ogle in the second installment of Dhoom franchise.

Afghanistan

Many years after Mukul Anand shot his large-scale action drama Khuda Gawah starring Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi, documentary filmmaker turned Bollywood director Kabir Khan convinced John Abraham and Arshad Warsi to venture inside war-ravaged Afghanistan to shoot the reasonably compelling Kabul Express.

Russia

Not many filmmakers dare to stage production in the dreadfully wintry Russia. But director duo of Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru highlighted setting the romance between Salman Khan and newcomer Sneha Ullal in the gorgeous city of St Petersburg as one of Lucky: No Time for Love's key highlights.

South Korea

Director Anurag Basu's critically-acclaimed and visually-arresting Gangster is one of the first Hindi films to be shot in South Korea. Basu's affinity for exotic locations is evident in his last release Kites as well, some portions of which were filmed in Mexico.

Turkey

Just when one has seen enough of Egypt in films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Singh is Kinng, Bollywood stumbled upon another country with enough Middle Eastern influences.

Though technically it's still Europe, Turkey offers enough variety to provide abundant colour to varying fare like Mission Istanbul, Guru and Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani.

Seven wonders

Filmmaker Shankar has a history of bigger and better.

For his 1998 Aishwarya Rai-starrer Jeans, the creative filmmaker left no stone unturned shooting in multiple world-famous monuments, most memorably the seven wonders of the world from Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Great Wall of China for the lilting A R Rahman melody, Ajooba.

Scandinavia

Films shot in Scandinavia usually end up with an abysmal fate at the box office. Be it Dev Anand's eminently forgettable attempt at weaving a made-in-Denmark romantic quadrangle, Pyaar Ka Tarana or director Romesh Sharma's launch pad for son, Karan titled Dil Jo Bhi Kahey featuring some majestic sights of Sweden.

Kenya

Back in the early 1990s when Bollywood was hung up on Lucerne and Interlaken, filmmaker Rajiv Rai flew his massive cast and crew all the way to Kenya, filming the masala potboiler against its wild African landscapes and glorious natural beauty.