We are all aware of Bollywood’s obsession with Switzerland. The image of the flying saree-ka-pallu against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps screams Bollywood as much as Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic pose does (you know the one we’re talking about). However, according to a report in The Economic Times, it appears that Serbia has taken Switzerland’s place in the hearts of Bollywood.

According to the report, 2018 was the busiest year for Serbian production service when it came to business relations with the Indian market. One of the reasons is, of course, the introduction of the non-visa regime, reports the news portal.

Numerous B-town films have been shot or are scheduled to be shot in Serbia. The biopic on hockey player Sandeep Singh, Soorma, had multiple scenes that were shot in Serbia. Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, produced by Mani Ratnam and Subaskaran under the Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions banner also had scenes that were shot in Serbia. The shooting for the film (which stars Arvind Swami, Silambarasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Aditi Rao Hydari among others) began in Chennai and concluded in Serbia.

Again, Uri which is being produced by RSVP and is based on the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army also has scenes that were shot in Serbia. ET reports that the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia and Serbian army forces were extremely cooperative during the shooting of the film. That’s not all – the much-awaited Thugs of Hindostan’s production team was aided by the Serbian team behind Crater Studio.