Jackie Chan is heading to Dubai in September to shoot his latest film, Kung Fu Yoga, which will also feature Bollywood star Katrina Kaif.
The film was originally expected to be shot entirely in India and although some scenes will still be filmed there, sources say the crew is already in Dubai, and imdb.com has already begun to list Dubai crew members.
The film is the first to be made as part of a three-movie agreement signed by the Indian and Chinese governments during a visit by the Chinese president Xi Jinping to India last year.
The Indian producers, Viacom 18, have a long-standing relationship with the UAE – including the launch of the TV station Colors in 2012.
With Kaif already signed up to star, there were rumours that Aamir Khan would be joining the Chinese-Indian co-production but scheduling conflicts with his next Bollywood film prevented it.
"Jackie is planning that film with director Stanley Tong, who has made number of Jackie's films," Khan told India's First Post in May.
"It is not possible for me to do it. I would have loved to do it. They are shooting in September-October and at that time I will be busy with Dangal. I can't start any film in August-September."
With the UAE's film industry facing a sudden and heavy production schedule in the next few months, industry sources report tough competition for local crew between this film and the Netflix-funded, Brad Pitt-starring, War Machine. That production was brought to the capital by twofour54, with shooting set to start in October.
In addition, in Dubai last week, Miranda Davidson Studios conducted three days of casting for extras for the sci-fi sequel Star Trek Beyond, which is due to start shooting in the emirate next month.
Sources say the Bollywood film Dishoom, set to film in the UAE at around the same time, will be bringing most of its own crew and cast
The capital has seen a dramatic jump in international recognition since the spring release of Furious 7, and through the high-profile publicity surrounding the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which is due for release on December 17, both of which were partly filmed in Abu Dhabi.
cnewbould@thenational.ae