DUBAI // Local surfers are among the extras who have been roped into filming for the romantic Bollywood drama Ramaiya Vastavaiya, which will call a wrap at Wadi Adventure in Al Ain today.
Shruti Haasan stars as the film's leading lady and Girish Kumar makes his debut as the romantic lead.
Over the past six days, a 60-strong crew has shot scenes on Sheikh Zayed Road, in malls, Dubai International Airport's Terminal Three and on the beach.
"One day, we had 100 women dressed as brides running after the hero on Sheikh Zayed Road during the day," said producer Kumar Taurani from Tips Films.
While shooting in Terminal 3, he added, three of the crew got stuck in an lift and it took emergency services 30 minutes to free them.
"It is a small six-day shoot and word of mouth spreads fast. But by the time word gets out, we will be gone."
The opening scene of the movie was shot on Sunset Beach on Monday, where a handful of local surfers were recruited to bob up and down on their boards in the water.
"We just sat out there and weren't really told what to do," said 22-year-old Lauren Booker, who got a call from Surf Dubai last week to ask if she would take part. "But we heard them shout action, and were watching it all from the water. Hopefully, I'll make the final cut."
Director Prabhu Deva could be seen pacing the beach setting up shots while his assistant ran alongside with an umbrella and snacks.
Clint Davis, a freelance photographer, spent around 45 minutes sitting on a board in the chilly winter water but said he didn't mind the cold. "We really didn't know what was happening but it was a good project to be involved in," he said.
Mr Davis will also be on hand as an extra at Wadi Adventure in Al Ain today, where the cast will be joined by a professional surfer from Hawaii, 24-year-old Matt Meola, hired to play Mr Kumar's surf double.
"I surf every day so [the cold] is not that bad for me," the rising surf star told The National. "But it'll be pretty cool to do it Dubai."
Mr Taurani said they had prepared well for the shooting of today's action sequence.
"We already have the rigging team in place," he said. "We have flown in an experienced surf cameraman and we also have the best action master cameramen from India, Kaushal and Moses."
Ramaiya Vastavaiya is scheduled for release in June 2013.
