Ihave to travel a lot in the course of my film shooting and I enjoy travelling. But if I had to choose one place that’s special, I’d always vote for Switzerland. Surprisingly, I’ve never been there on holiday—it’s always on work, for film shootings. But when I think about it even now I feel refreshed. I can just smell the fresh mountains. That crisp mountain air. Ahhhhh—nothing like it. It’s absolutely wonderful. Working in Switzerland is like being on holiday.
What I really fall for each time is the countryside. The greenery, the mountains, the snow, the lakes... Switzerland has such outstanding natural beauty, it’s breathtaking. Apart from that there’s an atmosphere of purity. It’s so clean... you feel like drooling all over it! Literally! It’s as if God showered his special blessings on this country. Everywhere you look you are reminded of those lovely picture postcards. I feel lucky that my work takes me to such wonderful locations. Of course, we are shooting all the time but we manage to see plenty even then.
Advertisement
I’ve always stayed at little, cute hotels, converted from chalets in divine villages like Saanen. These hotels are particularly warm and nice: such a comfortable, intimate atmosphere.
I recall once being part of a bonfire celebration just outside a church. I don’t even know what the occasion was, but it was magnificent all the same. The churches in Switzerland are so peaceful: they invest you with their sense of calm. In one village there was a church whose gong would strike every hour—the whole feel of the place was out of this world. Just outside our hotel was a lovely green field. Each morning the cowherds let their cows out and you’d hear their bells going ding dong, ding dong. But these sounds were never intrusive.
Advertisement
This is very typical of what Switzerland is—such a famous holiday spot and yet so simple in its lifestyle. I love this contradiction.
As told to Lata Khubchandani
