Ghulam Qadir/Srinagar

It was a déja vu moment for the Bollywood filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who returned to Kashmir after four decades to participate in the Kumaon Literary Festival.

Rahul Rawail directed Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh, the mother of today’s Bollywood star Sara Ali Khan, in their first Hindi film Betaab which was shot in South Kashmir’s locale that is now popularly known as “Betaab Valley.”

"When I landed in Srinagar, I said déja vu to myself. Rahul Rawail said. “I came from Mumbai exactly after 40 years. The last time I was here was in 1982, four days before Dhanteras and during Diwali. I have come again a few days before Diwali. It is an emotional moment for me.”

"I've spent wonderful days here," he said. “I am sure those wonderful days will return,” he said thanking the government for its efforts.

Rahul Rawail was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Kumaon Literature Festival. Kashmir is hosting writers and film personalities from different parts of the country in this two-day festival held at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake.

Betaab released in 1983 was mainly shot at a location near Chandanwari. The film was a huge success at the box office and Amrita Singh and Sunny Deol became stars overnight.

Going down memory lane, Rahul Rawail said, “During the shooting of Betaab, I was driving towards Chandanwadi, when I saw a spot from above the road. I asked the driver to stop and quickly reached there.

Actor Divya Dutta speaking about her book at Srinagar

“I liked that place. I had shot 'Love Story' there. I walked there for three km. Surprised to see the most beautiful place in the world. Rawail said I am very proud that this place is now called Betaab Valley.”

Rawail further said that he hopes to see Kashmir back in its glory when Bollywood camps in the Valley. "Earlier in Mumbai, everyone used to wait the whole year to go to Kashmir."

He thanked the organizers of the festival for bringing the program to Kashmir. You have brought this literary festival to Kashmir, he said. This is a wonderful journey. You didn't bring me here for a holiday, but I have taken it as a holiday.

National Award-winning actress Divya Dutta participated in the discussion on her book 'The Stars in My Sky They Who Brighten My Film Journey.”

She called Kashmir the' lotus site' and said she is pleased to be there.

Known for her roles in Veer Zara, Delhi-6, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, etc. Divya said she started writing during her school days. She said, “I used to write for my school and college magazines. The teachers encouraged me to write stories; I wanted to sell stories.” She wrote weekly columns. “I realized that I have a connection with the readers. When a reader hugged me at the airport and asked me not to stop writing.”

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Eminent writers like Ashwin Sanghi, Kiran Manral, Yatindra Mishra, Jai Arjun, Anu Singh, and Mona Verma are also attending the festival.