MUMBAI: Ekta Kapoor‘s Balaji Motion Pictures recently shot parts of its much-awaited film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai-2 in the Sultanate of Oman. This marks the first time that a major Bollywood film has been shot in Oman.

The sequel to the 2010 blockbuster, that has stars like Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan and Sonali Bendre among others, is slated for 8 August worldwide release.

Speaking about the destination and the experience of shooting in the country, Balaji Motion Pictures CEO Tanuj Garg said, "Oman is a stunning country with varied landscapes. We required a good mix of retro and contemporary for the part we wanted to shoot there, and Oman gave us a lot more. It has a lot to offer visually, which worked well for us as film-makers."

"There are so many beautiful locations across the globe but little did we know that a country of such stark yet stunning beauty is a neighboring country.

We needed a location of pristine beauty in the Middle East, and Oman, a relatively virgin location, worked for us like a charm. It‘s a rich mix of sea, sand and mountains," added director Milan Luthria.

The film was shot at the Qantab Beach, Qurum Corniche, Central Business District and The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa.