Bollywood actress Sadia Khateeb has made history by becoming the first actress to shoot inside Vietnam's Son Doong Cave, the world's largest cave. This challenging feat was for her upcoming action film Silaa, co-starring Harshvardhan Rane and directed by Omung Kumar.
The Silaa team, including Khateeb, spent four days shooting deep within the cave, facing extreme conditions. These conditions included no access to electricity, mobile network, or washroom facilities. The crew also endured extreme humidity, pitch darkness, and stretches of silence, adding to the intensity of the experience. Experts note that shooting inside Son Doong Cave is not just difficult but potentially life-threatening. Typically, the cave is accessible only to trained adventurers under strict permits, making this film shoot an unusually risky and demanding undertaking.
Son Doong Cave, located in Vietnam's Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, is known as one of the most dangerous natural environments on the planet. Its massive chambers, underground rivers, and rainforest-like interiors presented a unique and surreal backdrop for Silaa. The cave's setting is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the film's atmosphere and intensity.
Khateeb expressed her gratitude to director Omung Kumar for choosing her as "Silaa" and giving her the experience of a lifetime. She shared that she felt proud and elated to be part of the first feature film ever shot inside Son Doong Cave and that she was among the first 100 Indians to enter this natural wonder.
For her achievement, Khateeb was honored with a medal and certificate. In an Instagram post, she thanked Oxalis Adventure for making the difficult journey a thrilling one, stating that she felt like a "spider woman" and stronger than ever before.
Harshvardhan Rane, Khateeb's co-star, also shared his experiences on Instagram, posting photos from the adventure. He noted that there wouldn't be much network connectivity for the next four days while inside the cave. Rane also successfully completed the Son Doong Cave expedition, becoming one of only 100 Indians to do so.
Silaa is touted as an intense action romance with layered characters and high-stakes drama. Zee Studios presents the Blue Lotus Pictures and Stark Entertainment production in association with Innovations India. The film is produced by Omung Kumar, Umesh KR Bansal, Pragati Deshmukh, Himanshu Tiwari, Ajay Singh, Dhananjay Singh, Abhishek Ankur, Captain Rahul Bali, and co-produced by Rahhat Shah Kazmi. Silaa will be released in theaters.