"I understand nearly 95% of the film was shot here."
Punjabi crime drama Dastaar, which was filmed across Hull, has generated more than £1.2 million for the local economy, according to a production support company.
The film was shot in and around the city over nine weeks in late 2025.
It is set in the 1980s and stars Tarsem Singh Jassar, drawing inspiration from Sikhs who moved to the UK and faced discrimination.
Directed by Amar Hundal, Dastaar also stars Geet Goraya and Shahbaz Akhtar.
Andrew Fenton, from Northern Films, said the production spent heavily locally while bringing a large international crew into the region.
He said: “I understand nearly 95% of the film was shot here.
“I don’t think there’s a film that’s had that level of shooting within the same area.”
Fenton also pointed to the wider economic footprint created during production, including accommodation, catering and local services. Around 130 crew members flew in from India for the shoot.
Additional spending included hiring local actors, equipment rental, period vehicles and location fees. Sites used included Carlton Towers, a stately home near Goole.
The film was originally expected to be shot in London before Hull was chosen as the primary base.
Fenton said the concentration of filming in one area could help attract future productions. He also highlighted the importance of visibility for the region’s film industry.
The production is due to premiere in July 2026, with hopes for a special screening in Hull.
Hull has increasingly been used as a filming location in recent years, featuring in productions such as Victoria, Bodies, Enola Holmes, The Crown and Blitz, often using the city’s historic Old Town.
Fenton, whose company operates a production facility in Hessle, said many of those projects rely on short-term visiting crews.
Fenton said those shoots relied on crews and equipment coming from London for a few days, “almost like the circus visiting the town and then leaving”.
He added that developing local infrastructure could help build long-term opportunities for residents in the industry.
“We’ve just got to get a little bit of infrastructure built.
“If we could get a little bit of infrastructure with a sound stage, I think the skills would then bolt on to that.”
Loading ...