Although it is not known which film was being made in the town on Thursday, July 9, it is understood the production is a Bollywood movie, from the largest segment of India’s film industry.
Yannis Papameletis, owner of Just Greek Penrith, a Greek restaurant and takeaway on King Street, said his business received a letter to say filming would be taking place in the town centre on July 9 and that some roads could be closed while crews were in the area.
He said that there was a lot of ‘action’ going on throughout the day and that it was ‘beautiful to see the town busier than usual’.
Crews were said to have been taking equipment in the town throughout the day, and later people he believed to be actors going up and down the street, as well as cameras and drones.
Yannis said: “I had a chance to take a video of a car and the actor, maybe the main character of the movie, I don’t know, because nobody is saying.
“They kept it silent; they never said the name of the movie or anything, all I know is that it was a Bollywood Movie.”
Yannis also said he could see the director shouting, with camera’s rolling and the car going up the street, with crews still in the town centre when he left the restaurant at around 10pm.
When asked whether the filming had created a buzz around Penrith, he said: “Of course, everybody was talking about it, especially the people that were notified in the centre of the town.
“I saw people coming into the town centre just to watch the movie.”
The Penrith shoot may be connected to the broader “Bollywood is back in Britain” initiative announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in October 2025, under which Yash Raj Films committed to shooting three productions across the UK from 2026, creating over 3,000 jobs.
Yannis said that some women from Penrith were wearing traditional dress coming into the streets to watch filming, he added: “The outfits were beautiful to see. There is one lady, she is a friendly customer to us and she was in the traditional dress.
“She was excited because she was about to watch the thing. Hopefully, she got a craic with the actors and people, and to take some pictures.”
Yannis said he will of course be looking to watch the movie when it comes out, saying: “The town is in there, I am happy when this lovely town is being promoted in any way.
“That’s why I am happy when we win awards and everybody mentions the business, but also the town.”