I'm in Kashmir for the first time for Martin; it's so beautiful, I just want to keep looking at it: Vaibhavi Shandilya

Shooting in ice cold climates amid snow is not new to Vaibhavi Shandilya, the actress has, after all, had an extensive schedule in Kazakhstan for her Kannada film Gaalipata 2. But her latest stint in freezing temperatures is a different ball game, she says. “I am currently in Sonamarg, Kashmir, where I am shooting for AP Arjun’s Martin with Dhruva Sarja. This is a two-week schedule during which some romantic sequences and a chase sequence are being canned,” says Vaibhavi, adding, “This is my first time in Kashmir. When we reached Sonamarg, the first thing that struck me is how breathtakingly beautiful the place is and I had this smile plastered on my face as I took it all in. Honestly, since coming here, all that I have wanted to do is just soak in nature.”

The actress says that Kashmir is a lot more beautiful than Kazakhstan. “There were mountains in Kazakhstan, but not as huge as what Kashmir has. Also, the colour combination of the snow, brown of the mountains, green of trees, etc., looks a lot better here. Kazakhstan is also beautiful, but it’s just too cold a terrain there,” she says.

Interestingly, although Sonamarg is still snow-clad, temperatures are steadily increasing. “It’s still freezing cold here, but with summer here, there’s a weird combination. During the day, there’s bright sunlight that literally burns your skin, while there’s also cold breeze from the mountains. The rays reflect off the ice and can cause damage to your eyes also. In fact, I had to seek medical attention at the army hospital in the area, after I suffered eye sunburn. So now, every time I am not shooting, I keep my face and eyes covered,” she says.