Mumbai36 minutes agoWriters: Kiran Jain and Abhinav Tripathi
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This time in Reel to Real we reached 'Dada Saheb Phalke Chitranagari' located in Goregaon East, Mumbai. It is mainly known as Film City.
Mumbai's famous film city is spread over 520 acres. 1000 film sets can be set up here at the same time. There are artificial helipads, temples, jails, courts, villages and picnic spots. Shooting can start here after collecting money and completing a few formalities.
Almost all the big films and shows are shot in Film City. It has been more than 50 years since Film City was built, there are many options for shooting, yet Film City is the first choice for the makers. This is because shooting here is much more convenient than other places.
From a security point of view, this place is the best. Perhaps this is the reason why Salman Khan is shooting most of his upcoming film Sikander in Film City. A set has been built here on 3 acres for this. For the past few days, Salman Khan has been receiving death threats. Bullets have also been fired at his house.
This time in Reel to Real we reached 'Dada Saheb Phalke Chitranagari' located in Goregaon East, Mumbai. It is mainly known as Film City. Here we talked to location manager Ranveer Singh, Vidya Bhosle and manager Vijay of the tourist place 'Bollywood Park' which comes under the Film City.
Countless films and shows have been shot in the Film City so far.
It is easy for film makers to shoot in Film City
Thousands of films have been shot in the film city so far. Shooting in the film city is an easy deal for film makers. When they go to shoot at the original locations, they have to take many kinds of permissions.
If you want to shoot somewhere in Mumbai, you will first have to take permission from BMC, local police, ARTO and fire brigade. For the money spent in getting permission, you can easily get sets on rent in Film City.
Some interesting facts about Film City…
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali has rented two acres of land in Film City and built a personal set. Most of his films are shot here.
- Around 55 security guards are always on duty inside the Film City for security purposes.
- Leopards have been seen coming to the forest inside the film city many times. Apart from this, snakes etc. are also spotted. In such a situation, shooting there is a bit difficult. Security arrangements are already made to protect from wild animals.
- In recent times, shooting has been reduced completely at places where wild animals make their home. To avoid disturbing them, sets are made at a distance from there.
- There have been reports of fire in the film city many times. In such a situation, fire marshals are always present to prevent it. With their help, the fire is brought under control quickly.
- There is a facility of oxygenated ambulance in Film City at all times. If someone faces any medical problem, his treatment is started immediately.
- Now no one can buy land in the Film City. Land can only be taken on rent, that too for a maximum of two years. If you want to keep it even after two years, then a new agreement will have to be made.
- Veteran film maker Subhash Ghai has also built a private property on lease here. Subhash Ghai charges a fixed amount for shooting here. Apart from this, he also has to pay commission to the film city administration.
- The lakes, mountains, forests and waterfalls inside the film city are natural. Yes, shooting sets have definitely been built around them.
A 3-acre set was built in Film City for Salman Khan's security
Location manager Ranveer Singh told that these days the set of Salman Khan's upcoming film Sikandar is being built in Film City. This set has been built in 3 acres. The sequences with locations in Lucknow and Mumbai will be shot in Film City.
Salman was initially supposed to go to the real locations to shoot the film, but because of the threat to his life that has been looming over the past few days, he is doing most of the shooting in Film City itself.
Salman Khan is constantly receiving threats from Lawrence Gang. He has also got security from Maharashtra Government.
The safety of the actors is most important, for this shooting in Film City is the best option
Regarding this, Vidya Bhosale, Managing Director of Sanskruti Films says, 'It is very important to make the actors feel safe, so that they can shoot with a fresh mind and it does not have a negative impact on their work.'
Vidya said that the safety of actors is of utmost importance to her. That is why actors are advised to shoot in Film City in case of medical or other conditions.
There is no provision for food and accommodation for the actors or crew in the film city
Vidya also told that there is no arrangement for the actors or the production team to stay in the film city. Entry of vanity vans is allowed for the actors to stay there. On the other hand, the responsibility of food also lies with the production team. There are canteens for other small things.
Why is it difficult to shoot on live location?
When a film is shot near roads, chawls, cities, villages, mountains and rivers, then it is called a live location. Managing the local people at shooting locations like roads and chawls is the biggest task. The crowd gets out of control on seeing the celebs. For example, we take the example of places like Dongri and Dharavi in Mumbai. If a film has to be shot here, then many challenges have to be faced.
This is the reason why film makers turn to Film City. In Film City itself, art directors create sets like live locations.
Actors shy away from shooting in crowded locations
Does it ever happen that actors refuse to shoot at a particular location? In response, Vidya says, 'This has happened many times. For example, right now Shahid Kapoor is shooting for his upcoming film Deva. A few days ago, he had a shoot in the market. But seeing the crowd there, he got scared to shoot. He started feeling unsafe.
We explained to Shahid a lot that he will be absolutely safe. He will not face any danger here. We locked the entire location properly. Bouncers were deployed everywhere so that he could be assured that he is completely safe. Only then did he shoot.
People who came to see the film city revealed Ranbir's photo
Recently, a look of Ranbir Kapoor from his upcoming mega budget film 'Ramayana' was revealed. His look in the role of Lord Ram went viral everywhere. The question was that when there was a no phone policy on the set, then who revealed his look?
Actually, someone from among the people who had come to see the film city clicked a photo of Ranbir Kapoor from a distance. After this, almost all the media groups ran it as breaking news.
A unique 'Bollywood Park' inside Film City
There is a place called 'Bollywood Park' inside the film city. This is a kind of tourist place. Huge sets have been erected here. Information related to the film industry is given here through drama and play. A wonderful confluence of art and literature can be seen here.
Right now there are no sets of railway station and airport in the film city
Ranveer told that at present there are no sets of railway station and airport in the film city. So he along with Vidya has made two such sets in Borivali and Naigaon of Mumbai. Railway and aircraft setup has been prepared at both these places.
Railway and flight scenes are shot at both these places. The recently released film Crew was also shot at the aircraft studio.
Film City was established in 1977
The film city was established in 1977 by the Maharashtra government. An expert committee was formed in 1970 to establish the film city. The committee included late filmmaker B.R. Chopra, actor Dilip Kumar and director V. Shantaram.
In 2001 it was officially named after Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema.