Mumbai56 minutes agoWriters: Kiran Jain and Abhinav Tripathi
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Most of the aircrafts shown in the films are fake. They are made by copying them exactly like the originals.
You must have seen airplane sequences in many films. In Bollywood, this has been the main focus of films like Neerja, Runway 34, Sarfira, Yoddha and Zameen, but have you ever wondered whether the planes shown in films are real or fake? How are they prepared for shooting? How are fake planes transported from one place to another? How much does it cost to make them? Today we will talk about this in the new episode of Reel to Real.
For this, we spoke to production designers Aparna Sood and Vidya Bhosle who designed the fake plane. The plane shown in Sonam Kapoor's film Neerja was designed by Aparna. It cost Rs 3 crore to make it. Apart from this, Vidya Bhosle has also recently designed a fake airplane for Salman Khan's upcoming film Sikandar.
Leather seats, screens on them and oxygen masks, but the airplane is fake
Vidya Bhosle took us to a place in Naigaon, adjacent to Mumbai, where a fake airplane was kept. She also gave us a tour of it from inside. This plane looked completely original from inside. Two separate departments of business and economy class were also made. The seats were also made of leather. Real screens were installed on the seats. Even oxygen masks were installed.
Only it did not have AC. Vidya told that Anaconda AC is used during shooting of films. An AC kept at a distance is set up with a pipe, then that pipe is fitted inside the plane. This is called Anaconda AC.
This replica plane has been kept in an empty space in Naigaon. TV shows, ad videos and films are often shot here.
Its gate has also been made exactly by copying the original.
Bought this fake airplane from Karan Johar's production company
Just a few days ago, Salman Khan's upcoming film Sikandar was shot inside this plane. Apart from this, the shooting of the film Yoddha and crew was also done here. Actually, this fake airplane was prepared for the shooting of Dharma Production's film Yoddha. After the shooting was over, Vidya Bhosle bought it from Dharma Production.
It takes 18 to 20 days to make a fake plane
Some films are completely based on planes. In such a situation, shooting takes more time. In this situation, fake planes are made. It takes 18 to 20 days to prepare fake planes.
It took 10 days to dismantle the fake airplane
Aparna said that before shooting, the makers of Neerja saw many original planes, but they did not understand anything. Those planes did not have enough area to place the camera. Keeping this in mind, a fake airplane was made. It took 45 days to make this fake plane.
300 people were engaged in preparing it every day. This replica was made at MT Ground in Borivali, Mumbai. Shooting took place inside it for 19 days. After the shooting was over, it took 10 days to dismantle it. It was broken into 11 pieces. It was then put in a truck and sent to another place.
The art director divides the team into different teams. Some people work on the body of the plane, some make lights and seats. Some people are there for building and painting.
The sequences with fake planes are shot in a studio with an area of 100×20 feet and a height of 25 feet. Once the shooting is over, the fake planes are dismantled. After dismantling, the iron, ply, seats, fibre and switches are kept under the supervision of the art director.
A property master works under the art director, who takes care of these things. When another film is shot, a new replica of the plane is made by changing the colour and model.
Real ships are also available for shooting, but their rent is expensive
Sometimes real airplanes are also available for shooting, but their rent is expensive. Now the question is where do these real airplanes come from. Actually some airline companies sell damaged or old planes. Art directors or some private people buy them and keep them at a certain place, then give them on rent for shooting.
The replica is made by keeping the toy airplane in front
Aparna told that whenever she gets an order to make a fake plane, she first does research. She collects information about the time period of the plane to be shown, from its look to its design and model. For the type of plane to be made, she buys die cast or toy planes of the same model from the market. Then she designs the replica planes accordingly.
Plane crash sequences are filmed with the help of cranes
Plane crash sequences are also common in films. Although most crash scenes are filmed with the help of VFX, but fake planes are also used in some scenes. Fake planes are hoisted in the air with the help of a crane. A green screen is placed nearby so that the surrounding background can be changed as per one's requirement.
Apart from a fake plane, a fake airport was also built in Ramoji Film City
Vidya said that at present there are only 3 to 4 art directors in the country who have fake aircrafts. All the film makers contact them for the airline sequences. You will find 3 fake aircrafts in Mumbai.
Apart from this, a replica of the plane has been placed in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. A fake airport has also been built there. From the boarding gate to the waiting area, everything has been copied exactly.
The fake airport inside Ramoji Film City looks something like this.
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