Suryaa Entertainment Desk: Director Hansal Mehta has expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the challenges of filming in Mumbai. His comments follow a controversy at Azad Maidan during the shooting of his post-apocalyptic survival thriller Pralay, which stars Ranveer Singh.
Mehta rejected allegations regarding the use of the historic ground, stating that the production team obtained all necessary legal permissions and clearances from the government sports department and relevant authorities. He noted that all required fees were paid officially and expressed regret that the shooting was obstructed by last-minute disputes. He maintained that no regulations were violated and that the work was conducted under supervision to ensure cricket matches were not disrupted.
Describing the process of filming in Mumbai as difficult, Mehta criticized the presence of bureaucratic hurdles, harassment, and corruption related to the permitting process. He stated that while other states and countries offer an ease of shooting, Mumbai’s environment has become hostile toward the film industry.
Mehta warned that if these conditions persist, producers may be forced to move their filming locations to other cities or abroad. He has appealed to the Maharashtra government and industry leaders to intervene, simplify the permission process, and provide protection for the film industry. The controversy surrounding the Pralay production has caused significant concern within Bollywood circles.
