From iconic Bollywood blockbusters to slick internet collection, Central Railway (CR) has as soon as once more proved to be a filmmaker’s favorite backdrop. Within the monetary 12 months 2024-25, CR earned Rs 40.13 lakh by permitting its stations, coaches, and different places for use for movie and advert shoots.
A complete of seven shoots have been performed throughout its community, together with three Bollywood movies, two internet collection, one regional movie, and an advert movie. Main manufacturing homes like Dharmatic Leisure and Kathha Photos have been amongst people who filmed on CR premises.
In keeping with CR, the best income got here from Kathha Photos’ movie Gandhari, which alone contributed Rs 17.85 lakh, shot at Apta station. It was adopted by Dharmatic Leisure’s Aap Jaisa Koi, additionally filmed at Apta, which earned Rs 8.12 lakh. In whole, Apta station accounted for 3 shoots, contributing Rs 27.57 lakh – almost 68 per cent of the full earnings from movie shoots within the final monetary 12 months.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), one other widespread location, noticed shoots for Netflix’s Khakee: The Bengal Chapter and an advert movie for the T20 World Cup. Different initiatives included Telugu movie Kuberaa at Cotton Inexperienced, internet collection Kids of Freedom at Apta, and Daldal at Matunga.
“Having the railways as a backdrop provides depth and environment to a narrative – it naturally lends itself to drama, whether or not it’s thriller, crime, or emotion. It additionally sparks curiosity, drawing the viewers in,” mentioned Naman Khare, a Mumbai-based movie fanatic.
Apta and CSMT proceed to be high selections for filmmakers, having hosted scenes from classics like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Rang De Basanti, and Slumdog Millionaire. Moreover these, places like Panvel, Lonavala, Wathar, and railway yards like Turbhe and Wadi Bunder additionally stay in demand by filmmakers.
“To facilitate this rising curiosity, CR has additionally launched a single-window system for granting capturing permissions via its Public Relations Division, simplifying the method for manufacturing homes,” mentioned a CR spokesperson.
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