Nov 07, 2026 5:32pm IST
‘Pralay’: Following Chaos During The Outdoor Shoot Of Ranveer Singh Starrer, Hansal Mehta Says, ‘Mumbai Is The Most Unfriendly City To Shoot In’
The filming of Ranveer Singh’s upcoming dystopian zombie film “Pralay” at Mumbai’s iconic Azad Maidan has sparked a major controversy between the filmmakers and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
The cricket body strongly objected after grassroots Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school cricket matches had to be postponed due to the six-hour commercial shoot.
The friction stems from two opposing viewpoints on how the historic ground should be utilized. Apex Council member Nadim Memon criticized the decision, pointing out that large sets were built and artificial grass was laid over the playing area. The MCA argues that Azad Maidan is a training ground for future international athletes and should not be “commercially exploited” at the expense of young sportspersons. It also noted that the available space is already shrinking due to the Aqua Line Metro construction and a Mumbai Police presence.
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Co-producer Hansal Mehta stated that the production team, Light Rays, had obtained all mandatory clearances from the Maharashtra State Sports Department. Mehta expresses frustration over administrative hurdles, adding that “Mumbai has been rendered a no-go zone for film shoots because of bureaucratic hurdles.”
The Deputy Director of Sports defended the approval, citing a government resolution (GR) that allows the ground to host non-sporting events for up to 30 days a year. The production house reportedly paid a booking fee of ₹40,000 and a refundable security deposit of ₹40,000 for the six-hour slot.
Hansal Mehta says, “Our shoot at Azad Maidan was fully permitted. We have the requisite permission letters from the police departments and the Sports Department, including an acknowledgment from the MCA.”
Hansal then addresses the larger problem. “The larger problem is this. Mumbai is the home of Indian cinema. It has also become the most unfriendly city to shoot in. A single location needs clearances from multiple departments, each with its own process, its own delays and its own power to stop a shoot. Even when you have every permission, you are treated as if you are trespassing. I say this with much sadness as a proud Mumbaikar and Maharashtrian.”
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Hansal feels such hurdles make it nearly impossible for filmmakers to shoot in Mumbai. “This is why so many of us now prefer to shoot outside Mumbai. So many other states welcome film crews. They understand that a shoot brings jobs, business and visibility. Here, we are met with obstruction. I have worked in this city for over three decades. I love it and I want to keep telling its stories here. But filmmakers will go where they are allowed to work,” he says.
Hansal wants Mumbai’s civic authorities to treat filmmakers with the dignity they deserve. He states, “If Mumbai wants to remain the center of this industry, it has to stop treating its own filmmakers as a nuisance. We followed every rule, no matter how complicated or difficult it may be. We will continue to do so. We simply seek the cooperation of the authorities and a much-needed lack of mistrust in doing so.”
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