The Metro: The new destination for filmmakers to shoot in Mumbai

Film and advertisement makers have found a new destination to shoot in Mumbai. Earlier, the shootings were limited to suburban railway or sets at the Film City. But now Mumbai Metro has also been added to the list with as many as eight production houses already have shot at the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro rail premises.

From these eight production houses a total revenue of Rs 85,68,731 has been generated by the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) — the Special Purpose Vehicle formed for the metro project. The sum is only the amount received by the companies excluding taxes.

In the financial year 2014-15, two production houses came forward with their shooting proposals, wherein a sum of Rs 46,14,988 was earned by MMOPL. The following year, that is in 2015-16, six others paid Rs 39,53,743 to the metro agency. The data sought by dna under the Right to Information Act is between the duration of July 2014 to January 2016. The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line was inaugurated on June 8, 2014.

Until now, in Mumbai, the production houses had the options of either suburban railway premises or sets inside the film city to shoot train or station related sequences. If the script required a modern interiors or exteriors of train, but budget did not permit international locales, then at times they used to prefer Delhi Metro or Airport Express in Delhi.

In fact, Mumbai Metro stations and trains are even being utilised by Bollywood to promote their movies with star cast taking a metro ride. Therefore, serving dual purpose of the film producers as well as of MMOPL to promote their metro service.