Amitabh Bachchan draws BMC ward staffers to office on Sunday

A section of staffers attached to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) P-south ward went to office on Sunday. But not to work, to catch a glimpse of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan shooting for a TV serial here.

Bachchan was shooting for an untitled Hindi TV serial, perhaps his first such attempt on small screen, with actress Sarika at the ward office in Malad. According to a source present at the venue, the filming went on for about five hours, beginning at 7pm.

"Producers of the serial were looking for a structure which could look like a government hospital. Hence, they had requested BMC to permit shooting at the Malad office. The permission was granted in lieu of charges — Rs45,000," a source said.

"This could be the first time an actor of Bachchan's stature shot at a BMC office, which was turned into a hospital."

The source further said that Bachchan appeared disciplined on the set and spoke very humbly with the BMC staff present. "There was absolute silence while the scene was being filmed. He doesn't like any disturbance when shooting is on, the staff was told. Off-camera, however, Bachchan was very nice with the employees, who were obviously very enthusiastic to have a word with him. He spoke to them about the BMC's role and how it was fulfilling its duties," a source said.

There were around 150 staffers of the production unit present when the scene was being filmed.

While shooting on BMC premises could be a new experience for Bachchan too, he has been associated with some events the corporation organised in the past. BMC is ruled by the Thackeray family-led Shiv Sena, with whom Bachchan enjoys close rapport. Last year, he had launched the civic body's Swachcha Mumbai Prabodhan Abhiyan on January 23, late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's birth anniversary.