After the Mumbai Cricket Association objected to the six-hour shoot at Azad Maidan, filmmaker Hansal Mehta has defended the production, insisting that all necessary permissions were obtained. He also warned that Bollywood filmmakers are increasingly taking their projects outside Mumbai.
Mumbai: Ranveer Singh’s upcoming film Pralay has found itself in an unexpected controversy, and this time, it is not about the actor’s performance, casting or storyline. The film’s shooting schedule at Mumbai’s historic Azad Maidan has triggered a disagreement between the production team and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), with filmmaker Hansal Mehta now openly questioning the city’s increasingly complicated shooting permissions.
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The controversy began after the MCA objected to a six-hour shooting schedule at Azad Maidan, alleging that the commercial film shoot disrupted previously scheduled Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school cricket matches. The association questioned why a ground used by young cricketers for training and competitive matches was made available for a commercial film production.
However, Hansal Mehta is not accepting the criticism quietly.
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The filmmaker has maintained that the production team followed the necessary procedures and obtained permissions from the concerned authorities before shooting at the location. He has also used the controversy to highlight a much larger problem facing the Indian film industry: the growing difficulty of shooting in Mumbai, the city traditionally considered the heart of Bollywood.
And his comments have certainly added another layer to an already heated debate.
Hansal Mehta Breaks Silence on Pralay Shoot Controversy
Speaking about the controversy, Hansal Mehta firmly defended the production team’s decision to shoot at Azad Maidan.
He said, “Our shoot at Azad Maidan was fully permitted. We have requisite permission letters from police departments, sports departments including an acknowledgement of the same from MCA.”
The filmmaker explained that securing permission for a single shooting location in Mumbai has become an increasingly complicated process, with multiple departments involved in granting clearances.
He further said, “The larger problem is this. Mumbai is the home of Indian cinema. It has also become a 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.”
His statement reflects the frustration of a filmmaker who believes that the city should be encouraging film productions rather than making the process unnecessarily difficult.
Interestingly, Mehta did not limit his criticism to the Azad Maidan incident. He questioned the broader approach towards film crews and the administrative hurdles that can affect production schedules, budgets and location planning.
‘This Is Why Filmmakers Prefer Shooting Outside Mumbai’
Hansal Mehta also compared Mumbai’s approach with that of other states, suggesting that several locations outside Maharashtra have become more welcoming to film productions.
According to the filmmaker, other states recognise the economic and promotional benefits that come with hosting film shoots.
He said, “They understand that a shoot brings jobs, business and visibility. Here, we are met with obstruction.”
Mehta further expressed disappointment as someone who identifies strongly with Mumbai and Maharashtra.
“I say this with much sadness as a proud Mumbaikar and Maharashtrian – This is why so many of us now prefer to shoot outside Mumbai,” he added.
This statement is particularly significant because Mumbai has historically been the centre of India’s Hindi film industry. From production studios and post-production facilities to actors, technicians, casting agencies and entertainment businesses, the city has played a major role in shaping Indian cinema.
However, filmmaking has increasingly become a nationwide operation. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and several southern states have actively positioned themselves as shooting destinations.
For production houses, choosing an alternative location is not necessarily about artistic preference. It can also be a practical decision involving permissions, expenses, transportation, accommodation and shooting schedules.
If Mumbai continues to be perceived as difficult for film productions, the long-term consequences could extend beyond individual films.
What Exactly Happened at Azad Maidan?
The Mumbai Cricket Association reportedly objected after the Maharashtra government’s Sports Department permitted the makers of Pralay to use a portion of Azad Maidan for a six-hour shoot.
According to reports, production house Light Rays was granted permission to use approximately 5,000 square yards of the government-owned ground.
The reported financial details of the permission were:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Shooting location | Azad Maidan, Mumbai |
| Permitted area | 5,000 square yards |
| Shooting duration | 6 hours |
| Ground rental | ₹40,000 |
| Refundable security deposit | ₹40,000 |
| Production house | Light Rays |
The permission reportedly included conditions prohibiting vehicles on cricket pitches, cooking and digging at the ground.
The MCA, however, was unhappy with the decision, claiming that the shooting arrangements forced it to postpone scheduled Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school matches.
The association also questioned the process through which the permission was granted, maintaining that it was not consulted despite being responsible for maintaining the cricket facilities.
MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon reportedly criticised the decision, arguing that Azad Maidan is a cricket ground where young players develop their skills and prepare for competitive cricket.
The association also expressed concern that allowing commercial productions at the venue could establish an undesirable precedent.
MCA vs Sports Department: A Bigger Question Emerges
The disagreement has also brought the Maharashtra government’s permission process under scrutiny.
According to reports, Deputy Director of Sports for Mumbai Division Navnath Fartade defended the decision, explaining that an existing government resolution allows Azad Maidan to be used for non-sporting activities for up to 30 days in a year.
This means the dispute is not simply about whether a film crew should be allowed to shoot at a public ground.
The larger question is whether commercial activities should be permitted when they potentially interfere with sporting fixtures, particularly those involving young athletes.
The MCA wants scheduled cricket activities to receive priority, while the Sports Department has defended its authority to allocate the ground for permitted non-sporting events.
There is also a question of coordination between the authorities and the association responsible for maintaining the facility.
The production team’s position is that it obtained the required clearances. The MCA’s objection, meanwhile, focuses on the decision-making process and the impact on cricket activities.
These are two separate issues, and resolving both will be important if similar situations are to be avoided.
Hansal Mehta Still Wants to Shoot in Mumbai
Despite his strong criticism, Hansal Mehta has made it clear that he has no intention of abandoning Mumbai as a shooting destination.
The filmmaker, who has worked in the city for more than three decades, expressed his emotional connection with Mumbai and his desire to continue telling stories set in the city.
He said, “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 also delivered a pointed message to the authorities.
“If Mumbai wants to remain the centre of this industry, it has to stop treating its own filmmakers as a nuisance,” he said.
Mehta further maintained that his production team would continue following all necessary rules and procedures, while seeking cooperation and trust from the authorities.
His comments suggest that the issue is not about avoiding regulations but about making the regulatory process more efficient and predictable.
Will Mumbai Lose Its Position as Bollywood’s Favourite Shooting Destination?
This controversy raises an important question for the future of film production in Maharashtra.
A film shoot involves much more than actors and cameras. It creates temporary employment for local technicians, light operators, production assistants, transport providers, catering teams, security personnel and several other businesses.
Large productions can also generate considerable spending on accommodation, equipment rentals, local transportation and other services.
When filmmakers move their productions elsewhere, these economic benefits move with them.
For a city like Mumbai, which has built much of its identity around the entertainment industry, this is an issue worth taking seriously.
At the same time, public sporting facilities cannot be treated as unrestricted commercial spaces. Young cricketers, schools and sports associations also have legitimate interests in protecting access to grounds and maintaining their tournament schedules.
The solution may lie in clearer coordination, transparent booking procedures, advance scheduling and adequate protection of sporting activities.
If authorities can establish a system that accommodates film productions without disrupting sports, both industries could benefit.
For now, the Azad Maidan controversy has exposed the need for better coordination rather than simply turning filmmakers and sporting bodies against each other.
What Is Ranveer Singh’s Pralay About?
While the controversy continues to attract attention, Pralay remains one of the interesting upcoming projects in Ranveer Singh’s filmography.
Directed by Jai Mehta, the film is reportedly a dystopian survival thriller set in a post-apocalyptic Mumbai, with a zombie threat forming the backdrop of its story.
The project stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role, alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan, who is expected to make her Hindi film debut with the project.
The film is also significant for Ranveer because it marks his debut as a producer under his banner, Maa Kasam Films. The project is being developed with Birla Studios and True Story Films, the production company associated with Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal.
With its post-apocalyptic setting and Mumbai locations, the film aims to present a different cinematic version of the city.
Interestingly, the very city that forms the backdrop of this dystopian thriller has now become the centre of a real-world production controversy.
The Bottom Line: Hansal Mehta’s response has turned the Pralay shooting controversy into a much bigger conversation about the future of filmmaking in Mumbai. While the MCA wants the interests of young cricketers protected, the production team insists that it followed the required procedures. The authorities now face the challenge of balancing both interests. For Ranveer Singh, the controversy has brought additional attention to Pralay even before its release. But for Mumbai’s film industry, the bigger question remains: how long can the city call itself Bollywood’s home if filmmakers increasingly find it easier to shoot elsewhere?
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