'The Metro is eye candy for filmmakers'

NEW DELHI: In recent years, Delhi has become one of the hottest spots for shooting Bollywood films. Several television serials have also been filmed in the capital. The question is: what's Delhi's special recipe that's got everyone excited? Line producers and casting coordinators from the city offer a variety of reasons for the capital's ascent as a preferred location.
Gurmeet Kaur, line producer of Lakshya and Jannat 2, says, "Fresh locations are always a delight.You can shoot in farm houses. Besides, there's lots of greenery. The Metro rail too has become an eye candy for filmmakers. Another advantage of shooting outside Mumbai is that the actor is always available on the sets. He or she cannot go away for some personal work easily. Also, it is easy getting permission for outdoor shoots in Delhi." A line producer manages the daily operations of a feature film during production.
Many TV serials have also been produced in the city. Rajinder Bajaj, casting coordinator for serials like Hitler Didi, Kyunki Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai, Galli Galli Sim Sim, 12/24 Karol Bagh, says, "For the past 10 years, serials are depicting the same old locales of Mumbai. People get fed up watching the same locations every time. Indoor sets are not realistic. Filmmakers prefer to shoot in real locations. Otherwise what's the difference left between theatre and film productions?"
It's not only about good locations but also about infrastructure. Film equipments are now readily available in Delhi. So are the studios for pre and post-production work. "In the 1980s and earlier, many Hindi films were shot in South India, especially those starring Jitendra and Rajesh Khanna. They had good infrastructure. At that time, Delhi was lagging behind. Now it is different. Besides, many locations in Delhi remain unexplored. Films are waiting to be shot in West Delhi. Nobody has shot in Trans-Yamuna areas. So Delhi will continue to tempt producers," says JP Singh, line producer who was associated with films like Band Bajaa Baaraat and Delhi Belly.
Manish Arora, who was involved with Rang De Basanti, says,"Delhi has become a land of opportunities. The supply of manpower is better here. And the cost of production is nearly half compared to Mumbai."