The new popular hub for TV show sets

It takes nearly an hour in the car for Anandi (Toral Rasputra) to reach her set in Naigaon but she isn’t complaining. Neither is the young girl Nimboli (Gracy Goswami), who has rented a house with her parents in Mira Road, complaining of the distance because they feel it is worth it.
Balika Vadhu — Kachchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte, a show that recently completed 2,000 episodes, was the first to have a set built in Naigaon in 2008.Soon after that, several TV producers have based their TV sets there.
READ: Actress takes Thapki producers to CINTAA
Currently, Naigaon is home to the sets of Jaitsar — a village in Rajasthan, (Balika Vadhu...), Varanasi (Gangaa), Akbar’s palace (Hajir Jawab Birbal), a luxurious house in South Mumbai (Jamai Raja), a palatial home in Kolkata in Swaragini, the palace of Ranaji in 'Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani', and even the forthcoming reality show hosted by Farhan Akhtar, 'I Can Do That'.
The northern suburb of Mumbai, which is surrounded by picturesque mountains on one side, Naigaon even has shows such as CID, Crime Patrol, Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman and Police Factory being shot here.
Why the decision to move out of western suburbs?
Due to the restriction of spaces and timings at Film City, stringent rules and regulations, and overheads going very high, several TV producers were forced to move out and shift base to other areas like Karjat and Naigaon. Known for its cowsheds, Bhajansons Dairy Farm and situated at the NH 8 Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Naigaon, is giving Filmcity in Goregaon East and studios in Andheri East a run for their money.
Amit Behl (Joint Secretary, CINTAA), says, “Producers are getting what they want. They enjoy a lot of freedom when they move away from Film City. Also, a lot of people including technicians who spend around 14-15 hours on the set, stay in Mira Road, Nalasopara and so, they find the commute to Naigaon easier. Of course, it is a nightmare for people living in Juhu and Lokhandwala or South Mumbai.”
Lack of facilities around naigaon bother actors
Shifting TV sets to Naigaon might be a boon for technicians, who live around the areas of Naigaon railway station and Mira Road, but actors often complain about lack of basic facilities around there. Actor Ravi Dubey, who shoots for Jamai Raja in Naigaon says, “Earlier, I was used to shooting in Madh and Film City but now I take less time to commute. However, if one desires to step out and find a place to eat in Naigaon, there is nothing here. Actors, who have lot of time to kill between shoots, can get bored in such a situation.”
Adds actor Hiten Tejwani, who shoots for Gangaa, “The commute is better than Andheri East but is still bad. Also, the distance is so long that there is no time for a social life if you are shooting here. Besides if your car breaks down on the highway, you are stuck for four to five hours.”
Looks like besides the Bhajansons Dairy Farm, which houses buffaloes and cows, there is nothing much developed out there. However, it becomes a great contrast from Mumbai for showmakers who want vast exteriors. There are problems with public transport, no electricity supply on Fridays and security, but it seems for now, Naigaon remains a popular hub.
Producer Speak
Sunjoy Waddhwa, producer of Balika Vadhu... and Gangaa says, “As the years passed, requirements of sets have become bigger. There were no open spaces available in the city and if they were, they came at an exorbitant price. When we constructed the set in 2008, there was no one here. It was only after two years that other makers started coming in. The distance was daunting at first but now it’s refreshing to shoot here.”
Adds Rashmi Sharma, producer of Bhagyalakshmi and Swaragini, “We got entire two floors set up in Swaragini, which would be difficult to get in any other place. We are showing Kolkata in the show, so the space required to show the ambience was available here. We have even created a market and a huge palatial house, which need a lot of exterior shooting that is ideal here.”
CINTAA passes new rule for TV actors. Click Here! to know the new norms. Balika Vadhu creates history in the Indian television industry. Read to know more about the show.
SET ALERTS FOR YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS HERE !
For latest updates, news gossip & videos connect with TV Times on:
Twitter @toitv | Facebook TVTimes
WATCH: 'Balika Vadhu' Complete 2000 Episodes!