Old Delhi’s narrow lanes, old buildings, shops and traffic have often been used to add character to films and shows. While there are many places to shoot in the Walled City – if the crew can handle the crowd – there are some spots, particularly certain havelis, that have become a favourite with filmmakers and showrunners. One such haveli is the Mohsin House.

Recently, Kartik Aaryan shared a selfie from the haveli, where he is shooting, with the Jama Masjid visible in the background. It is also the same place where Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar shot The Sky Is Pink. Line producers tell us why old havelis of Chandni Chowk, especially Mohsin House, are so sought-after by film and TV crews.

The owner of the haveli, Mohsin Babur Baghwala, tells us that a couple of films were shot there when he was a kid, but then the family stopped giving the haveli for film shoots. However, he knew Shonali Bose, the director of The Sky Is Pink, through a common friend and when she expressed an interest to shoot in his haveli, he decided to restart shoots there.

He says, “We are quite selective in giving permission to film shoots as we have to ensure that the haveli is taken care of. However, the teams that come from Mumbai are quite professional and they ensure that there is no damage to the haveli. When we have shoot dates, my family shifts to our other house. Sometimes, production houses offer hotel accommodation for those days too. Recently, Vishal Bhardwaj shot his film Khufiya at our haveli too.”

Most films and shows that are shot in Delhi have a couple of scenes from Old Delhi too, either to give background to the characters or to create a sense of nostalgia. A line producer says, “If you want to show Delhi of ’70s and ’80s where will you shoot if not in Old Delhi? The USP of these havelis is that time seems stand still there. Shooting on the terraces of these old havelis helps filmmakers capture rich scenes that can’t be replicated.”

Line producers say that Mohsin House particularly has become popular because of its location in front of Jama Masjid. A line producer says, “From its terrace, you can see Jama Masjid and that is perfect for the Dilliwali feeling. But the most important reason for its popularity is that it is on the main road and not in an alley.”

Javed, another line producer, adds, “To take actors and crew to havelis in alleys becomes a task in itself. We also face difficulty in transporting large equipment, hence being on the main road gives this haveli an advantage.”

A crew member who recently shot at Mohsin House says, “We had no restrictions. The crew was able to do whatever they wanted to create the set without any interference from the occupants of the haveli. Some haveli owners give a long list of ‘what not to do’, but here we didn’t face any issue.”

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- The Sky Is Pink

- Khufiya

- Shehzada

- Made In Heaven 2

- Paatal Lok

Apart from these many ads and untitled projects have also been shot here. There are many more films lined up for shoot, including a film starring Saif Ali Khan in January.

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- Rajiv House, where Queen, Jannat and PK were shot

- Jain House, where Bajrangi Bhaijaan and PK were filmed

- Kenamal Ki Haveli, the location for Dilli 6 and Julie

- Masjid Khajoor, where Rajma Chawal and several web series were shot

- Some other popular havelis are Chiku ki Haveli, Tipu House and Lachu Ram Ki Haveli.