The government-imposed Coronavirus-related restrictions on gatherings had also brought shoots to a halt in Delhi. However, despite the capital’s ongoing night and weekend curfew, filmmakers have now started rolling cameras again, sans permission. Sources say that they are opting to shoot during early mornings with a smaller crew, while ensuring they wrap up within one-and-a-half hours.

Several projects in Delhi have now restarted their shoots. These include ads, web series, and films. A source associated with one such project informs, “A couple of projects are currently being shot in Delhi, even though restrictions haven’t been eased yet. Filmmakers waited for almost 15 days initially, but due to deadline and budget concerns, they had no choice but to resort to guerrilla shooting methods.”

Javed, a line producer, says, “Authorities in Noida are giving productions permission to shoot till 8 pm, but the scenario is different in Delhi. And while bigger projects can afford the delay, the rest don’t have the budget, and have to shoot within dates given to them by the lead artistes.”

He elaborates, “Usually, guerrilla shooting methods are adopted by documentary filmmakers when getting permission to shoot is impossible. Others are adopting the same method now because they need to shoot at some key locations in the city, and it’s more convenient to do so guerrilla style, than delay the project indefinitely.”

When it comes to shooting at locations in Delhi, what makers look for is that ‘Delhi-wali feel’ and hence, easily identifiable locations such as Connaught Place, or those with monuments like Qutub Minar and Red Fort in the backdrop are preferred. Many are choosing to shoot before 10 am in areas like CP, till 12 am at monuments, and at parks and nurseries in the evening.

Filmmakers are now wrapping up a 10 day-shoot schedule within four to five days. A source, who worked on one such project last week, says, “We don’t go together as a crew to these locations. We reach in group of two to three, with minimum equipment. We try to wrap up the shoot with a maximum of 10-15 crew members, within one-and-a-half hours. The director gives limited on-set directions, and we try to keep the number of takes to a minimum. Every member is briefed in advance, so we can get there and get done quickly.”

A crew member of one such project adds that many often try to pass off the shoot as a wedding shoot, as they face less objections from locals. “When we go for guerrilla shoots and someone asks what are we shooting for, we say that we are doing a wedding shoot or we are shooting with an influencer for Instagram reels,” adds the insider.