The BMC has forfeited a security deposit of Rs 50,000 from Line Productions, Mumbai, citing alleged violations during the recent shooting of Dhurandhar 2 in the Fort area.

According to civic officials, the production house had initially applied online through the Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited, seeking permission to shoot on February 7 and 8. However, following inputs from police and traffic authorities on January 29, revised permissions were granted on January 30 for filming on Modi Street and Perin Nariman Street on January 30 and February 1, respectively.

Authorities alleged that the production team breached key conditions outlined in the police no-objection certificate (NOC). The NOC explicitly prohibited the use of fireworks and any flammable materials. Officials claimed that cooking gas cylinders and other flammable materials were used on the road during the shoot in a residential area.

“Despite these restrictions, flammable materials and gas cylinders were used extensively during the shoot. On February 1, when permission was granted only for Perin Nariman Street, the production team shot on Modi Street without authorization,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jaydeep More told Mirror.

More added, “Since the production house violated the key conditions, we forfeited Rs 25,000 for using a different location for the shoot and Rs 25,000 for using cooking gas cylinders at the shooting location. Thus, the Rs 50,000 deposit amount was forfeited. We have warned the production house that any future violations will result in strict action, including possible blacklisting.”

In a related communication to the Head of Business Development at Worli Engineering Complex, civic officials flagged gaps in the online permission process. They pointed out that the Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited’s portal does not have dedicated provisions for mandatory clearances from the Chief Medical Officer and the Mumbai Fire Brigade.

The BMC has urged the state government to introduce separate online tabs for these departments to ensure stricter scrutiny before granting shooting permissions. Officials also recommended reconsidering blanket permissions for the Fort area among the 18 designated shooting locations within municipal limits. Instead, they suggested limiting shoots to nonresidential and commercial zones to minimize safety risks in densely populated areas, particularly where flammable materials are involved.

The controversy escalated on February 1, when the cast and crew of Dhurandhar 2, including actor Sanjay Dutt, were present in Fort for the third day of their shooting schedule. Since January 30, portions of the heritage precinct had been transformed to resemble an old Pakistani street, with altered signboards and dressed up storefronts.

Dutt, dressed in a white pathani suit and holding what appeared to be a dummy pistol, was seen filming action sequences while a drone captured aerial shots. Officials said no permission had been granted for the use of dummy weapons, explosives, fire sequences, or drone operations in the high-security zone.

Authorities claimed that the depiction of cross-firing scenes and the use of prop firearms violated NOC conditions and raised safety concerns.

A source from the production house confirmed the forfeiture of the deposit and said Mumbai Police had seized the drone used during the shoot. “We were instructed to submit our day plan in writing regarding what we intend to shoot for the sequence, after which the NOC would be issued. We were told that after securing NOC, committing to one plan and shooting something else violates norms and conditions,” the source said.

An insider at Line Productions stated that Executive Producer Rahul Gandhi had requested a drone shot to obtain a top-angle view after the team was unable to secure access to rooftops in the area. “It was a single-take shot on February 1. The issue escalated, and an FIR was registered against our location manager,” the insider said.

The sequence, described as crucial to the film, had been pending amid the team’s busy schedule related to the release of Dhurandhar.