Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 22, 2020)

While the rest of the industry is trying to get back to action post the Coronavirus lockdown, Daisy Shah’s routine hasn’t changed much. “My life’s still in lockdown. When I am not working, I only go to the gym and that’s closed now,” she rues.

The actress however did go to the salon the day they reopened, for a haircut. “It wasn’t about pampering myself,” she quickly adds, admitting that she fell in love with the clean roads and fresh air, but understands that such changes are not permanent. “Life will go back to its frantic pace, but let’s enjoy it while it lasts.”

Daisy has found a new interest in cycling. “It’s the only form of cardio I’m doing right now. I cycle five days a week and get to enjoy the fresh air too,” she informs, adding that since she stays in Bandra East, she cycles around the Bandra Kurla Complex.

She was to begin shooting for Salman Khan’s Bulbul Marriage Hall, with Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda and Sunil Grover, in April, but now she has no idea when the film will roll. “The priority now is Radhe, its schedule will determine how everything else pans out,” says Daisy, revealing that she had learnt Haryanvi as part of the prep. “I’ll get a 15-20 days heads up from our director before we start filming, so I can brush up my diction with the tutor, that I had learnt before the lockdown, in a week,” she signs off.

Meraz Pathan (@MerazPathan2727), 28, makes the daily trip from Kurla to BKC with his team to shoot videos for his 79.5k followers. Sometimes, they shoot within the park. At other times, it's in the parking lot like in this photo. Pics/ Atul Kamble and Nimesh Dave Pics /Nimesh and Atul Kamble

TikTok's young influencers from as far as Aurangabad, vote manicured City Park with chilled-out security and clean toilets as top shoot location
Diwakar Sharma, Suraj Ojha (MID-DAY; September 1, 2019)

There's a series of three-second-long videos on TikTok—the app that refuses to stay out of the news—in which a young man, approaches a woman asking her if she has a map. When she asks why, he says, "because I have got lost in your eyes." The girl, laughs even as a romantic number starts playing in the background. In another video, the man asks for a band-aid, after having fallen on his knees over another woman's beauty.

A prank video, uploaded by @manishthestar34, the videos have garnered over 3,000 views on the short-video sharing platform. The channel, run by 21-year-old Manish Rajpurohit (right) — who also runs Md Neyaz Alam's channel @brbhai and often collaborates with another creator, Annu Singh — has 34,000 followers and 3 lakh likes. And yes, while pranks are a common feature in the videos, in which passersby are roped in to act in videos that feature humour set-ups—a woman who hands her phone to a stranger to make a call witnesses an abduction threat—what else is common is the location: the sprawling City Park at Bandra Kurla Complex.

Owned by the MMRDA, the park is now maintained by Silver Spoon Hospitality, which has leased the park for five years. In E-Block, it boasts of the RBI building as its nearest landmark. With lawns, an amphitheatre and walking paths along with several trees and benches, the park which stays open from 5.30 am to 8 pm, is now not just a place for locals to get their daily exercise and dose of green, but also a prime shooting location for Mumbai's burgeoning TikTok community.

We meet Rajpurohit, a resident of Andheri East who is pursuing MCom from an Andheri East college, while he is shooting his videos. "Crowds play an important role in making prank videos. Here at City Park, there's a heterogeneous crowd with everyone from college students, office-goers to couples, whose presence enthuses us to choose this location over others. Above all, the greenery, gardens, bushes at the City Park help hoaxers as we can hide mischievous items to cut jokes in our 15-second videos."

How TikTok Found BKC
Launched in 2017, by ByteDance for markets outside of China, TikTok is an iOS and Android social media video app for creating and sharing short lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos. Since then, its popularity had exploded in India with as many as 200 million users in India, with 120 million active users every month. On April 3, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had passed an order directing the government to prohibit downloading of the TikTok app in the country, calling it "dangerous for children". The ban was lifted later that month. Mumbai, including Thane and Navi Mumbai, boasts of several TikTok stars, with Faisal Shaikh at 24.1 million followers, being the most well known. Yet, here, if a location was a hero, City Park would be the top influencer.

Several factors work in its favour. While other popular locations in the city are largely the promenades at Bandra (Carter Road and Bandstand) and Marine Drive, BKC is easily accessible for TikTokers—as the video makers are called—from Dharavi, Bharat Nagar, Kurla and Bandra. It's not just the greens, but also the tall buildings against a clear skyscape and the general cleanliness that BKC boasts of, that makes City Park attractive. Videos shot here tend to get more hits and likes than from other locations in the city.

With Tony Kakkar, Siddharth Nigam and Riyaz Aly's August release Yaara teri meri yaari sabse pyaari playing in the back, the video opens with a young man trying to balance a rotating football on a finger, rather unsuccessfully. Krishna Gupta (left), who happens to be passing by, helps the hapless young boy and spins the football and hands it to him, helping him win both self-confidence and the admiration of the mean boys.

But, Gupta is not an ordinary well-skilled-at-football TikToker. A freestyler, the 24-year-old has the much-vied-for blue tick on his account @KrishnaFSboy, and while his videos turn out much like others, often coupled with romance, friendship or collaborations with other famous TikTokers, the Golden Statue at Bandstand aka @goldenuniqueboy, a prime prop always remains the football.

He comes to City Park daily to practice his freestyle skills. The six-hour workout, not just keeps the followers intact—his current number is at 6.5 lakh—but also his fitness levels. Admittedly, the short videos help him make money as well. "I have been making videos for the last six months. I foresee my career in this as it has been helping me mint money. I get paid Rs 700 per video, provided I wear sports brand in front of the camera. Many youth in foreign countries like the USA and London have been making huge money," says the HSC graduate.

City Park, for the Dharavi resident, scores over other locations for the audience size it offers. "Each day the fan following increases and onlookers are stunned at my live performances. The presence of a large crowd encourages me to perform even better than before," adds Gupta, who has been approached by sportswear brands.

Yet, even for a short 15-second video, Gupta, often ends up spending as much as an hour just to prep for a script. Take for instance, the video with @goldenuniqueboy, where Girjesh Gaud, is seen both with and without make-up. It took an hour to wear the make-up and a few minutes to shoot. Here, City Park helps especially because as a venue there's an entry fee of only Rs 10. Amenities such as toilets and wash basins allows the artistes to keep themselves looking good despite Mumbai's sweltering skies. And, most importantly, there are no men in khaki to shoo them away.

Twenty-eight-year-old Kurla resident, Meraz Pathan vouches for this. Pathan has been making TikTok videos for the last seven months and has 79.5K followers on his handle @MerazPathan2727. He says, "The cops and security guards never stop us from making videos." His daily routine involves coming here and shooting videos with his crew of four. "There should not be hindrance while the shoot is on, else we will have to shoot again," says Pathan, who we met while he was shooting at the park's parking lot.


Reflected Glory
And if selfie spots in Mumbai are popular among tourists, City Park's fame has moved beyond the city region. We meet a team that's come from Aurangabad in central Maharashtra. It takes Naveed Patel, 19, and his team of six, a near eight-hour travel via train to get to Mumbai and Rs 235 for the trip which sometimes is merely overnight, but a day at City Park, is worth it. "I have been on TikTok since one year and have made 1,100 videos, which I have posted on @NaveedPatel46," says the HSC graduate. "Since the public likes me, I visit different places in Maharashtra, but BKC is the best location of all," says Patel even as fans surround him. Patel has over 4.76 lakh followers and 10.9 million likes.

Naveed Patel (above), who runs the TikTok handle @NaveedPatel46, with his team of six at the City Park parking lot on Thursday. Patel and his team live in Aurangabad and often travel to Mumbai via train to catch the buzz at BKC.

His partner, Altamash Patel, says, "We have been making these videos to chill and to entertain our followers. Since the public demand more videos, we have been visiting different places in Maharashtra, but BKC tops them all."

With the leaders in the business gravitating to this park, the area is also a hub for budding TikTokers, who come here to learn the tricks of the trade. And, like all interns, their first job is to help the seniors with transporting video kits. Other events on City Park's horizon include rappers. YouTubers are also seen capturing stunts on bicycles, kick scooters on the ground.

For those who come to the park for mundane things like taking a walk, TikTokers offer entertainment minus the downloads. Nikita Rathod, whom we met along with her friends, says, "This is new to me. After work, we visit here (City Park) in the evening to see them shooting. It's entertaining." said Rathod, who works in a private bank at BKC. Pankaj Jadhav, who is here with his two children, says, "This is like bonsai version of Film City. Our kids enjoy the evening at City Park as it is very entertaining for them."

Dr Samir Patil, psychiatrist, director, Fortis Mental Health says, "Social media has become an integral part of a young person's life. They use it to connect with their peer group, find affirmation and validation to express their thoughts. Above all, social media is highly accessible. It's on your phone, which is always with you. So whether you are at any place you have your phone with you and you are connected. Peer-to-peer connectivity, influence and learning and social conformity play a lot of role in it. If anything becomes a trend, it trends for a short time because it never trends forever."

Once A Marshland
Built on marshy land between Bandra and Kurla along Mithi River, the MMRDA tried all through the 1980s to attract developers to the Bandra-Kurla Complex as it is now known. It was envisioned as an alternative business district to help decongest Nariman Point. However, it was closer to the new millenium that BKC came into its own after banks, consulates and then the diamond bourse shifted here. The restaurant scene took off with easy access to high-paying diners.


Naveed Patel, who runs the TikTok handle @NaveedPatel46, with his team of six at the City Park parking lot on Thursday. Patel and his team live in Aurangabad and often travel to Mumbai via train to catch the buzz at BKC


Annu Singh: A TikToker, who features in several of Rajpurohit's videos, during a shoot


Young teens who help out TikTok stars by becoming their crew


The park has an entry fee of Rs 10. TikTokers, YouTubers share the space with regular walkers

Hoping to move into her BKC pad with husband by year-end, Sonam redesigns house; Delhi-based Anand to expand business in Mumbai
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 5, 2018)

Ever since their big, fat wedding in May, Sonam K Ahuja and husband Anand have been shuttling between Mumbai, Delhi and London. While she has been operating out of her Juhu home so far, it has now been heard that the actor intends to shift base to her pad in Sunteck Signature Island Apartments in Bandra Kurla Complex. The house, which she had reportedly picked up for a whopping Rs 35 crore in 2015, was the venue of their mehendi function.

A source informs mid-day, "Sonam had invested in this property long back. Considering the two spend a chunk of their time in Mumbai, she wants the Bandra house to be her marital home. She has already begun doing up the apartment. During her recent trip to London, she picked up curios and artefacts for her home."

The source adds that Kapoor is hoping to have major part of the house revamped by August, before she reports to the shooting of The Zoya Factor. "Her calendar is packed with back-to-back films. Once she begins shooting for The Zoya Factor, she'll have little time to focus on the home decor. She is hoping to move into the house before the year-end."

Ahuja, we hear, is planning to expand his popular clothing brand, Bhane, in Mumbai. "The couple will continue to divide their time between Mumbai, Delhi — where Anand and his family resides — and London, where his business is based out of. But having a chain of Bhane in Mumbai will be a win-win situation for the two — it will help Anand tap into a new customer base, and will enable Sonam to spend more time with him," adds the source.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 21, 2018)

While everyone was still getting over the Big Fat Bollywood wedding hangover, the just-married blushing bride Sonam dashed off to Cannes for her annual appearance. She made heads turn on the red carpet with her stunning styles, and hands adorned with mehendi, a rare sight at the film festival hosted at the French Riviera. “People there love it, for them it is exotic and they refer to it as henna. I really loved flaunting it with my outfits,” said Sonam, talking about her Cannes experience.

Back on home turf, the actress is caught up in a whirlwind of promotions for her upcoming film, ‘Veere Di Wedding’. Everyone has been curious to know if the newly-weds will be moving to Delhi, or will the couple move into their plush apartment at Bandra Kurla Complex. When BT caught up with Sonam, she revealed, “Right now, I’m staying at my parents’ place in Juhu. I am doing up our house in BKC, but it will take us at least a year to get it done. In the interim, we are also looking to rent a place, but we haven’t found anything yet. I would love to live somewhere around Juhu, it’s more convenient. We also considered buying a place, but it doesn’t make sense to spend so much on a new house if we are planning to move into the BKC apartment after a year.”

After a full day of interviews, the actress who was heading straight to the airport to receive her hubby Anand Ahuja, who was returning from London, added, “Both of us love London and we have invested in a place there, too. It’s a two-bedroom house and something we’re very proud of.” She’s a tad physically exhausted with all the celebrations, travel and promotions, but excited about her new beginnings. “I have not got a breather since the wedding, and I can take a break only after the release of my film,” she signs off.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 23, 2017)

Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra, colour-coordinated in black, turned heads on Thursday as they stepped into an upscale Thai restaurant in Bandra-Kurla Complex for dinner. The new gal pals spent close to two hours at the fine-dining outpost, chatting through their meal.

A source says, “While exiting, at midnight, PeeCee placed her hand protectively around Alia’s shoulder to shield her from the crowd that had surrounded them for selfies. She had kept her date with Alia despite having been under the weather with fever for the last one week.” Producer Ritesh Sidhwani, along with wife Dolly, was also spotted at the restaurant around the same time, leading to buzz that Alia and PeeCee could be in talks for a film with him.

Alia has also struck up a close friendship with Katrina Kaif over gym sessions and social gatherings. The duo even appeared on a chat show about best friends recently.

On Friday, Priyanka turned up to shoot for the first episode of Karan Johar and Rohit Shetty’s talent hunt show, India’s Next Superstars. Incidentally, Alia had been approached for said episode with Varun Dhawan, but both ‘Students’ had to opt out owing to conflicting schedules. The shoot kicked off at 11.30 am. “My voice is gone but I’ve never sounded this sexy,” PeeCee laughed, resorting to dumb charades. “This suits my condition for now,” she reasoned. After the shoot, the actress flew out to Delhi for an event.

Meanwhile, Alia is prepping to leave for her New Year vacation to Bali with friends next week.

Yogesh Naik (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 27, 2016)

Bandra’s iconic drive-in theatre, where many romances bloomed despite the vast grounds being infested with mosquitoes, is making a comeback.

Pulled down in 2003 as the marshy land on which it stood in Bandra-east began transforming into BKC, one of Mumbai’s swankiest business hubs, the new drive-in theatre, less than half the size of the original, will be ready by the end of 2017.

While old drive-in could accommodate 800 cars, the reconstructed one will have space for only 295 cars.

The drive-in theatre was constructed in the 1970s on a part of a vast piece of mangrove forest, with the Mithi river to its south, Bandra to its east, and to the north Kurla. While the rest of the marshy land has disappeared under BKC’s shiny glass façade buildings -- housing banks, stock market regulators, corporates, hospitals, and hotels -- the part that was occupied by the drive-in theatre is still intact.

The area of the plot on which the new drivein will be built is around 75000 sq metres.

Just like the old drive-new, its new avatar will also have a movie hall, albeit of a smaller capacity.

A senior officer of the Maker group, which is developing the drive-in, said the just like all single-screen theatre owners got permission to redevelop their theatres and use one-third the area for film screenings and use the rest for other commercial purposes, the drive-in’s redevelopment will to be “mixed-use”.

The Maker group has already constructed five buildings in BKC. They plan to build one more hotel and a mall here, apart from the drive-in. “Each car parked in the drive-in will be provided with a sound system and an AC duct to enjoy the movie experience. The company will soon appoint an operator to run the drive-in theatre.

A top Man group official, who did not wish to be identified, said some false stories spread about the safety inside the drive-in combined with the video boom had led to the closure of the drive-in. “But we think Mumbai is now, once again, ready for the unique experience of watching a movie at a drive-in,” he said.

The actress has bought a plush duplex but will move in only after her aunt finishes decorating the interiors
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 29, 2015)

After Alia Bhatt (Mirror, June 9) and Ranveer Singh (Mirror, June 24), Sonam Kapoor is now gearing up to move out of her family home in Juhu. She has bought a plush duplex apartment in Bandra Kurla Complex. It's a 7000-sq feet pad spread across the 3rd and 4th floors.

According to a source close to the property dealer, it's not an investment; the actress plans to live there. She has got possession but she will only move in after the interiors are ready. Kavita Singh, her mother Sunita Kapoor's sister, will start on the interiors this week.

"Her aunt, Kavita, is a well-known interior designer. Sonam too is taking a keen interest in the designing of her new home. Everything will be designed according to her tastes and interests," adds the source.

Producers Sunil and Kishore Lulla also have a duplex on the 11th floor of the same building. Sonam chose not to respond to our text.