The actors, who are shooting for their first film together, recently shot for a high-octane chase sequence in SoBo
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 6, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (July 15) that Ishaan Khatter and Ananya Panday are teaming up for Maqbool Khan’s directorial debut, Khaali Peeli, which is produced by Ali Abbas Zafar with Zee Studios and Himanshu Kishan Mehra. The film went on the floors in Mumbai on September 12.

Now, we have learnt that the makers recently shot for a high-octane action sequence featuring Ishaan and Ananya, along with the film’s antagonist, Jaideep Ahlawat, who will be seen in the avatar of a quintessential Bolllywood villain. “It was a night shoot spread across four days in Mumbai. In the sequence, the leads are in a cab and being chased by the baddies down the bylanes of Bhendi Bazaar. It comes at an important juncture of the story,” revealed a source close to development.

The production team had conducted a recce of the locations and since it’s a busy area, proper arrangements were made to ensure security of the actors and smooth-sailing. “The unit had also sought permissions from the authorities to shoot in the lanes,” the source informed, adding that the locals had gathered for a glimpse of the action. Maqbool points out, “This is the first time ever in Bollywood that someone has shot an action sequence amid the chaos of Bhendi Bazaar. It was quite an experience.”

A gritty thriller, the film is set entirely in Mumbai and sees the ubiquitous kaali peeli taxi playing a significant role in the narrative. Ananya, who is scheduled to wrap up her portions by February next year, admits that it was an exhausting first schedule as they had been only doing night shoots.

“It’s also a difficult film for me because the lingo is out of my comfort zone. Apart from that, you will see me in just two outfits through the entire film. We have experimented with my look too,” the 21-year-old actress shares. The film’s second schedule kicks off in December

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 18, 2016)

Shooting for Omung Kumar's biopic, Sarbjit, which is currently in its last schedule, was brought to an abrupt halt when the team was filming a sequence featuring Darshan Kumaar in Bhendi Bazaar recently.

In the film the sequence is set in Pakistan and has Darshan's character giving a speech with the message of peace and prosperity. It sparks off protest from some members of the gathering brandishing placards with anti-India slogans in Urdu. Incensed by the slogans, a group of locals in Bhendi Bazaar raised objections claiming their sentiments had been hurt.

"I play Sarabjit's lawyer, Awaiz Sheikh and after my speech my charcter is accused of being anti-national and pro-Sarabjit," Darshan reveals, adding that Malerkotla in Punjab was the original location.

But plans fell through and the team moved on to Bhendi Bazaar where the incensed locals filed a complaint against the makers, following which Sarbjit's executive producer, Zafar Mehdi, was put behind bars for over two hours. "The shoot was halted for over four hours. Later, Omung and I appraised the authorities about the scene in question and requested them to release Zafar since we had valid permission to shoot," Darshan reveals.