Last month, when Delhi recorded consecutive days of cold wave and smog, several film shoots were impacted and line producers told us that production houses had to do a lot of changes in shoot schedules. While Delhi’s infamous winter may have put a temporary pause on shoots, from this month, several series and movies from across the world are lined up for shoot in Delhi, say line producers.

Recently, Animal starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna was filmed at Miranda House and at a few locations in Old Delhi, which were off-limits in January because of Republic Day preps. Rahul Singh, a line producer, adds, “Last month, due to Republic Day, several areas were blocked and it is indeed difficult to get permission for shoots in those areas in January, so we do not even attempt it. Right now, it is the ideal time for film shoots in Delhi, and that’s why we are witnessing this rush.”

Line producers say that they had expected shoots to show a strong recovery in February given how several projects were in the pipeline. Javed, a line producer, says, “February is the month when Delhi’s shooting season officially begins. Until now shoots were mostly done indoors, as outdoor locations were covered in smog. But Feb shoot numbers seem to have exceeded even our expectations.”

Agrees Sumit Tyagi, a line producer, who shares, “From now until the monsoon hits, it is indeed going to be hectic. Besides, it is not just films, so many web series also have Delhi-centric plots.”

Multiple international productions are expected to be shot at various locations in the capital, including the markets of Connaught Place and Old Delhi. Rahul adds, “In fact, the next couple of months are going to be really busy. We also have enquiries from international filmmakers for which final dates are yet to be confirmed. ”

- Scam (second season)

- Murder Mubarak

- R Madhavan’s film Hisaab Barabar

- Anubhav Sinha’s next project

- Nikkhil Advani’s Freedom At Midnight

Apart from these, three web series and major Hollywood projects will also be shot

Over the last few years, the I&B Ministry’s efforts to make film shooting an easier and more seamless experience for foreign filmmakers seems to have paid off, with India becoming an increasingly popular shooting destination with foreign filmmakers. Even as the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) — which comes under the ministry — collaborates with states and central agencies to ensure timely permissions for film shoots of foreign projects — this year, at Cannes, the India Pavilion will focus on positioning India as the ‘Content Hub Of The World’ and establishing international partnerships in film shooting, distribution, co-production, and more.

As a result, while the pandemic may have put a temporary pause on foreign shoots, post reopening, several series and movies from across the world are lined up for shoot in India in the coming months. In addition to this, post-July, over 10 Hollywood and other foreign projects will be shot in India, say line producers.

Rahul Singh, a line producer who recently shot the Czech film Two Words As A Key in India, says, “We filmed in Varanasi, in hilly areas, at railway platforms and in trains. Broadly, for foreign filmmakers, prime Indian locations are — Varanasi, Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Spiti, Jaipur-Jodhpur and snow-capped mountains of Kashmir.”

A producer adds, “A few upcoming projects will also be shot in cities such as Kanpur and Bhopal, where foreign filmmakers intend to create the Bombay of 60s-70s. While metros have undergone massive changes, these small towns have retained that look, so they are preferred for such projects.”

Deborah Benattar, Indian producer of several French films such as The Best Is Yet To Come, Animal (a French documentary, shot in Mumbai, which was one of Cannes Film Festival 2021’s selections), Fahim (shot in Kolkata), Maya (in Goa), says, “We just completed the shoot of a French film, The Braid, in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. As far as we know, it was the first foreign feature film shot in India after foreign filmmakers were allowed to shoot in India amid the pandemic, and we had around 120 cast and crew members. The film has been shot at three railway stations. A special train was also booked for the shoot. Before the pandemic hit, the Swiss film And Tomorrow You Will Be Dead was filmed in Rajasthan in February and March 2020. We created Pakistan in Rajasthan.”

Tanvi Gandhi, an independent film producer, who recently finished an Estonian production, Wait Of Light, a film on ragpickers in Delhi, says, “I took permissions through the FFO and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth it was. I was getting follow-up emails and calls from Delhi Tourism, and it was quite a great experience. When foreign filmmakers come to India, their shoot is specific to the script. Often, they want to show locations that the global audience can identify India with — be it backwaters, rural spaces and places through which they can show the beauty of the country.”

Indian producers point out that foreign filmmakers, be it big-budget producers or those with modest budgets, have always been inclined to shoot in India as the country offers a variety of shoot locations. And now, with a relatively easier process, they are also recreating other foreign locales, like Tibet, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, in India.

Tanvi Gandhi, an independent film producer, says, “The sand dunes of Afghanistan can be recreated in Rajasthan’s deserts. If shot smartly, some areas of Himachal and Kashmir can be shown as European countries. The rough terrain of Ladakh can be recreated as Tibet, as in the case of the French film To The Top. Even the dense forests of the northeast can be shown as southeast Asia.”

Pravesh Sahni, Indian producer of several international projects, adds, “We have recreated Pakistan in Chandigarh and Patiala for films like Zero Dark Thirty, where we even recreated US Embassy’s building in Pakistan. In recent years, for Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction, Bangladesh was recreated in Ahmedabad. Our job is to find identical locations, and then the art department creates signage and the look.”

Line producers point out that while airport permissions remain a bottleneck for foreign projects, filming in India has become easier even in areas where permissions were difficult earlier. Back in 2011, a train sequence — which included a scene on top of a moving train — for the James Bond film Skyfall couldn’t be shot in India because of issues between the production team and the Indian Railways.

Pravesh Sahni, Indian producer of several international projects, says, “The Indian railways is a unique entity in itself, and foreign productions often want to include a few shots of railways. Lately, the permission in railways has become quite easy, which was not the case before.”

"Mr Singh, how would you decipher the significance, importance and resolution of Macduff ?'' asked an English gent during my drama school days in England. "It's simple. Macduff slays Macbeth,'' I replied. Why do we unnecessarily suffer under the burden of feigning intellect, when the prime purpose of all literature is to entertain us? Mind you, entertainment doesn't only mean generating laughter.

Great writing is simple writing and vice versa, the foremost example being the only writer whose works are in action somewhere on the planet, at all times. You guessed it - good ol' Willy Boy aka William Shakespeare! Be it his tragedies, comedies or histories - his genius ensured viewers' entertainment - it's the mass 'simplicity' connect that has immortalized him. Reducing a masses writer to an expensive and limited viewership with some acclaim is not fruitful adaptation. One has lost the original purpose.

Shakespeare is so strongly relevant in the East that I feel he was an Indian mind inside a British head! An interesting successful parallel is Guru Dutt's cinema that featured brilliant comic songs and sequences to balance the somberness. As for formula masala elements like sword duels, flamboyant courtships, reunions after decades of separation, palace intrigues and politics, disguising characters (clearly playing to the gallery), Manmohan Desai stands as the mainstream parallel.

The cohesive factor among all these artists' creations was a blend of such great 'gravity and innocence' that the viewer simply believed! Sadly, the blend is disintegrating... from life as well as art! When Shakespeare played - the stage was bare, Of castle, temple, font or stair, 2 broadswords fought the battle out, 2 supers made the rabble rout, The throne of Denmark was a chair! Today, we pay heavy ticket price and view with sophistication. In the master's days at London's globe, the scenario was much like street theatre. Apart from the velvety balcony gentry (that today grabs front seats), the janta was all over the stalls - hooting, quarrelling, boozing, negotiating in grocery and flesh trade simultaneously - and amidst this ruckus, performers like Burbage & William himself kept the viewer engrossed, quite like a small town single screen cinema atmosphere, where local stories progress alongside the on-screen story.

An attempt at any literary classic must take it a level higher, artistically and commercially. I too possess few adaptations awaiting filming, but as for some that I've seen over the years (am taking liberty to express coz I paid for numerous lounge seats + popcorn), the films had interesting portions (courtesy original creator and some performers), but the creator's spirit comes and goes just like a fine rifle with a bad foresight, which keeps shooting... but missing! As Hamlet says, 'I'm being cruel only to be kind - so bad begins and worse remains behind!' 'Ye zaruri nahi ki sahitya se uthaya hoga to kamaal kar dikhaya hoga!' I'm sure the master hid a deeper meaning in his epitaph... Good friend for Jesus' sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here, Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones! Well, I'd simply like to add...Amen!