Hansal Mehta Defends Pralay Shoot at Azad Maidan Amid Row Over Youth Cricket Matches

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has defended the production team of the upcoming movie Pralay following a major row over a recent six-hour filming session at Mumbai's Azad Maidan. The Mumbai Cricket Association strongly objected to the shoot, stating that it delayed youth cricket matches and questioning why a sports venue used by teenagers was given out for commercial cinema work. Speaking to SCREEN and Hindustan Times, Mehta stated that the crew had obtained every required approval from the police and sports departments, along with an official acknowledgement from the cricket association itself. He pointed out that the bigger issue is the difficult process of getting clearances in Mumbai, where makers must deal with multiple government bodies that each possess the power to halt production. According to a Mumbai Mirror report, the Maharashtra government's Sports Department granted production company Light Rays the right to use 5,000 square yards of the ground for forty thousand rupees, plus a refundable deposit of the same amount. The sports office, represented by Deputy Director Navnath Fartade, noted that government rules allow non-sporting events at the ground for up to thirty days each year. However, the cricket association maintained it was never consulted beforehand, adding that the crew set up large structures and artificial turf that disturbed Under-14 and Under-16 games.

The Industry Impact

Mehta warned that these constant hurdles are driving movie crews away to other states that warmly welcome film shoots for the jobs and business they bring. Pralay is a dystopian survival thriller about a post-apocalyptic Mumbai dealing with a zombie threat, directed by Jai Mehta and starring Ranveer Singh in his producing debut under Maa Kasam Films, alongside co-star Kalyani Priyadarshan. Mehta added that despite his three decades of work in the city and his love for it, filmmakers will inevitably go wherever they are allowed to work without being treated like trespassers.

Context

Azad Maidan is a historic open space in South Mumbai that frequently hosts political rallies, public gatherings, and grassroots sports, particularly youth cricket. Balancing large commercial film productions with community sports needs is a recurring challenge in dense urban centers like Mumbai, where open grounds are scarce.