Mumbai''s Film City to go Hollywood way

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 29

Mumbai's Film City located in the suburb of Goregaon will soon go the Hollywood way with the Maharashtra government finally giving the go-ahead to its development under a public-private partnership programme.

Under the proposal cleared by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a developer and a financial partner would be chosen to carry out major investments in the project estimated at several crore rupees, according to sources.

As per a master plan prepared by the government, facilities available at Film City would be totally revamped so that film makers can complete the entire script-to-screen process under one roof at the 500 acre Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari as Film City is officially called.

The Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation (MFSCDC) Ltd which is overseeing the redevelopment of the complex has conceptualised the setting up of high-tech outdoor shooting locations, hotels, convention centres, model villages, a Bollywood museum, etc.

Sources say the project will also involve rehabilitation of several hundred slum dwellers before the master plan is implemented.

Keeping in mind the tourism potential of Film City, a theme park featuring major films like Sholay, Krish, James Bond and Jurassic Park have been planned.

Though Film City continues to draw scores of film and tele-serial makers, most of the A-list producers have abandoned the area years ago as the locations here have been over-exposed. Officials from MFSCDC hope that the redevelopment of Film City will spark a revival among the big-ticket film makers.