Shooting spree likely to get easier in Delhi

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(Above) A scene from Break ke Baad that was shot at New Dilli Haat

In the last few years, the number of filmmakers coming to Delhi to shoot their films has seen a tremendous rise. From the recent Vicky Donor to Delhi Belly, Paa, Aisha and Dilli 6 among many other hit blockbusters have been shot in the capital.
With the city becoming a popular destination for filmmakers, director Satish Kaushik recently revealed that he wants to set up a Delhi Film Council along the lines of Fashion Council, that would facilitate filmmakers not only from India but also abroad.
“When I shot one of my first films, Hum Aapke Dil Me Rehte Hain in Delhi, I loved the entire feeling of being in my own city. Later, I shot all my films here. But it wasn’t easy as a proper system wasn’t in place,” says Kaushik, who through a film council wants to ensure there’s a system in place.
He says that he, along with his partner Manoj Mittal, approached the Sheila Dikshit government two years ago with this proposal. Since they have not got a response, Kaushik plans to start the process with help of the film fraternity on his own soon.
Filmmakers think it would be a good move. Many say that a film council will make it easier for filmmakers, as they would know where to go if they need help.
Director Rajkumar Gupta, who shot No One Killed Jessica in the capital, appreciates and supports the plan. He says that it gets really difficult when one reaches the site and discovers that one is not allowed to start work without clearance from a certain department. “While the shooting was mostly smooth, we had to rush for last minute clearances at times that pushed back our schedule,” says Gupta. He thinks that if this works, it will be a precedent for other cities too.
While Gupta shot his film more than two years back, Shoojit Sircar, who shot his recent hit Vicky Donor recently, says that getting things done in the capital wasn’t so difficult. “I did not really encounter any problem. It was easy for me,” he says.
Filmmaker Rahul Mittra, who recently shifted from Delhi to Mumbai after the success of his film Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, feels there’s no need for a film council in Delhi. “I’ve witnessed many films being successfully filmed and promoted in Delhi-NCR, without the help of a single film body over the years. A council mooted by few individual filmmakers would not offer any major value addition. My fear is that any such half-baked initiative, in the absence of government support will just be reduced to a small PR-centric outfit, rolling out film events and film fests, something that is happening already.”