Mumbai: Plans for entertainment hub in Film City

The entertainment capital of the country is all set to get an entertainment hub at Film City in Goregaon, which will house studios, theatres, post-production facilities and museums, and serve as a major tourist destination.

The entertainment capital of the country is all set to get an entertainment hub at Film City in Goregaon, which will house studios, theatres, post-production facilities and museums, and serve as a major tourist destination.

This was announced at the seminar on ‘Transforming MMR into a Global Financial, Commercial and Entertainment Hub,’ held as part of the Mumbai Next conclave.

Valsa Nair Singh, secretary of Tourism and Culture, said the master plan is in its final stages, and will shortly be placed before the Cabinet for approval. “There will be museum, an archival centre, theatres and places where you can relive films such as Sholay. We will have the best of studios and also centres for post film production,” said Singh. She said the proposal is being vetted by the state finance department.

For the entertainment hub, the state government wants to develop a 438-acre area of Film City situated between Goregaon and Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The hub will include a film complex and a tourism complex.

In the 102-year-old history of Bollywood, Mumbai has always been its capital. However, it has faced a host of problems in the city, because of lack of studios of international standards, and red-tapism. As a result, producers often prefer foreign shores.

Members of the panel welcomed the announcement. Actor Amitabh Bachchan said, “We need designated theatres to stage plays in Marathi and other languages. Museums are necessary to honour the people who have contributed to the growth of Indian cinema.” The state government said it would send the master plan to Bachchan for his inputs

Producer Ekta Kapoor said the city has never given priority to the entertainment industry. “Even though we provide so much employment, accommodation is major issue here,” said Kapoor. She also rued the high cost of shooting in the city.