Delhi costs force Sitare Zameen Par to cut shoot

Recently, many films and web shows featuring Delhi scenes may not have actually been filmed in the city itself; instead, they could have recreated Delhi’s essence in locations like Lucknow or Madhya Pradesh. The rising costs of shooting in the Capital have led many productions to seek alternative filming locations. 

For instance, shooting at Rajiv Chowk metro station could cost a hefty ₹2 lakhs per hour, while filming at the international airport may set production budgets back by a substantial ₹12 lakhs for four hours. This trend reflects the increasing challenges and expenses associated with shooting in Delhi. 

A production head tells, “If you want to shoot at Rajiv Chowk for 4 hours, it means eight lakh rupees for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. GST ki baat agar nahi bhi karte, ₹2,36,000 will be taken by New Delhi Municipal Council, a lakh rupees will be taken by the parking guys. Around two lakh rupees by the Delhi Police for security. You can do the maths.”

We recently learned that even though the shoots were supposed to last longer, they have been changed. The shooting schedule for Aamir Khan’s film “Sitare Zameen Par” in Delhi has been shortened. A source tells us, “The earlier plan was very long, but now it has been shortened. Instead of a month, now it will be shot in Delhi only for 8-10 days, around July.”