Bollywood and Mumbai have always known to be synonymous. This dream city gave birth to many iconic blockbuster films and inhabits several glamour, stardom and fame. On the auspicious occasion of crossing 100 years of the great Indian cinema, it’s a pleasure to recollect all the places that deliver memorable stories to life. It is perfect time to remember the renowned film studios in Mumbai. These studios transform themselves at a fraction of second and provide an attractive backdrop for many films. The studios provide a platform to create the dream world right from a modern city to traditional Mughal Palace without any effort to travel to these places directly.

The city of Mumbai comprises of many film studios, most of them have been established by celebrity filmmakers. Nowadays, ultra modern and also technically advanced studios get added to this list. At this time of celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema, let us go through all the renowned film studios in this dream city of Mumbai.

Notable Studios

Filmistan

This one is among the oldest film studios and was established by powerful personalities like producer Shashadhar Mukherjee and Ashok Kumar in the year 1943-44. This studio is situated in Goregaon with 14 different stages including a police station, jail and a hospital. This is the place where Amitabh Bachhan initiated his career in films. This is the place where Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bacchan met each other for their first shooting together. After 11 years, they returned back as husband and wife to shoot for an advertisement. Blockbuster movies like Kalia, Zanjeer and Shaheed to Ra.One, Om Shanti Om and Black have their backdrop at this studio. Well known TV shows like Nach Baliye and Indian Idol have also been shot at this studio.

Famous Studio

This Studio was established in 1946 at Mahalaxmi. The founder of this studio, Shiraz Ali Hakim had to leave India soon after its inauguration at the time of India’s partition. This studio was taken over by financier for the building construction, Mr. Roongta and he owned it. Famous studio had been in backdrop for many movies like Hum Saath Saath Hain, Kanyadaan, Seeta Aur Geeta, Taj Mahal and many more. Initially this studio was established for the purpose of movie shooting, but currently this famous studio consists of a preview theater along with 9 shooting floors where several events including TV shows are regularly captured. The studio also provides various equipments related to cinematography on rent basis, recording of sound and high tech post production amenities.

R.K Film Studio

R.K Film Studio was established by the great maestro of Hindi film industry, Raj Kapoor in the year 1950. Many movies in the list of evergreen memories like Mera Naam Joker, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hain, Shri 420 and Awara were developed in this studio. This studio is also famous to host great galas and gatherings at the time of Ganesh Chaturthi and Holi that is still followed as a tradition by Kapoor family. Even now, this studio has carried few of most memorable and oldest props from Raj Kapoor early movies.

Mehboob Studio

This studio was established by Notable filmmaker Mehboob Khan in the year 1954. This rambling studio is widespread in an area of 20,000 sq. yards and it also consists of a recording studio. This studio has been a major backdrop in many significant movies like Guide, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Mother India and many more. This place was favorite destination for previous generation actors like Dev Anand and Guru Dutt. It continues its aura even for today’s youngsters. The memorial function of Dev Anand was carried in this Mehboob Studio as he had lived most of his professional life in this place. His personal make up room is maintained as such in his remembrance. Reinventing the flavor of Mehboob Studio, currently they are hosting many cultural events like famous sculptor Anish Kapoor’s exhibition in the year 2010 and also Mahindra Blues festival from the year 2011.

Kamalistan Kamal Amrohi Studio

Renowned classics like Pakeezah, Amar Akbar Anthony and Mughal-e-Azam and several others were born at Kamalistan. This studio was established by prominent Filmmaker Kamal Amrohi. This largest studio is situated at Andheri in Mumbai. Subhash Ghai and Manmohan Desai used to consider this as their lucky place and had shot most of their movies at this place. Recently, Hindi actor, Salman Khan has booked this entire studio to shoot his film, Dabbang 2. This was the first time in Bollywood history that the complete studio was rented for a single movie. Kamalistan Studio was sold to three builders by Amrohi family in the year 2010.

Film City

This place will definitely transform a person into film world the moment they enter into this arena of 500 acres. This film city otherwise known to be Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Ltd was established by Maharashtra Government in 1977 at Goregaon because of the persuasion of famous veterans like Dilip Kumar, B.R.Chopra and V.Shantaram. This film city has hosted maximum number of movies and TV shows. It has served as backdrop for prominent movies like 3 idiots, DDLJ, Krish, Lawaaris, Chandni and Karz. This film city was renamed in the memory of Father of Indian Film Industry as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in the year 2001. Packed with 42 outdoor shooting spots and 16 studios including a temple, lakes and gardens, this film city has been an ideal place for many film makers.

Yash Raj Studios

This studio was established in the year 2006 at Andheri by famous veteran film director, Yash Chopra and is the one and only air conditioned and sound proof studio in the entire country. This studio was designed by renowned studio designer in the world, Mr. Martin Pilchner with few of the highly advanced amenities for post production. The first movie to be shot at this studio is fanaa and later on followed by Ek Tha Tiger, Ishaqzaade, Band Baaja Baraat and Rab Ne Bana di Jodi and many more. This studio hosted various film screenings for the organization. A luxurious premiere show of the Yash Chopra’s last directed movie, Jab Tak Hai Jaan was organized at this studio.

Amazing Facts

Another significant factor of famous Bollywood is their outsourcing. The Indian country is on the peak of technology and few Mumbai based film studios possess the best amenities for production and also post production activity. Biggest blockbuster in Hollywood has made use of these studios in Bengaluru and Mumbai for their special effects and animation which include the largest ever faced movie Avatar.

Problem

Studios had always been an integral portion in Bollywood industry. There is a rumor that most of the old age studios have been transformed into commercial complexes and time can only decide their fate. However, this transformation will bring a huge loss to ever growing film industry.