Hansal Mehta on Pralay Azad Maidan shoot row: ‘You are treated as if you are trespassing’

Hansal Mehta, the filmmaker behind the upcoming film Pralay, has defended his team's actions regarding the controversy surrounding the shoot at Mumbai's Azad Maidan. He insists that the production team had obtained all the necessary permissions from various departments, including the police and the sports department. However, the controversy stems from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) raising objections to the six-hour shoot, arguing that it disrupted scheduled inter-school cricket matches and caused inconvenience to young cricketers.

Hansal Mehta highlighted the increasingly complicated process of obtaining clearances for film shoots in Mumbai, stating that filmmakers often have to navigate multiple departments, each with its own procedures and potential delays. He expressed frustration over how, even when they have every necessary permission, filmmakers feel as if they are being treated as trespassers.

This sentiment reflects the filmmaker's deep attachment to Mumbai and his concern that the city's treatment of filmmakers might push them to look for alternative shooting locations.

Despite his criticism, Hansal Mehta emphasized his commitment to making films in Mumbai. He reiterated that the team had followed all the rules, even if the process was cumbersome and frustrating. He called for cooperation from authorities and a reduction in mistrust to ensure that filmmakers are respected and allowed to work effectively in the city they have called home for over three decades.