Bold claim: Dhurandhar’s shoot has put Aditya Dhar’s production banner under serious scrutiny, with the BMC moving toward a permanent ban. And this is the part that could spark debate: should one alleged safety slip ruin a studio’s ability to work in the city at all?
Here’s the situation in plain terms. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started stringent action against B62 Studios, the production banner behind Dhurandhar: The Revenge, citing multiple alleged rule breaches during a Mumbai shooting stop. A report from The Indian Express says the BMC has recommended permanently barring the studio from obtaining future filming permissions, citing repeated violations of the conditions tied to permits.
What triggered the dispute
- The BMC’s A ward office reports that a letter was sent to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone 1) proposing that B62 Studios be barred from applying for shooting permissions through the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited’s state portal.
- The controversy centers on a February 7–8 shoot in South Mumbai, between Modi Street and Perin Nariman Street in A ward. The schedule had been approved on January 30 via the state film corporation.
- Authorities allege the production team violated police conditions that specifically prohibited crackers and other flammable materials on set.
A second round of applications and a tense turn
- After the initial violations, Komal Pokhriyal filed to shoot on February 13–14, but officials cancelled the request, citing the earlier breaches.
- A new application followed for filming between 12:30 am and 4:00 am on February 14. This time, conditional approval was granted only after the applicants promised no flammable materials would be used.
- Yet, around 12:45 am on February 14, police reportedly received complaints about the on-set use of flammable torches. A senior BMC official said civic officers arrived within 15 minutes and seized five lit torches at the location.
- Following the incident, the producers allegedly told authorities that any fire-related visuals would be achieved via visual effects (VFX).
Proposed penalties and what could follow
- In addition to the permanent blacklisting, the BMC is proposing a fine of Rs 1 lakh for allegedly shooting on a building terrace and for deploying two generator vans without proper authorization. The Rs 25,000 security deposit already paid by the applicants has been forfeited.
- The A ward office is seeking approval to formally register the seized items and move ahead with penalties against the applicants—Komal Pokhriyal, Nashir Khan—and B62 Studios.
- If these measures are approved, the studio and named individuals would be barred from securing future filming permissions via the state film corporation’s portal.
Context and what it means going forward
- This development underscores the growing scrutiny on film productions in Mumbai, where permit compliance and safety protocols are increasingly non-negotiable.
- For industry watchers, the case raises questions about enforcement consistency and the balance between creative demands and safety rules on city shoots.
Want to weigh in? Do you think the BMC’s proposed permanent blacklisting sets a prudent precedent for safety and compliance, or does it risk harming independent productions with stringent penalties for early missteps? Share your thoughts in the comments.
