Mumbai – 2025
Long considered the symbolic heart of Indian cinema,Film City Mumbaiis preparing to turn that symbolism into serious scale. In a landmark announcement by the Maharashtra government, the iconic studio complex in Goregaon is set to undergo a₹800 crore modernization project, aimed at transforming it into a world-class production ecosystem on par withPinewood Studios (UK), Fox Studios (Australia), and Warner Bros. (USA).
This isn’t just a facelift—it’s astrategic reboot of India’s production infrastructureto retain domestic projects, attract international co-productions, and reclaim the city’s standing as a global cinema capital in an era of borderless filmmaking.
What’s Changing: The Blueprint of the Future
The plan, unveiled as part of Maharashtra’s “Cinematic Capital 2030” vision, includes:
- Smart Stages: Construction of 10 new fully soundproofed, climate-controlled smart soundstages equipped for green screen, virtual production, and Dolby-certified sound
- Virtual Production Zone: India’s first full-scale LED volume dome setup (similar to what was used in The Mandalorian), enabling real-time rendering of VFX environments
- Post-Production Hub: 24×7 editing bays, sound design suites, and DI theaters for international clients
- Open Lot Redesign: Aesthetic landscaping and modern amenities to allow for public interaction zones, open-air screenings, and cultural tourism
- Sustainability Standards: Installation of solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and carbon-neutral energy architecture across the facility
Why Now?
1. Global Competitiveness
In recent years, India has seen several big-budget productions shift to countries like the UAE, Serbia, and Thailand due tosuperior infrastructure and tax benefits. With this revamp, Mumbai is asserting itself not just as Bollywood’s base, butas a global filmmaking destination.
2. Regional Industry Growth
From Tamil to Marathi to Kannada cinema, regional film industries are booming. The new Film City aims to provideinfrastructure support to filmmakers from across India, including multilingual dubbing zones and region-specific set environments.
3. OTT and International Co-Productions
With Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV+ scaling their India operations, there’s growing demand forhigh-grade, quick-turnaround production spacesin India’s biggest media city. Film City’s new facilities aim to plug that gap.
Stakeholder Voices
Speaking at the launch event, Chief MinisterEknath Shinderemarked,
“Mumbai is not just the city of dreams—it’s the city of delivery. This project ensures our storytellers have the tools they need to compete with the world.”
Representatives from Netflix India and Disney Star also voiced support, with talks underway for long-term studio leasing arrangements and festival collaborations.
Bridging Heritage and High-Tech
Film City was founded in 1977, and has hosted everything fromSholaytoSacred Games. Yet over time, its facilities aged while global standards evolved. This modernization seeks tohonor its cinematic legacy while future-proofing its creative capacity.
Plans are also underway for aCinema Museum and Archive Wing, where restored reels, vintage equipment, and oral histories from technicians and directors will be preserved.
Final Word
Film City’s revamp is more than an infrastructure upgrade.
It’s a statement thatIndia doesn’t just want to tell stories—it wants to host the world while telling them.
Because in 2025, cinema isn’t just about lights, camera, action.
It’s aboutlocation, scale, and vision—and Mumbai is building all three.
