Cinema VinesRanveer Singh’s new film, Pralay, has sparked a heated debate after the makers were granted permission to shoot at Mumbai’s historic Azad Maidan. The request, approved by the Maharashtra Sports Department, allowed Light Rays, the production house behind Pralay, to occupy 5,000 square yards of the ground for six hours, a move that has upset the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and the city’s young cricketers.
According to a report by the Mumbai Mirror, the shoot was scheduled on October 30 and the production team paid a rental fee of ₹40,000, which equates to ₹800 per 100 square yards. They also had to provide a refundable security deposit of the same amount. The permission came with strict conditions: no vehicles on the pitches, no cooking, no digging, and no activities that could damage the surface. The crew was required to obtain clearance from the police, traffic department, BMC, and a no‑objection certificate from the MCA, as well as submit an undertaking on a ₹100 stamp paper.
Despite these safeguards, the shoot disrupted the ground’s regular use. The MCA had to postpone scheduled Under‑14 and Under‑16 interschool cricket matches, a decision that was made in advance of the filming. “This is the first time a film shoot has taken place at Azad Maidan,” said MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon. “Large sets were erected and artificial grass was laid for the shoot of Pralay. This is not a film‑shooting venue but a cricket ground where players hone their skills to progress to the international level.”
Memon added that the sporting culture of the venue was being compromised. “Our ongoing tournaments were disrupted because of the shoot. Who will take responsibility for this loss? You cannot commercially exploit a cricket ground by allowing a commercial film shoot,” he said. He further criticised the Sports Department for permitting commercial bookings at a venue that should support athletic development.
The Mumbai Mirror report notes that this is the first time a film crew has been allowed to use Azad Maidan. The MCA has responded by writing a formal letter to the Deputy Director of Sports, expressing its displeasure and demanding accountability for the disruption caused to young cricketers and interstate tournaments.
