A six-hour film shoot for Ranveer Singh’s upcoming movie Pralay at Mumbai’s historic Azad Maidan has sparked a sharp dispute between the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and the film’s producers. The shoot forced the postponement of scheduled Under-14 and Under-16 interschool cricket matches, leading the cricket body to question the commercial use of a ground dedicated to grassroots sport. Producer Hansal Mehta has defended the shoot, saying the team secured all required clearances and blaming bureaucratic hurdles for making film production difficult in Mumbai.
What Happened at Azad Maidan?
The Maharashtra Sports Department granted permission to production house Light Rays to use 5,000 square yards of government land at Azad Maidan for a six-hour window. The approval was signed by Sports Department Under Secretary Ashok Damayyawar on October 30, 2026, and forwarded by the deputy director of Sports and Youth Services on November 2, 2026. The permission came with strict conditions: no cooking, no digging, and no vehicles on the pitches.
The shoot involved erecting large sets and laying artificial grass across the playing surface. According to reports, this was the first time a feature film shoot was permitted at Azad Maidan, a venue long associated with school and age-group cricket in Mumbai.
The timing of the shoot clashed with MCA’s scheduled Under-14 and Under-16 interschool tournaments, which had been planned well in advance. The MCA was forced to postpone matches, inconveniencing players, schools, clubs, and match officials.
MCA’s Strong Objection
The MCA expressed its displeasure in a formal letter to the Deputy Director of Sports, questioning why the association was not consulted before commercial permission was granted. Nadim Memon, an MCA Apex Council member, told Mumbai Mirror that the Sports Department was increasingly prioritising commercial bookings over the needs of young athletes.
Memon pointed out that a large portion of Azad Maidan was already handed over for Aqua Line Metro construction, with contractors yet to vacate the premises. The Mumbai Police have also continued to occupy part of the ground instead of moving back to their original location. “Now, film shoots are being allowed as well,” he said.
“This is the first time a film shoot has taken place at Azad Maidan. 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. 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.”
— Nadim Memon, MCA Apex Council member
Memon also highlighted that Azad Maidan is a dedicated training ground for aspiring international players, not a commercial venue. He pointed to past disruptions from religious functions, political rallies, marathons, and exhibitions, and questioned who would take responsibility for the disruption of official tournaments aimed at nurturing young talent.
“Azad Maidan’s sporting culture is being affected by the Sports Department. Instead of supporting sports, it is allowing commercial bookings at the ground. We are working to nurture young cricketers and organise several interstate tournaments. But because of the film shoot, we had to postpone matches. How can the Sports Department allow this?”
— Nadim Memon
The MCA’s letter urged the department to prioritise scheduled sports fixtures, warning that allowing commercial film shoots on active match days sets a precedent that threatens uninterrupted competitive cricket. The association emphasised that its Under-14 and Under-16 tournaments are planned well in advance and form a critical part of the state’s cricket development system.
Hansal Mehta’s Response
Hansal Mehta, the producer of Pralay, confirmed to Mumbai Mirror that the production team had obtained all mandatory clearances from competent authorities before filming. He defended the shoot while criticising administrative friction.
“Mumbai has been rendered a no-go zone for film shoots because of bureaucratic hurdles. And people like you fuel the fire.”
— Hansal Mehta, Producer
Mehta’s comment reflects a broader frustration within the film industry about the difficulties of securing permissions for shooting in Mumbai, even when all official processes are followed.
The Permission and Its Conditions
The state government granted permission to Light Rays to use 5,000 square yards of government land at Azad Maidan for six hours, charging Rs 40,000 in rent along with a refundable security deposit of Rs 40,000. The permission letter, signed by Ashok Damayyawar on October 30 and forwarded on November 2, included strict stipulations against cooking, digging, or bringing vehicles onto the pitches.
The production team was also required to secure permissions from the police, traffic department, and BMC, obtain a no-objection certificate from the MCA, and submit an undertaking on Rs 100 stamp paper. Despite these clearances, the MCA maintains that it was not properly consulted about the timing of the shoot, which overlapped with official matches.
Why Azad Maidan Matters
Azad Maidan is a triangular-shaped sports ground in South Mumbai with deep ties to the city’s cricket culture. It is a regular venue for inter-school cricket matches and has been a training ground for several cricketers who went on to play at the international level. In 1987, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli shared a record 664-run partnership during a Harris Shield school match at Azad Maidan. More recently, Prithvi Shaw made history with a score of 546 runs at the same ground.
For the MCA, the ground represents the starting point of Mumbai’s famed cricket pipeline. Allowing commercial film shoots on active match days, the association argues, undermines the very purpose of preserving such venues for young athletes.
About ‘Pralay’
Pralay is a post-apocalyptic survival thriller starring Ranveer Singh alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Jai Mehta, with the screenplay co-written by Vishal Kapoor. The project is produced by Ananya Birla, Hansal Mehta, Sahil Saigal, and Ranveer Singh. The film is set in a zombie-infested dystopian city and is described as a large-scale world-building project, a genre rarely attempted at this scale in Indian cinema.
Ranveer Singh’s recent releases include Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023 with Alia Bhatt and Singham Again in 2024, where he returned to Rohit Shetty’s cop universe.
Related Stories
What the Sports Department Says
Navnath Fartade, Deputy Director of Sports (Mumbai Division), told Mumbai Mirror that a Government Resolution (GR) empowers the department to allocate Azad Maidan for non-sporting activities for up to 30 days a year. Addressing the ongoing encroachments, Fartade added that meetings are underway with government officials to clear temporary offices set up by the Mumbai Police and Metro contractors.
The MCA, however, maintains that the department should have taken the association into confidence before allowing commercial activity on a day when official matches were scheduled. The cricket body has demanded accountability for the disruption caused to young cricketers and interstate tournaments.
For more updates on film shoots, cricket controversies, and entertainment news, keep reading VvipTimes.
Leave a Reply