A dispute over a six-hour film shoot at Mumbai’s historic Azad Maidan has put filmmaker Hansal Mehta and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on opposite sides. The MCA says the shoot for Ranveer Singh’s upcoming film ‘Pralay’ forced the postponement of Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school cricket matches. Mehta has rejected the claim, stating the production team held every required permission, including an acknowledgement from the MCA itself. The disagreement has also opened a wider conversation about how Mumbai treats film productions at a time when the city is competing with other states for shooting schedules.
What the Cricket Body Claimed
The MCA’s objection centres on how a ground used daily by young cricketers was handed over for a commercial film shoot. According to the association, the Maharashtra Sports Department approved a six-hour shoot for ‘Pralay’ at Azad Maidan without consulting the cricket body, which is responsible for maintaining the ground and its pitches.
MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon said large sets were built and artificial grass was laid over the playing surface. He argued that Azad Maidan is not a film-shooting venue but a training ground where players work towards international careers.
“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 pointed out that Azad Maidan was already under pressure from other non-sporting activities. A section of the ground had been occupied for Aqua Line Metro construction, and Mumbai Police were still using part of the premises instead of returning to their original location. He questioned why a film shoot was being allowed when the ground was already stretched.
The MCA wrote to the Deputy Director of Sports, asking why it was not consulted before permission was granted. The association warned that allowing commercial shoots on active match days sets a precedent that could affect competitive cricket in the state.
Hansal Mehta’s Response
Mehta has been clear that the production followed the rulebook. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror and later to Hindustan Times, the filmmaker said the team had permission letters from the police department and the sports department, along with an acknowledgement of the same from the MCA.
“Our shoot at Azad Maidan was fully permitted. We have requisite permission letters from police departments, sports departments including an acknowledgement of the same from MCA.”
— Hansal Mehta
He also pushed back against what he described as a larger problem for Mumbai’s film industry: the difficulty of securing clearances for shoots in the city.
“Mumbai is the home of Indian cinema. It has also become a most unfriendly city to shoot in. A single location needs clearances from multiple departments, each with its own process, its own delays and its own power to stop a shoot. Even when you have every permission, you are treated as if you are trespassing.”
— Hansal Mehta
Mehta said other states welcome film crews because they understand that shoots bring jobs, business and visibility. He described the situation in Mumbai as one of obstruction and said many filmmakers now prefer to shoot outside the city. At the same time, he made it clear he wants to keep working in Mumbai.
“I have worked in this city for over three decades. I love it and I want to keep telling its stories here. But filmmakers will go where they are allowed to work. If Mumbai wants to remain the centre of this industry, it has to stop treating its own filmmakers as a nuisance. We followed every rule no matter how complicated or difficult it may be.”
— Hansal Mehta
A shorter version of his reaction, shared widely by news outlets, summed up his frustration in one line: Mumbai has been rendered a “no-go zone” for film shoots because of bureaucratic hurdles.
The Permission Details
Official records explain how the shoot was cleared. The Maharashtra government allowed Light Rays, the production house behind ‘Pralay’, to use 5,000 square yards of Azad Maidan for six hours. The company paid ₹40,000 as a booking fee and deposited another ₹40,000 as a refundable security deposit.
The permission letter was signed by Sports Department Under Secretary Ashok Damayyawar on October 30 and forwarded on November 2. It came with conditions: no vehicles on the pitches, no cooking and no digging on the ground. The production was also required to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the MCA.
The MCA maintains it was not consulted before the department approved the shoot. Deputy Director of Sports, Mumbai Division, Navnath Fartade, defended the decision by pointing to a government resolution that allows Azad Maidan to host non-sporting events for up to 30 days a year. The cricket body fears that repeated commercial bookings could shrink access for young players even further.
The shoot itself was a first for the ground. No feature film had previously been allowed to film at Azad Maidan, which regularly hosts age-group tournaments, coaching programmes and club matches.
About ‘Pralay’
‘Pralay’ is a Hindi-language dystopian zombie thriller starring Ranveer Singh and Kalyani Priyadarshan. Directed by Jai Mehta, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic Mumbai where a deadly outbreak turns the city into a survival zone. The story follows a married couple trying to stay alive in a city overrun by the undead.
The project marks Ranveer Singh’s first film as a producer under his banner Maa Kasam Films. It is co-produced by Birla Studios, led by Ananya Birla, and True Story Films, founded by Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal. The screenplay is written by Jai Mehta and Vishal Kapoor.
Filming began in Mumbai on August 16, 2026, with the team shooting at real locations across the city. ‘Pralay’ is planned as a pan-India release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, with a theatrical arrival expected in 2028.
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The Azad Maidan shoot was part of that Mumbai schedule. The production has not commented beyond Mehta’s statements about permissions and bureaucratic delays. The MCA has not announced any further legal or administrative step beyond its letter to the Sports Department.
For more updates on film shoots, production disputes and release details, keep reading VvipTimes.
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