Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has responded to the row over the shoot of Ranveer Singh-starrer Pralay at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, saying the team had secured the required permissions. The controversy began after the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) raised objections to the six-hour shoot, claiming it forced the postponement of inter-school cricket matches. The association has questioned why a ground used by young cricketers was made available for a commercial film shoot.
The shoot required a large set to be put up and artificial grass to be laid, which left the MCA with no choice but to reschedule Under-14 and Under-16 inter-school matches already on the calendar. Deputy Director of Sports, Mumbai Division, Navnath Fartade, defended the decision, saying a government resolution allows Azad Maidan to host non-sporting events for up to 30 days in a year. The film went on floors in Mumbai on August 16, 2026, with the makers reportedly shooting at real locations across the city.
Because of bureaucratic hurdles, speaking to Mumbai Mirror, he also criticised the hurdles filmmakers face while shooting in Mumbai, saying, “But I would like to underscore that Mumbai has been rendered a no-go zone for film shoots. Because of the shoot, our ongoing tournaments were disrupted. The association wants the Sports Department to prioritise these activities and ensure that young players do not lose access to the ground due to commercial events.
Hansal, meanwhile, maintained that the production had secured all the required permissions before filming at Azad Maidan. And people like you fuel the fire. A section of the ground had been taken over for the Aqua Line Metro work, but the contractors had not moved out despite repeated reminders. The Mumbai Police also continued to occupy the premises instead of returning to their original location. He questioned why a film shoot was now being allowed when the ground was already dealing with these issues. 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. Who will take responsibility for this loss? You cannot commercially exploit a cricket ground by allowing a commercial film shoot. The MCA is concerned that allowing commercial shoots at the ground could lead to more such bookings and leave even less room for cricket. Azad Maidan regularly hosts inter-school and age-group tournaments, coaching sessions and club matches. Ranveer Singh is leading the film Pralay, a survival thriller set in a post-catastrophic Mumbai. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the film follows the zombie threat as people struggle to survive in a city pushed to the edge. Directed by Jai Mehta, the film is being mounted on a large scale for a theatrical release. Pralay also marks Ranveer’s first outing as a producer under his banner, Maa Kasam Films. It is being co-produced with Birla Studios, led by Ananya Birla and True Story Films, founded by Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal. Written by Jai Mehta and Vishal Kapoor, Pralay also features Kalyani Priyadarshan, known for her work in Malayalam cinema and her role in Lokah. The film is expected to mark her Hindi debut.
The MCA said it had written to the Maharashtra government’s Sports Department, seeking an explanation for allowing the Pralay shoot at Azad Maidan. As per the report, the association said it was not consulted before the permission was issued, even though it is responsible for maintaining the ground and its pitches. MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon said Azad Maidan was already losing space to activities unrelated to sport. He accused the Sports Department of giving commercial bookings priority over the needs of young sportspersons and said its decisions were affecting the cricketing culture that Azad Maidan has supported for years. Nadim said this was the first time a film had been shot at the ground and questioned the disruption caused to players and ongoing tournaments. He said, “This is the first time a film shoot has taken place at Azad Maidan.
