Mumbai, as many of us know, is home to the Bollywood film industry. Many picturesque locations here have been framed as the backdrop for countless cinematic moments. From iconic historical architecture, sea-facing promenades, and colourful lanes to the glimmering skyline, these places seem to tick off many Bollywood scenes and sequences. So if you are a film enthusiast looking to visit these iconic locales, here’s a roundup of the top 10 film shooting locations in Mumbai.
1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Station
An iconic railway station in India, the CSMT or Victoria Terminus is one of the most famous film shooting locations in Mumbai. A mere glimpse of its exteriors steeped in Indo–Gothic architecture with domed arches and buttresses, stained-glass windows, and towering spires proves why this architectural grandeur is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire has shot an entire song sequence under the station’s canopies. Films like Ra.One, Chennai Express, and The Lunchbox have also been shot here.
2. Fort Area
Popularly known as the Fort area, the Fort’s monuments, the Asiatic Society Library, the Flora Fountain, and the Horniman Circle have been featured in several movies and television series. Films like Bombay, Wake Up Sid, Bombay Talkies, and a dance sequence in Munnabhai MBBS have all been shot around the Fort.
3. Marine Drive: The Queen’s Necklace
Marine Drive is easily the most saturated film shooting location in Mumbai. A walk along the promenade, especially during the monsoon, with grey overcast clouds, and the strong waves crashing against the coast is nothing if not a scene out of a Bollywood movie. The place was featured in romantic movies like Jaane Tu … Ya Jaane Na, Saathiya, and Wake Up Sid.
4. The Gateway of India
This historical landmark on the harbour is a highly popular tourist attraction and filming location in Mumbai. The prominent shot of a flock of pigeons flying with the landmark in the frame is a staple in several series and movies. Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has several scenes here, including the Colaba Causeway Lane. Bombay, Kalyug, and Ghajini are other movies filmed at the Gateway of India.
5. Bandra Fort
Home to celebrities and several film production studios, Bandra is a convenient shooting location for the industry. The Bandra Fort is a prominent spot that has been repeatedly featured in films, old and new. The historic fort has been a backdrop in many dance, drama, romance, and action sequences. Dil Chahta Hain, Jaane Tu … Ya Jaane Na, Wanted, Talaash, and Aashiqui 2 are some of the films shot here.
6. Dharavi
Dharavi is renowned as the largest slum in all of Asia. Still, the area has been skillfully utilized to portray raw emotions and the reality of poverty and social mobility on the big screen. Stories around gang wars, crime, poverty, and rags-to-riches plots have been shot in Dharavi. Films like Salaam Bombay, Slumdog Millionaire, Dharavi (City of Dreams), and Gully Boy showcase life and ambition in the slums.
7. The Film City at Goregaon
A rather apparent place that makes Mumbai the Bollywood hub is the dedicated Film City in Goregaon. Spanning over 500 acres with 42 outdoor locations, it has permanent sets of a temple, prison, lakes, mountains, villages, picnic spots, gardens, and more. The list of movies shot here over the last 40 years is endless. But the best part is that you can explore all these magical locations on a day tour offered regularly.
8. Juhu Beach
Beaches in Mumbai have been more than mere backdrops. These have made significant cameos in films in their own right. After all, sandy shores, sunset hues, and the vast oceanic stretch have been the perfect settings for cinematic delights. Juhu Beach’s vast stretch was beautifully shown in a song sequence in the 1971 film Anand.
9. Dhobi Ghat
The world’s largest outdoor laundry system at Dhobi Ghat in South Mumbai provides another unique cinematic spot to shoot movie sequences. Like Dharavi, it highlights the darker side of an otherwise posh city. Films like Don (starring Amitabh Bachchan), Munnabhai MBBS, and Shootout At Wadala were shot in the narrow lanes of this iconic locality. Kiran Rao also portrayed the local lifestyle of this region in her directorial debut Dhobi Ghat.
10. Bandra–Worli Sea Link
Either the background or the entire road itself appears in multiple films, making it one of the most popular film shooting locations in Mumbai. The complete title track of Ok Jaanu is filmed on this 5.6-kilometre stretch. Films like Lage Raho Munnabhai and Singham 2 and, more recently, Gehraiyaan, Jawan, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan have scenes shot across Sea Link.