Arcade Developers Ltd, which is listed in NSE and BSE, has acquired the studio complex.
Credit: X/@ferozshaikhmfb
Mumbai: Filmistan, the iconic studio which is one of the landmarks of the Hindi entertainment industry, has been sold for Rs 183 crore where ultra-luxury residential towers will come up in the years to come.
However, All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), the apex body of the film industry workers and artistes, appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar requesting them to halt the demolition and protecting the legacy of the cinema industry.
Arcade Developers Ltd, which is listed in NSE and BSE, has acquired the studio complex spread over 4 acres, off the Swami Vivekananda Road in Goregaon for Rs 183 crore.
"Filmistan Studio is not just a piece of land, it’s a symbol of our golden past and a ray of hope for future generations in the film industry. If this studio is destroyed, we are not just losing a building, we are losing our identity, history, and future,” AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta said.
Filmistan was founded in 1943 by Shashadhar Mukherjee, Rai Bahadur Chunilal, Ashok Kumar and Gyan Mukherjee after they left Bombay Talkies following the death of Himanshu Rai.
Several hit films have been shot in Filmistan like - Shaheed (1948), Shabnam (1949), Sargam (1950), Anarkali (1953), Nagin (1954), Jagriti (1954), Munimji (1955), Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957), Paying Guest (1957), Love in Shimla (1960) and Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962).
"The developer plans to demolish this iconic studio to build luxury flats and earn over Rs 3,000 crore, while lakhs of workers – technicians, junior artists, and daily wage earners – will lose their jobs, homes, and dignity," AICWA said.
AICWA requested the Maharashtra government to intervene and take back the studio, save livelihoods and preserve cinematic heritage besides transforming it into a permanent shooting location for producers and channels.
“The government must buy back Filmistan Studio and protect every remaining studio in Mumbai. Because once they are gone, they’re gone forever. This is not just about a studio. This is about an industry. This is about people. This is about India’s creative soul,” said Gupta.
Amit Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Arkade Developers Ltd, said, "Filmistan Studio holds immense emotional and legacy significance for Mumbai, and we are privileged to be entrusted with shaping its next chapter. This development will go beyond being a premium address, and it will offer a thoughtfully curated lifestyle experience for a discerning few. At Arkade Developers, we are not just creating homes; we are crafting a legacy that reflects the dynamic aspirations of our ever-evolving city."