08 April,2009 08:48 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Renowned filmmaker Ajay Sarpotdar is pushing for a film studio in the city, which will be on the lines of Mumbai's Film City and Hyderabad's Ramoji Film City
After Mumbai and Hyderabad, Pune is likely to be the next venue for an upcoming film studio. Believed to be the brainchild of noted filmmaker Ajay Sarpotdar, the studio will have a theme park and several sets, including a railway station.
For the project, Sarpotdar has approached Aniruddh Deshpande, CEO of Amanora Park City at Hadapsar for a deal on the required land.
Elaborating on the negotiations with Deshpande, Sarpotdar said, "Out of the 400 acres of land that belongs to the Amanora Park City on Hadapsar-Kharadi bypass road, we would require 30-40 acres of land for the studio."
When contacted, Deshpande confirmed that Sarpotdar had indeed discussed the project with him and that he was very much receptive to the idea. "It definitely looks feasible and I have asked Sarpotdar to give me a project report. Once we get it, we will proceed further," he added.
Sarpotdar, who is also the president of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal, said that he has already discussed the idea with Suresh Kalmadi who had initiated the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF). Sarpotdar recalled that once upon a time, the city held the distinction of housing film studio like Prabhat Film Company and the Navyug studios. "My idea is to recoup the old glory of Pune," he said.
According to Sarpotdar, filmmakers prefer to shoot in Pune as the costs here are a lot lower. However, it is not easy to get government permission. "The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) needs to install a single window system to grant permission to filmmakers," he urged. Sarpotdar has high hopes from his project. "Like Ramoji Film City, this project too may boost film-making activities in the city. Also the PMC can earn revenue from the tourists visiting it."
And despite high money that would be required for the project, Sarpotdar has no doubts about the viability of his idea. "If our city can organise the PIFF, then we, for sure, can succeed in making a studio like Ramoji Film City or Mumbai's Film City," he said.
Claim to fame
Ajay Sarpotdar is a third-generation filmmaker, as his father Viswas and grandfather Nanasaheb too were in the film industry. He recently produced the multi-crore film Uladhal and also re-launched Aryan Film Company started by his grandfather in 1919.
