Amitabh Bachchan To Saif Ali Khan: Bollywood's Beautiful Memories At Mumbai's Iconic Filmistan Studios

Filmistan Studios in Goregaon (West), Mumbai, once among the busiest film production studios from the 1940s to the 1970s, with seven shooting floors, a temple, and a garden for outdoor shoots, is set to make way for luxury living. Arkade Developers Limited, a real estate company listed on both the BSE and NSE, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Filmistan Pvt Ltd for Rs 183 crore. The acquisition paves the way for Arkade to redevelop the iconic 4-acre parcel on SV Road into premium residential apartments.

Filmistan Goes Luxe

Scheduled for a tentative launch in CY-2026 the planned uber-luxury residential development will feature spacious 3, 4, and 5 BHK residences along with exclusive penthouses, across two striking high-rise towers of 50 storeys each. With a projected Gross Development Value (GDV) of Rs 3,000 crore, the project is poised to become a landmark in premium housing in Western Mumbai.

Filmistan Studios holds a special place in the hearts of many Bollywood stars, who have often looked back fondly on the iconic studio and the unforgettable moments they experienced there.

Saira Banu's Divine Memory

Veteran actress Saira Banu once shared a heartwarming anecdote about a 'magical' moment that occurred on the sets of her 1967 film Shagird at Filmistan Studios. Recalling the shoot of the bhajan Kanha, she wrote on Instagram that filming it on the night of Janmashtami felt like a truly divine experience.

"Singing in front of a beautiful statue of Lord Krishna, with Lataji's soothing voice in the background, was a moment I'll always cherish. Wishing everyone a Janmashtami filled with love, devotion, and the gentle presence of the Almighty himself," she added.

Dharmendra Calls Filmistan Home

In an earlier conversation on The Kapil Sharma Show, Dharmendra said, "Filmistan is where dreams were born. I shot so many of my early films there. The sets, the chai breaks, the friendships—it was my second home."

Sinha Remembers Lata Mangeshkar

Shatrughan Sinha fondly remembered Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on February 6, 2022, in Mumbai. Recalling his first meeting with her during the recording of the popular song Aa Bata De Tujhe Kaise Jiya Jata Hai, sung by Lata and Mohammed Rafi, he shared that he even had a few lines in the song, delivering some of his famous dialogues. However, as he was shooting at Filmistan Studios and learned that such legendary singers were involved, he rushed to the studio despite being late for the recording session.

"The recording had to start at 2. I reached the studio at 3.30. The environment was quite tense. Nobody said anything to me but looked over at Lata Didi. I was a bit scared. However, Lata Ji handled the whole situation with the utmost grace. She didn’t reprimand me for arriving late and understood the reason behind it instead. Her calm attitude on the whole situation made everyone else comfortable as well," he quoted.

Rishi Kapoor Remembers Filmistan Charm

"Filmistan had that old-world charm. I remember my father shooting Bobby’s indoor scenes there. It had this timeless energy," said the late actor in an old Filmfare interview.

Nasir Hussain's Big Break

Nasir Hussain, credited as a major trendsetter in Hindi cinema, got his big break when film producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, impressed by his writing skills, hired him at Filmistan Studios in 1948, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.

Bachchan Recalls Filmistan Days

Amitabh Bachchan often recalled shooting portions of his early films like Zanjeer (1973) and Deewaar (1975) at the Filmistan Studios.

Saif Ali Khan's First Meeting With Kareena Kapoor

Saif Ali Khan once revealed that he first met Kareena Kapoor Khan at Filmistan Studios, long before romance blossomed. However, their love story truly began years later on the sets of their 2008 film Tashan. Saif stated, “Actually, peheli baar maine jab unko dekha tha tab main Filmistaan studio mein shooting kar raha tha. Ek chhoti ladki baithi thi makeup room ke bahar, deewar pe akele baithi thi aise aur dekh rahi thi meri taraf."

He further shared how he started liking Kareena right from the small moment. “Maine pucha kisise ki yeh kaun hai? Toh unhone kaha ki yeh Kareena Kapoor hai, Karisma Kapoor ki choti behen. Mujhe laga ki bahut khoobsurat hai mere kheyal se. Aur woh tabse mujhe kaafi acchi lagi," added Saif.