Explore the Cinematic Charm of Mumbai, the Heart of Bollywood

Often called mayanagari (city of dreams), Mumbai is synonymous with Bollywood, India’s largest film industry and one of the biggest movie machines on earth. As the entertainment hub of the country, it’s no surprise that the city is home to hundreds of Bollywood actors, directors, filmmakers, and aspiring talents. Additionally, the city also appears in the storylines of dozens of critically-acclaimed movies, from local hits such as the Academy-Award nominated Salaam Bombay!, 2013 romance The Lunchbox, and crime drama Chandni Bar, to international releases like The Hundred Foot Journey, Slumdog Millionaire, and Million Dollar Arm.

If you’re interested in the art of filmmaking and understanding how Bollywood has influenced and shaped Indian popular culture over the last century, take time to explore the many cinematic locations in this vibrant city. From Bollywood studios and shooting locations to vintage cinema halls and striking wall art inspired by the stars, here’s a quick guide on how to turn your trip to Mumbai into a blockbuster experience.

Get Behind the Scenes in Bollywood

After decades of exclusivity for actors, Film City Studio in Mumbai has now partnered with the state tourism department to offer visitors a chance to step into their favorite Bollywood movies—or at least the sets where they were filmed. As one of India’s largest film studios, Film City provides weekend bus tours to both indoor and outdoor shooting sets for hit movies such as Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year and Josh. Visitors may also get lucky enough to snap photographs of celebrities, as stars regularly visit the canteen on the premises.

For a more detailed look at the industry, tour companies such as Viator, Mumbai Film City Tours, and Thrillophilia offer group tours that provide insights into various aspects of Indian filmmaking, encompassing its history, technical processes of editing and dubbing, and iconic movie locations. Similar to Los Angeles, you can also take a tour of the lavish or humble homes where some of India’s top cinema stars live or were born. Reliable options include Khaki Tours and the Mumbai Darshan Tour (run by Maharashtra Tourism).

Hit the Mumbai Theater Trail

Mumbai historians proudly note that the very first Indian movie, Raja Harishchandra, filmed in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke using cameras, lights, and projectors shipped over from Europe and America, has its origins in this city. In the heyday of Indian cinema following WWII, Sandhurst Road, today overshadowed by railway lines, was lined with grand movie theaters of its time such as the Olympia, the Coronation, the New Alhambra, and the Majestic.

While most of these theaters have vanished or now stand as forlorn shells, a few can still be visited, screening mostly obscure regional movies in settings of decaying art-deco grandeur. Cinephiles should seek out the Alfred Theatre near Kamathipura, or the nostalgically dilapidated Nishant Talkies, New Roshan Talkies, and Moti Talkies located between Grant Road and Sandhurst Road.

To catch newly launched Bollywood movies in classic theater settings, visit the graceful, art deco Regal Cinema on Colaba Causeway, the rocketship-shaped Eros at Churchgate, or the Metro INOX Cinema at Marine Lines. After completing the movie theater trail, tourists can head to the newly renovated Royal Opera House near Girgaum Chowpatty, an architectural marvel from 1912 that has hosted numerous Bollywood performances and is also credited with fostering the legacy of the Kapoor family, a prominent Bollywood dynasty.

Locations, Locations, Locations

If you lack an encyclopedic knowledge of Bollywood films, consider hiring a guide or at least a taxi and driver to explore the prominent landmarks in the city that have doubled as movie locations. Start your exploration at the Gateway of India and the iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel, which serve as backdrops for many Bollywood dance routines. Alternatively, head to the Colaba and Bora Bazaar markets featured prominently in Aamir Khan’s Talaash and Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol.

Filmmakers have long been enchanted by the scenic promenade of Marine Drive, where parts of the motorcycle action thriller Dhoom and the 2003 comedy-drama Munnabhai MBBS were filmed. Witness the vibrant energy as crowds of young Mumbaikers gather to enjoy fresh breezes and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Arriving early in the morning reveals the city waking up in a cinematic allure.

Next, head to Bandra, the affluent suburb with boutiques, bars, and restaurants frequented by many movie stars. Stroll around Bandstand, Carter Road, Chapel Road, Pali-Hill, and the Worli Sea Link; you may even spot a star or two. Alternatively, take a walk through the backroads and narrow by-lanes where larger-than-life murals celebrate classic Bollywood movies like the 1960 historical drama masterpiece Mughal-E-Azam and iconic stars such as Amitabh Bachchan and Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema.

Off-Beat Bollywood Locations

Not all movie locations are glamorous. A number of agencies conduct tours of the expansive slum area of Dharavi, where parts of Slumdog Millionaire were filmed. This can be a respectful experience. However, on the best tours, community guides introduce you to local residents and explain the significance of the area to Bollywood, highlighting how its fame has empowered residents to transform their lives. In doing so, you’ll provide work and income for the individuals living in Dharavi.

Another intriguing site is the Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat, where thousands of washermen make their living pummeling laundry in concrete washtubs in the open air. Bollywood paid homage to their lively trade in the film Dhobi Ghat. No list of popular movie locations in Mumbai would be complete without mentioning its renowned beaches: Juhu, Girgaum Chowpatty, and Aksa beaches. An untold number of films have showcased their stars on these sandy shores, making Juhu the preferred location for hundreds of song-and-dance sequences, as seen in the 1971 Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan flick Anand.

Additionally, filmmakers often seek extras for crowd scenes at Apollo Bunder and in the backpacker guesthouses of Colaba, offering modest daily payments in exchange for a fascinating glimpse into Bollywood’s behind-the-scenes magic.