Central Railway earns Rs 40 lakh from film shoots in one year

According to CR, the highest revenue came from Kathha Pictures’ film Gandhari, which alone contributed Rs 17.85 lakh, shot at Apta station. It was followed by Dharmatic Entertainment’s Aap Jaisa Koi, also filmed at Apta, which earned Rs 8.12 lakh. In total, Apta station accounted for three shoots, contributing Rs 27.57 lakh – nearly 68 per cent of the total earnings from film shoots in the last financial year.

Apta and CSMT continue to be top choices for filmmakers. (Express photos)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), another popular location, saw shoots for Netflix’s Khakee: The Bengal Chapter and an ad film for the T20 World Cup. Other projects included Telugu film Kuberaa at Cotton Green, web series Children of Freedom at Apta, and Daldal at Matunga.

“Having the railways as a backdrop adds depth and atmosphere to a story – it naturally lends itself to drama, whether it’s mystery, crime, or emotion. It also sparks curiosity, drawing the audience in,” said Naman Khare, a Mumbai-based film enthusiast.

Apta and CSMT continue to be top choices for filmmakers, having hosted scenes from classics like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Rang De Basanti, and Slumdog Millionaire. Besides these, locations like Panvel, Lonavala, Wathar, and railway yards like Turbhe and Wadi Bunder also remain in demand by filmmakers.

“To facilitate this growing interest, CR has also introduced a single-window system for granting shooting permissions through its Public Relations Department, simplifying the process for production houses,” said a CR spokesperson.