A walk through Mumbai's famous movie spots

Jan 22, 2021

2 MIN READ

For most Indians, the silver screen is where they first witnessed the beauty of Mumbai. Tall towers, grand colonial mansions, quaint cafes, and beautiful beaches became synonymous with the grand colonial megapolis. This Mumbai, however, evades the first time visitor who is often overwhelmed by the cacophony of current day Mumbai. How then can one find the Mumbai of our films? Come with us, as we guide you through the matinee circuits of the city.

Bandra

Hip, cool, savvy and yet historical, there is no place like Bandra. Known as the queen of suburbs in Mumbai, Bandra is home to a significant Portuguese heritage. Churches, homes, chapels and cemeteries transport you to colonial India, often showcased in Hindi films. Bandra bandstand and Bandra Fort show you a part of Mumbai that you only witness in music videos and wonder if such a place can exist in Mumbai. Linking Road, the ultimate fashion district of Mumbai, meanwhile brings to you filmy fashion at street prices and larger than life murals painted on the walls of century-old homes assert its position as the ultimate filming destination.

Marine Drive

Flanked by crashing waves on one side and quaint Art Deco buildings on the other, Marine Drive is the quintessential Bollywood Bombay you grew up watching. Spending a morning walking the stretch can bring you face to face with celebrities; spending a lazy evening will get you to meet the locals. During the day you’d find Hindi film industry’s favorite props, the red double-decker buses and black and yellow taxis gliding along the country’s most famous street.

Colaba Causeway

One of the oldest parts of Mumbai, it is home to big and small shops, heritage stores and Mumbai’s most fashionable flea market. Crane your neck a little and you’d see Old Bombay’s trademark homes what with Victorian arches and Gothic balustrades. Along the street you would find Mumbai’s most iconic cafes, restaurants and cinemas. The walk along the causeway should end at the iconic Gateway of India, the background for many famous Bollywood songs.

Fort

The busy commercial center of Mumbai, Fort, is also its most charming neighborhood, one that is featured in most Mumbai-centric films. Home of iconic colonial buildings in varied architectural styles like Gothic, Victorian, and Neo-Classical, dotted with landmarks such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Asiatic Society Library, Jahangir Art Gallery, the district is a history lover’s paradise.

Juhu Beach

You may know nothing about Mumbai but you will always know Juhu Beach. Call it the curse of popularity or the joy of recognition, the Juhu Beach is the most crowded and most visited place in Mumbai. An evening here guarantees a quintessential Mumbai experiences with crashing waves, jostling crowds and lip smacking Mumbai treats like Bhelpuri, Panipuri and Pav Bhaji eaten by the beach.

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