Mumbai Film Studios Battle Real Estate Pressure as GM Studios and Others Fight for Survival Through Innovation

Mumbai's film studio industry has been experiencing a silent transformation as iconic spaces continue to grapple with the dual pressures of real estate development and the evolving demands of modern filmmaking. While several legendary studios have permanently closed their doors, a handful of determined operators have chosen to reimagine their business models to maintain relevance in an increasingly competitive landscape.

GM Studios Leads Innovation with Pre-Built Sets

Among the studios charting a path forward is GM Studios in Andheri East, Mumbai, where founder Brijesh Maurya has opted for reinvention rather than resignation. The studio has invested significantly in creating pre-built, fully equipped sets designed to meet the fast-paced requirements of OTT platforms, advertising agencies, and the film industry, providing filmmakers with ready-to-shoot environments that dramatically reduce turnaround times.

Maurya, whose family background lies in the textile trade, established GM Studios in 2009, initially focusing on leasing empty sheds to television production houses. As market demands evolved, he identified a growing need among filmmakers for technically sound, ready-made sets. By 2017, the studio had expanded its offerings to include film shoots, and during the pandemic, with traditional productions slowing considerably, Maurya invested in eight air-conditioned, modular sets spanning 35,000 square feet.

Versatile Spaces for Modern Production

The facility now features a diverse range of setups including a vintage Parsi-style home complete with antique chandeliers and wooden furniture, a sleek New York-style apartment, a café-bar hybrid, a European-style duplex, and office settings that have been utilized in recent Netflix productions. The flexibility of these spaces allows production teams to adjust décor according to script requirements—often simply repainting walls or replacing furniture—without the need to build sets from scratch. Maurya has cited this as a more viable business model given the higher frequency of bookings and substantially reduced preparation time.

Virtual Production Technology Comes to Mira Road

Further north in Mira Road, another studio has embraced cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of the curve. K Sera Sera's Virtual Productions, led by cinematographer Prakash Kutty, has established a high-tech virtual production facility featuring a green-screen LED studio powered by Unreal Engine software.

According to Kutty, who heads the facility, filmmakers can now recreate diverse environments such as the Himalayas or Greece without physically traveling to these locations. This virtual model was said to significantly reduce production costs and logistical challenges, particularly for shoots requiring harsh outdoor conditions or difficult terrain. The team has expressed confidence that such facilities offer filmmakers unprecedented convenience and precision, allowing them to control lighting and atmosphere within a controlled studio environment.

Resisting Real Estate Temptation

The escalating value of land in Mumbai's real estate market has placed immense pressure on studio owners to sell their properties. Developers frequently approach them with lucrative offers that are difficult to ignore. However, Maurya has maintained that his passion for cinema outweighs any temptation to sell out. He has expressed concern that failing to meet the evolving needs of modern filmmakers could put studios at risk, much like those that have already ceased operations.

At Filmalaya Studios, Samrat Mukerji has also acknowledged this pressure but emphasized the importance of continuous innovation. He noted that the explosion of OTT platforms, YouTube content, and podcasts had created new possibilities for studio spaces. With plans to resume in-house production next year, Mukerji revealed that he was already developing two scripts. He also highlighted the critical importance of government support and subsidies to help studios remain viable in the face of mounting real estate and technological challenges.

The Vanishing Heritage of Mumbai's Studio Era

Over recent years, several landmark studios have permanently shuttered their operations. Filmistan in Goregaon and Famous Studios in Mahalaxmi have ceased operations entirely. RK Studios in Chembur, founded in 1948 by legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, was demolished in 2019 and subsequently replaced with luxury residential towers. This pattern, driven by surging property values and the unpredictable nature of the film business, has proven difficult to resist for many studio owners.

Mukerji acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining legacy studios amid such intense pressure. He mentioned that Filmalaya, originally founded by Sashadhar Mukherjee, had faced similar challenges. However, he and his cousins—Monjoy, Sujoy, and Ayan—have remained committed to keeping the studio operational, considering it a tribute to their grandfather's pioneering vision.

Historical Context of Studio Rise and Decline

Film scholar Dr. Debashree Mukherjee, who has extensively researched the history of Bombay's studio era, has pointed out that the studio boom began in the early 1930s, when companies such as Ranjit Movietone, Sagar Movietone, Wadia Movietone, and Bombay Talkies became prominent players. These studios achieved success partly because they adapted quickly to the arrival of sound in films and drew upon strong business and social networks.

Dr. Mukherjee has noted that each studio had its own distinctive strengths: Ranjit leveraged Gujarati financial networks, Bombay Talkies maintained elite colonial connections, and Wadia excelled in action and stunt films. There was no single event that marked the end of the studio era, she explained, but rather multiple waves of boom and bust. One such wave occurred during World War II, when film stock was rationed and black-market financing surged. While this led to a spike in film production, it also intensified competition and bidding wars for popular stars, which began to erode the centralized studio model.

Cinematographer Hemant Chaturvedi has observed that as the system shifted, salaried professionals within studios transitioned into freelancers. Actors, too, began signing multiple projects across different production companies, further weakening the traditional studio structure. The 1950s, however, did see the emergence of new models—Mehboob Studios, Filmistan, and Kamalistan became noteworthy examples of studios operating successfully even within a changing system. Film scholar Mukherjee has argued that the divide between studio-based and independent productions has never been absolute—both have coexisted for decades.

Contemporary Challenges Facing Studios

Today, several external pressures continue to impact studios significantly. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, production budgets have tightened considerably, prompting many filmmakers to shoot on location or relocate to the outskirts of Mumbai. Bungalows in Madh Island have become affordable alternatives, especially for advertisements and web series productions. Among the few studios still standing, only Yash Raj Studios, Mehboob, and Film City have managed to retain prominence in the industry.

Kunal Kapoor, founder of Adfilm-Valas and nephew of Raj Kapoor, has reflected on how earlier studios were built by people deeply involved in the filmmaking process. He has observed that these founders understood what filmmakers needed and constantly modified studio spaces to meet evolving demands. Studios like RK included storage facilities for equipment, costumes, and lights, while Filmalaya even operated an acting school for decades, training many individuals who would go on to become stars.

Kapoor has commented on the deterioration of many studios due to poor maintenance—citing issues such as non-functional washrooms, lack of air-conditioning, and subpar lighting—all of which have made them less appealing to modern production crews who expect higher standards.

Looking Toward the Future

Maurya has insisted that GM Studios remains focused on keeping pace with the changing dynamics of the industry. The studio now offers high-quality spaces that meet technical requirements while saving time and cost for production teams. Filmmakers and cinematographers have reiterated that studio shoots offer creative control—especially in lighting and environment—which is difficult to replicate on location.

Production designers like Anindya "Bodo" Choudhury have expressed concern about the decline in available studio spaces, noting that many teams are now forced to adapt existing locations that are not shoot-friendly. This limitation restricts creative freedom and makes production more challenging than it needs to be.

As the tour of GM Studios concludes with a walkthrough of a duplex set—one floor designed like a vintage European residence and the other like a sleek contemporary apartment—Maurya highlights how, with just a staircase, the setting transforms entirely. For him, that ability to craft immersive, versatile environments is what keeps the spirit of the studio alive—much like the movies they help bring to life.

Disclaimer: This news article is based on information reported as of October 28, 2025. The details regarding studio operations, real estate pressures, and industry developments are subject to change. Readers are advised to verify current information independently before making any decisions based on this report. The views and opinions expressed by industry professionals quoted in this article are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.