Live The Magic Of Hindi Cinema With This Private Bollywood Tour In Mumbai
Ever since I shifted to Pune, my uncle who lives in Mumbai had been asking me to visit him. Although my laziness made me procrastinate for long, I finally got a day to visit Mumbai (4 hours of which had to be spent at a conference), and my uncle booked a private half-day bollywood tour including lunch as a surprise. Mumbai and Bollywood, both appear to be synonymous and the thought of this Bollywood tour made me really excited. My enthusiasm knew no bounds when my uncle told me that this wonderful tour will include tour of the 350 acres of the Bollywood studio complex where I can not only meet the famous stars but also get myself clicked in some a famous Bollywood costume (I had already started seeing myself in the Anarkali costume of Mughal-e-Azam). Want to know what I actually experienced at this private Bollywood tour? Here’s the glimpse of it!
Image Source: Youtube.com
Our half-day private Bollywood tour had the following inclusions-
- Pick-up from the hotel room or airport
- A friendly English-speaking guide
- Guided tour of the Bollywood Studio
- Bollywood song and dance show
- Live film shooting
- Entrance fees to the attractions
- Light snacks
- Delicious lunch
- Tour of the Bollywood Museum
Total Price of the Tour: 82.7 USD (6,076.38 Indian Rupee)
And the tour begins!
Image Source: Pxhere.com
It was exactly 10.30 that an AC car arrived to pick us up from my uncle’s flat in Santa Cruz. the first thing that relieved me was the comfort inside the car. It was quite well-maintained and cozy. The driver was extremely professional and drove through the crowded roads of Mumbai smoothly. The Bollywood playlist during the drive created another charm for the upcoming tour.
THE GUIDE- one who made the tour fun
As we reached the Film City, Mumbai, our tour guide, Rahil was there to receive us with a gentle smile. Rahil has been an actor himself, and therefore, he knew some quirky and interesting facts about the industry.
Wandering through the Bollywood studio
Image Source: Pxhere.com
The first thing we did during this 6-hour activity-packed tour was touring the Bollywood studio. Here we learned about various techniques that the filmmakers use to make the film a blockbuster. We also learned about how the visual effects are made and the audio processing is done. Our amicable guide explained each aspect of film-making clear to us.
The most exciting part of the tour
Image Source: Flickr.com
The studio tour ran for an hour and then the most fun part of the entire tour began. We attended the Bollywood dance and singing show that made our time unforgettable. All the actors and dancers were awesome, and we felt as if a Bollywood Awards Night is going on. The show was then followed by a 15-minute short film on the history of Mumbai Film Industry and another 15-minute film on the use of special effects in the movie. Being a history buff, I loved this part of the tour.
Live shooting and getting clicked with actors
Image Source: Youtube.com
I would call myself fortunate that this Bollywood tour gave me an opportunity to get clicked with my favorite actress Sakshi Tanwar. She was here for one of her popular shows and we could also see the shooting process. Not only Sakshi but also, we met the other crew members who greeted us with a friendly smile. I realized what a herculean task it is to shoot a 1-minute shot and how some small technicalities matter a lot!
The Bollywood Museum
Image Source: Flickr.com
The next highlight of the tour was our visit to the Dubbing Studio, Wall of Fame Gallery, and the famous Bollywood Museum. The Bollywood Museum had replicas of various film-sets, statues of actors and the roles they played, and plenty of information boards on the history of Bollywood. I also fulfilled my wish here and got clicked in the costume of Anarkali (gonna frame it soon too!).
The Celebrity Homes
Image Source: Youtube.com
We didn’t realize when our tour came to an end. But there was more to add. We had a scrumptious lunch at a famous restaurant in Mumbai. The food was mouthwatering! It was around 4 when we started back for home, and on the way, we passed through a number of celebrity homes including the “Jalsa” of Amitabh.
There is a lot to do in Mumbai but touring the heart of Bollywood action and romance is something you will remember for life. By the way, I’m planning to take it again soon!
