According to reports, the makers of superstar Ajay Devgn’s much-awaited film Maidaan may end up incurring a massive loss of almost ₹7 crores if the lockdown continues till the monsoon arrives.
The makers had erected a huge set of a stadium in Mumbai to shoot several key football sequences for the upcoming sports drama. The team was gearing up to begin the schedule on March 21 with around 100 crew members. However, all shoots had to be called off on March 16 in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The said set was, reportedly, erected at a whopping cost ₹7 crores.
“Amit R Sharma (director) was to shoot the last schedule, which focused on all the football matches that will be shown in the film. The set was complete with toilets, make-up rooms and a PCR (production control room) in place. With the set standing unused, there will be a considerable financial setback. If exposed to rains, the set will need a complete overhaul. Plus, the schedule requires foreign actors and technicians. Their availability will depend on the condition in their countries. Coordinating everything will be a logistical nightmare,” a source close to the development informs a publication.
Directed by Amit R Sharma, who rose to fame after the humongous success of Badhaai Ho (2018), Maidaan is inspired by the Indian National Football team coach and manager Syed Abdul Rahim. Also starring Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, Nitanshi Goel, Boman Irani and Johnny Lever in important roles, the film is produced by Boney Kapoor, Akash Chawla and Arunava Roy Sengupta with Zee Studios as presenters.
The film is slated to arrive in theaters on 11th December, 2020.
Radhika Apte
A still from Sister Midnight