Actor Gaurav Dewasi Pushes for Film City in Rajasthan; Government Takes Notice

Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Jaipur, 6th September 2024: Actor Gaurav Dewasi, a prominent advocate for Rajasthan’s film industry, has recently spotlighted two key locations for establishing a film city in the state: Pali’s Jawai area and Udaipur. For more than a decade, local actors and cinema enthusiasts, including Dewasi, have been campaigning for the construction of a film city in Rajasthan. This initiative has garnered strong backing from local MLAs, MPs, and Dewasi, who has consistently urged the state government to take action.

Udaipur, in particular, has been at the heart of this movement, with Dewasi actively promoting the city’s appeal to filmmakers. However, the 300 bigha of land required for the project has presented a significant challenge. Recently, the Urban Improvement Trust informed the Urban Development and Housing Department about the unavailability of such land within Udaipur’s periphery—a point Dewasi has frequently addressed in his advocacy.

Despite this, members of the Film City Sangharsh Samiti, along with Dewasi, have proposed using land outside the city limits, where ample unused land is available. They have submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister, suggesting that this land be made available at reserve price for the development of a film city, which would include high-tech studios, artificial sets, and processing facilities. Dewasi emphasized that investors are ready to raise Rs 1,000 crore for the project, meaning state financial support would not be necessary.

Gaurav Dewasi has underscored Udaipur’s suitability for a film city, noting that the city boasts over 100 potential shooting locations within a 15-20 km radius. Udaipur is peaceful, ideal for film shoots, and well-connected to Mumbai by air, road, and rail. According to Dewasi, the city’s untapped potential makes it an ideal destination for Bollywood, Hollywood, and the South Indian film industries.

Udaipur also has a rich filmmaking history, Dewasi pointed out. Over 150 Hindi films, including classics like Guide, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Khuda Gawah, and Ram Leela, have been shot there. Additionally, more than 350 ad films, serials, documentaries, and films in other Indian languages have utilized Udaipur’s scenic locations.

In addition to Udaipur, Gaurav Dewasi highlighted the distinct appeal of the Jawai area in Pali: “We have everything from palaces to lakes, hills, gardens, heritage buildings, forts, and luxury hotels, all of which are favorite shooting spots for directors and producers.” He added, “These unmatched natural environments, historical monuments, and distinct culture meet the fundamental requirements for a film city.”

Dewasi, who has been advocating for this cause since 2007, firmly believes that a fully developed film city in Udaipur would significantly boost the local tourism industry and economy, create substantial employment opportunities, and establish Udaipur as a national and global hub for filmmaking.

Several Hollywood films, such as Octopussy, Marigold, The Darjeeling Limited, Heat and Dust, The Fall, and The Cheetah Girls, have been filmed in Udaipur. The popular TV serial Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai also revolves around Udaipur’s lifestyle, tradition, and culture. The previous government had also proposed a film city in the Jawai area of Pali, which has hosted numerous film shoots and offers various natural locations.