Mumbai, Aug 17 (PTI) Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar on Monday announced a 50 per cent concession on all facilities at ND Studio, a sprawling film and TV production facility and tourist attraction in Karjat town of Raigad district, till March 31, 2027.
The concession will cover shooting locations, accommodation and theme park entry fees at the studio, located around 60km away from Mumbai city, and the decision was an attempt to boost film production in the state, he said.
“Considering the rising cost of film production, this concession will provide significant relief to producers and create a more favourable environment for filmmaking in Maharashtra,” Shelar said.
The BJP minister was speaking after taking charge as chairman of the board of directors of ND Studio under the Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation.
Shelar, who is the first chairman of the board under the state-run corporation, chaired a meeting of the directors after assuming charge.
The meeting discussed measures to reduce shooting costs for producers and develop the studio as a major film production and cultural tourism centre.
Under the decision, a 50 per cent concession will be offered on theme park entry fees, accommodation charges for producers, artistes, art directors and other members of film units, and charges for various locations made available for shooting.
The concession will remain in force till March 31, 2027, and the move is expected to encourage more films, television serials, web series and other audio-visual productions to shoot at the studio.
ND Studio is known for its diverse shooting locations and facilities and has hosted productions in Marathi, Hindi and other languages. The state government said reducing costs related to studio facilities, locations and accommodation would help attract producers from across the country to Maharashtra, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting also discussed developing ND Studio beyond its role as a shooting facility, with a focus on film production, entertainment and cultural tourism. Measures to make greater use of its infrastructure, shooting locations, accommodation facilities and theme park were also discussed.
The wider objective is to provide a stronger platform to Maharashtra’s film industry, attract more productions to the state and create employment opportunities for local artistes, technicians, workers and service providers, the government said.
Shelar’s appointment comes after the Maharashtra government took over ND Studio for its operation in November 2024. The studio’s founder, filmmaker Nitin Chandrakant Desai, ended his life at the studio in February 2023.
The government expects the concessions to increase the number of productions at ND Studio and strengthen Maharashtra’s position as one of the country’s major film production centres. PTI ND RSY
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