On Sunday, Rishi Kapoor, in an interview with senior journalist Khalid Mohamed, revealed that the Kapoor family is selling off the iconic RK Studio, one of the oldest film studios in Mumbai, located in the Eastern suburb of Chembur.
It's learnt that mounting losses and the reluctance of filmmakers to shoot in Chembur (the Mumbai film industry largely operates in the western suburbs), led to the difficult decision.
"The investment in rebuilding the studio would just not have yielded sufficient revenue to keep it going. Even before the fire, for years, RK Studio had become a huge white elephant, toting up losses. The few bookings we would get from films, TV serials and ad shoots would expect free parking space, air-conditioning and discounts," Kapoor said.
Set up in 1948 by Raj Kapoor, a year after India's independence, RK Studio witnessed the filming of several classic films (Barsaat, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Bobby).
In September last year, a major fire gutted Stage 1 of the 4-acre studio, which claims to have, at 120 ft x 80 ft., one of the largest shooting floors in Asia.
Precious film memorabilia, such as the mask that Raj Kapoor wore in Mera Naam Joker, was lost to the fire. After the incident, the studio has struggled to stay afloat. Like Kapoor said in the interview, "It isn't always possible for a phoenix to rise from the ashes."
Here are just some of the many legendary songs that were filmed at the studio:
Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua -- Shree 420
Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahan -- Mera Naam Joker
Om Shaanti Om -- Karz
Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh Mud Mud Ke -- Shree 420
Tere Bina Aag Yeh Chandni -- Awara
Main Shayar To Nahi -- Bobby
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