Bharati Dubey

In this film-crazy nation, a filmstar's appearance in public has always meant people dropping whatever they are doing and rushing to see their favourite stars, if they had the chance.

The state government's plan to conduct guided tours to Mumbai's film studios is, therefore, good news to any film buff.

Are the filmmakers and stars thrilled about people milling about their shooting arenas? Pooja Batra for one was manhandled by some anti-social elements during an outdoor shoot a while ago.

Abhishek Bachchan made the headlines when he roughed some members of the media after they refused to go away from the sets. The mediapersons also filed a complaint against him.

The industry's opinion is mixed. Here's what a few of them had to say:

Raveena Tandon is not too concerned about the guided tours: "It's alright as long as they are at a safe distance and are not disrupting or disturbing work. After all our existence as film stars depends on the fans."

Showman Subhash Ghai is excited at the prospect: "It's a wise decision. People will be educated about the process of filmmaking. We need to promote state tourism and this is the best way to do it. We will plan a strategy so that shootings will not be disturbed."

Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, who is now working on Koi Mil Gaya doesn't see eye to eye with Ghai. "Why must I allow anyone on my set? I wouldn't like people to know what I am working on."

Madhur Bhandarkar, the director of Chandni Bar welcomes the move, saying it is a good method to demonstrate how films are made for the masses.

"It will give them an insight into the kind of effort that goes into making of a film. Some awareness about the technicalities will be created. I am game with people watching the outdoor shoots but I would not like people to watch while I am shooting indoors. That would be very tedious for viewers and us as well," he says.

"The government is using this ploy to promote tourism, security costs ought to be borne by them, not the filmmaker. Also, they should not go about hampering our shooting," he added.

Actor Inder Kumar says, "At least people will know what we have to go through while shooting," he says, with a smile.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is up in arms. He protests, vociferously, "Actors are like aerated drink bottles. They need to concentrate while they shoot. They wouldn't like be watched while baring their emotions -- that is private exercise. How can we work, when we must cater to insensitive tourists?"

"True, Mumbai is the mecca of the Hindi film industry. It is not Hollywood where guided tours are arranged for tourists. The scene there is completely different. Unless the stars and the production unit benefit commercially, this cannot be viable. If the government is looking at this as a commercial venture, the benefit has to be shared with us. Also the decision to allow outsiders on a director's set should remain his perogative and not the government's."

Anil Nagrath, of the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers, says "The government only offers lip service. They are only interested in making money at the cost of the film industry. Today, Mumbai is the most difficult place to shoot a film. We have to shell out money at every stage -- be it the Brihanmumbai Municipa Corporation (BMC), the police or anyone else to seek permission to shoot our film.

"There was a time when we were charged Rs 32,000 an hour. It has now been reduced to Rs 8,000. The government can expect the industry's cooperation only if they have window clearance to help us shoot our film in peace."

He goes on: "Ironically, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia have become tourist places after they have been promoted in Hindi films, while Mumbai is nowhere on the international tourist map. This happens because you have almost everything free of cost abroad, unlike in Mumbai."