Trouble at the Taj Mahal

Arjun Kapoor in a still from the film, 'Tevar'

Recently, producer Sanjay Kapoor and his team were shooting for their upcoming film, 'Tevar', at and around the Taj Mahal.

Arjun Kapoor in a still from the film, 'Tevar'. The film, that has been extensively shot at and around the Taj Mahal, recently ran into trouble for allegedly flouting ASI norms

During their 50-day schedule, they even shot a song near the monument using a Jimmy Jib crane camera. However, after a local complained to the archaeological department (Archaeological Survey of India or ASI), the film unit was asked to remove the crane.

Sanjay Kapoor

An eyewitness says, "We had taken all the permissions from the respective departments, but for this particular song sequence, we used a Jimmy Jib camera crane. Just as we were carrying out our shoot, a local complained to the authorities. So we then had to stop using the crane and take shots with an arial camera."

Sanjay Kapoor brushes it off as a minor incident. "If one follows the procedures, there shouldn't be any issues. It is understood that if you shoot at any place of historical significance -- be in India or abroad -- the unit has to follow the rules laid down by the authorities," he says.

Interestingly, 'Tevar' is not the only film to run into trouble over flouting rules governing shoots at / near the Taj Mahal. Several film units have had to stop shooting at the monument due to failure to abide by the authorities' rules and regulations. Performing at the Taj Mahal has been a tricky affair too. NK Pathak, superintending archaeologist (monuments), Agra, points out the due procedure for film shoots. "The producer has to submit a copy of the script to us.

A form has to be filled spelling out details about the shoot and the unit, including its crewmembers. If a unit has on board a foreigner, then his or her details have to be submitted to us. We also need to know the instrument that will be used during the film's shoot. Safety and security of the monument is our top priority," he says, adding that in the Tevar instance, they had to stop the shoot as the unit didn't have permissions to use the crane.

He also clarifies that while they don't object to filmmakers using reflectors and umbrellas, any publicity material - for example, an imprint on the umbrella or a product endorsement - is strictly forbidden. He adds, "We only charge Rs 5,000 a day, but there is a refundable security deposit of R50,000 that needs to made."