Gaurav Dewasi, a prominent voice in Rajasthan’s film industry, has recently highlighted two prime locations for the establishment of a Film City in the state, viz. Udaipur and Jawai in Pali. For over a decade, local film actors like Gaurav Dewasi and cinema enthusiasts have been advocating for the creation of a film city in Rajasthan. This push has gained substantial support from local MLAs, Members of Parliament, and particularly Gaurav Dewasi, who has been at the forefront of this campaign, urging the state government to take action.

Udaipur, in particular, has been a focal point of this movement, with Gaurav Dewasi noting its long-standing appeal to filmmakers. However, the requirement of 300 Bighas of land for the project has become a significant hurdle. Recently, the Urban Improvement Trust communicated to the Urban Development and Housing Department the non-availability of such land within the city’s periphery, a point Gaurav Dewasi has frequently discussed in his advocacy for the project.

Despite this, members of the Film City Sangharsh Committee, along with Gaurav, have proposed utilizing land outside the city limits, where ample unused land is available. They have written to the Chief Minister, suggesting that this land be provided at a reserve price to develop a film city, complete with hi-tech studios, artificial sets, and processing facilities. Gaurav Dewasi has emphasized that investors are prepared to raise Rs 1,000 crore for the project, which would not require state financial aid.

Udaipur’s suitability for a film city is underscored by Gaurav Dewasi, who points out that the city boasts of over 100 potential shooting locations within a 15-20 km radius of the main city. Udaipur is comparatively peaceful and a ideal location for film shooting and makes it logistically easier when movie shoots have a hybrid set+outdoor shooting requirement. The city is central and well-connected to Mumbai and other metros by air, road, and rail. According to him, the untapped potential of Udaipur makes it a perfect candidate for catering to Bollywood, Hollywood, and the South Indian film industry.

He also highlights Udaipur’s rich history in filmmaking, with more than 150 Hindi movies, including classics like Guide, Mera Gaon-Mera Desh, Khuda Gawah, Hindi Medium, Ram Leela, among many others being shot in the city. Additionally, over 350 advertising films, serials, documentaries, and films from other Indian languages have also utilized Udaipur’s picturesque locations. Many Hollywood movies like ‘Octopussy’, ‘Marigold’, ‘The Darjeeling Limited’, ‘Heat and Dust’, ‘The Fall’ and ‘The Cheetah Girls’ etc. have also been shot here. The popular TV serial ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ revolves around the lifestyle, tradition and culture of families in Udaipur.

“We have everything from palaces to lakes, hills, gardens, heritage buildings, forts, and luxury hotels, all of which are favorite shooting locations for directors and producers,” says Gaurav Dewasi. “These unmatched natural environments, historical monuments, and distinct culture are the basic requirements for a film city”, he added.

Gaurav Dewasi has been campaigning for this cause since 2007 and strongly believes that a full-fledged film city in Udaipur would significantly boost the city’s tourism and economy, creating massive employment opportunities and putting Udaipur on the national and global map as a preferred location for filmmaking. On the other hand, the former government had also proposed to build a film city in Jawai area of Pali. Many films have been shot here and natural locations are available.