FILM SHOOTING INSIDE J&K LA COMPLEX | ‘Not illegal; permission granted as per procedure’

Jammu, Jan 13: J&K administration, amid a row erupted following a post of the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticising it, has defended the decision to allow shooting of “Maharani” web series inside the assembly complex.

A senior officer, privy to the developments related to permission granted for shooting of “Maharani” inside the precincts of J&K Legislature complex, told Greater Kashmir that no illegality was committed on this account.

“It’s not illegal. Permission for the same was granted as per procedure prescribed for shooting by the Information Department,” the officer, wishing anonymity, said.

However, the officer did not comment on Omar’s post directly.

The controversy started after Omar took exception to the “use” of J&K Legislature and the Chief Minister’s office as “a set for TV dramas” by “actors and extras.”

In his post critical of the J&K administration, the former Chief Minister described it as a matter of “shame.”  “They even have a fake CM coming out of an office I was privileged to occupy for 6 years. What an absolute shame!!!” Omar had posted on ‘X.’

Meanwhile, the Director Hansal Mehta too joined the row during the day. Taking umbrage to expressions used by Omar, Mehta questioned the former Chief Minister as to why it was a shame and described his (Omar’s) post as “disrespectful and regressive.”

“How is filming of a drama demeaning democracy or the ‘mother of democracy’? Everybody on a film set including actors, background actors (called ‘extras’ by you) are all citizens of this country and have every right to work with dignity and deserve respect and understanding – at least from somebody as educated as yourself,” Mehta responded on ‘X.’

Season-3 of ‘Maharani’ with Huma Qureshi as its protagonist was shot inside the J&K Legislature complex (Jammu) in October, 2023.

Earlier two seasons of web-series being made by Subhash Kapoor for Sony Liv, too were shot inside J&K Legislative Assembly in 2021 and 2022.

In March, 2022, the cast and crew had arrived for shoot of Season-II, thus making the seat of governance i.e., the Civil Secretariat in Jammu- the winter capital, abuzz with their activities.

Prior to it, they had shot its “Season-I” at the same locales in the first week of April in 2021. J&K Legislature complex was refurbished to be used as a ‘realistic location’ for the shooting.