A major Bollywood film crew has arrived in Birmingham, with cameras already rolling in the Jewellery Quarter. Production trucks were spotted by St Paul's Square, near Livery Street, where Steven Spielberg shot scenes for the 2018 blockbuster Ready Player One. Actors appeared to be dressed as protesters, according to a reporter on the ground.
Project 79: A New Bollywood Feature
The production is understood to be a new Bollywood feature film for Yash Raj Productions, one of India's biggest film studios. The filming comes after residents and businesses were informed that a Bollywood movie, code-named 'Project 79', would be shooting in the area this summer.
Film production company LS Productions previously said it was "delighted" to be bringing the project to Birmingham and was keen to showcase the city on screen. Letters from the production firm, pushed through residents' doors, read: "We're currently producing a Bollywood feature film for Yash Raj Productions which we're delighted to be bringing to Birmingham for filming across May, June, and July. Birmingham offers a fantastic range of locations and we're very keen to showcase the area on screen. We're particularly excited to be filming within the Jewellery Quarter."
What to Expect: Dance Routines and Stunts
The company added that Brummies could expect to see "full Bollywood dance routines and action-packed stunt sequences" during the shoot. A number of roads in the Jewellery Quarter are also expected to be affected by filming between June 18 and June 25, although LS Productions said not all streets would be closed at the same time.
The roads previously identified as likely to be affected were Vyse Street, Hylton Street, Branston Street, Hockley Street, and Spencer Street. The production company said: "At this stage, we anticipate approximately eight days of road closures between the 18th and 25th of June to facilitate filming safely and efficiently. This period would include preparation, filming, and reinstatement. During this time, access to buildings and car parks will be carefully managed. We will work closely with all businesses and residents to maintain pedestrian access to all premises and vehicle access to any private car parks or garages."
Economic Benefits for Birmingham
LS Productions said filming can "bring a great deal of positive attention and economic benefit to an area." The production is set to showcase Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter on the global stage, highlighting the city's diverse locations for filmmaking.
