Top 12 Bollywood Movies That Used The Most Expensive Sets
Posted On: 05 Sep 2022 | Last Updated : 19 Oct 2022 | Views : 947
There is no doubt in the fact that Bollywood is all about glitter and dazzle, where everything is extravagant. From the music score to the beautiful dresses, everything is perfect and dreamy. No doubt, people want their lives to be exactly like the protagonist of their favourite movie, as Bollywood filmmakers put great effort and pay attention to even the minute details and ensure to make the movie dreamlike. To make it a perfect blend of entertainment and elegance, all the filmmakers need is to make sure that they have the right actors to play the character, exquisite music, a good script, and an aesthetic set to ensure that the protagonist’s world is all that the cine-watchers would need. Everyone with even a little knowledge about movies knows that the sets are the second most crucial part of the movies, the first being the actors in the movies, and Bollywood is known for its huge and expensive sets. So today, we are going to talk about the 12 most expensive sets of Bollywood movies. Stay tuned to check out more such Bollywood updates, articles, topics, and trivia related to movies and celebrities.
1. Mughal-E-Azam (1960)
K. Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam is an epic historical drama film, starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. The movie is known for its widest release in cinemas, where people were known to queue for hours outside the ticket counter in the cinema halls. It was the highest grossing Bollywood movie of all time, as it held the distinction for 15 years before the inflation kicked in.
The development of the movie began when the director, K. Asif read the ‘Anarkali’ play in1922, which tells the story of a courtesan named Anarkali in the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605). Akbar’s eldest son, Salim fell in love with the courtesan, which was a cause of concern for the emperor, and he wanted to get rid of Anarkali at any cost.
In 1944, Asif formally started the development of the movie, but it kept delaying due to financial uncertainties. As even the shooting of one song cost more than the standard film during the time. The project then began principal photography in the 1950s, but the financier was lost, and the film was completely changed. From the star cast to the financiers, everything was changed. The set of the movie took around 2 years to build, and cost more than ₹1.5 million, which was much more than even the entire budget of any Bollywood film of the time, and thus making them one of the most expensive sets in Bollywood movies.
2. Devdas (2002)
Inspired by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1917 novel with the same name, Devdas, starred Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The movie follows the story of a man named Devdas who belongs to a wealthy Thakur family and graduated with a law degree from London. Devdas is in love with his childhood sweetheart Paro, but she is rejected by his family, which leads to his alcoholism and emotional deterioration. He finally seeks refuge with the golden-hearted courtesan Chandramukhi, who tries her best to comfort him. Devdas has been remade a number of times in different languages, and the director of the movie, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was inspired to make the movie, after he read the novel and announced the project in 1999. The movie is said to be one of the most expensive movies of all time, with a film budget of around ₹500 million. The responsibility of building the sets for the movie was with the art director, Nitin Chandrakant Desai, who took around a year to finish the tasks, and spent around ₹200 million, making them one of the most expensive sets of Hindi movies. Nitin Chandrakant Desai called it a beautiful challenge, as he was required to create the homes of aristocratic houses inspired by British architecture, meanwhile, making the brothel of Chandramukhi was most challenging and expensive.
3. Saawariya (2007)
The debut film of actors Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, Saawariya is based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 1848 short story, ‘White Nights’. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the movie was the last film of actresses Zohra Sehgal and Begum Para before their deaths. The movie follows the story of an artist named Raj, who falls in love with Sakina. Raj goes to great extent to win Sakina’s heart, but all his efforts go in vain, when Sakina reunites with her long-lost lover Imaan. Released on the occasion of Diwali in 2007, the movie bombed at the box office. However, it became the talk of the town for its grandeur and is still remembered for its extravagant sets. Designed by the production designer Omung Kumar, these elaborate sets gave life to the imaginary city of Raj and Sakina, which was completed with lakes, shops, streets, clock towers and signages that gave it a whole new aesthetic vibe.
4. Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic historical drama, Jodhaa Akbar starred Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in titular roles. The movie revolves around a fiery Rajput princess, Jodhaa and a Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Jodhaa is obliged to marry Emperor Akbar due to political reasons, however, the mutual understanding and respect for one another, gradually make the two fall in love with each other.
Known for its magnificence, the movie was the highest grosser of the year. The sets of the movie were designed by Nitin Chandrakant Desai, who took lakhs of pictures of Amer Fort, Jaipur and Agra Fort, and using them as reference, he built the entire set consisting of Akbar’s palace, fort and other parts. The entire set measured 1600 feet long, 600 feet wide and 68 feet high, which cost ₹120 million approximately, and if there’ll be any list of top 10 expensive sets of Bollywood movies, Jodhaa Akbar would surely make it to the list.
5. Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)
Referred as the modern day ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela is a tragic romantic drama, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone in the titular roles. The movie revolves around Ram and Leela, who belong to two feuding families - Rajadi and Sanera, who have been at war with each other for 500 years. The two fall in love with each other but because of their family situation struggle to be together.
Like any other movie of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, this movie too left the audience in awe for its magnificence and extravagant sets. The production designer of the movie was Wasiq Khan, who once stated that it was hard to match the realism with Bhansali’s vision and thirst for perfection. The director wished to focus on Gujrati architecture and royal havelis to bring in the perfect essence of Gujarat in the movie. Wasiq took 2 to 3 months to complete the construction of sets, and around 90% of the movie was shot on the sets, while most of the songs, like ‘Nagada Sang Dhol’, ‘Ram-Leela’ and ‘Ang Laga De’ showcased the grandeur of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s vision.
6. Bombay Velvet (2015)
Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Karan Johar starrer Bombay Velvet, directed by Anurag Kashyap, is based on historian Gyan Prakash’s book ‘Mumbai Fables’. Set in the 1960s, the movie follows the story of a common man named Johnny, who wishes to get the success and fame to win the heart of his love interest Rosie. His wishes lead him to the world of crime, but soon after he realises that he must face the consequences and pay the price for everything he achieved.
The movie had a huge budget of ₹120 crore, and had grand sets to depict the 60s era. It took around 11 months to complete the interiors and decor of the sets, which was inspired by the classical Hollywood style, as the 1960s India was highly influenced by British and Portugal design. Half of the movie was shot in Sri Lanka, and the other half was completed on the sets.
7. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)
Sooraj R. Barjatya’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is a romantic drama that stars Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor in the lead roles. The movie revolves around a common man named Prem, who looks just like Prince Yuvraj Vijay Singh. Just before Yuvraj is about to get crowned, his half-brother attacks him to take his place. However, Prem takes Yuvraj’s place to protect his position. Later, Princess Maithili, who is engaged to Yuvraj, assumes Prem to be him and falls in love with Prem instead.
As the movie is supposed to depict the life of a wealthy prince, the royal look with all the shimmer and dazzle was the expected from the movie. Sooraj Barjatya did justice in this regard, and lived up to his reputation. The Royal Palace, Sheesh Mahal and other massive forts were constructed, along with the required lights and illumination in the movie. It was ascertained that the total cost of constructing the sets was approximately ₹90 crore, and if there’ll be any list of top 10 expensive sets of Hindi movies, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo would surely make it to the list.
8. Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani is an epic historical drama that takes its inspiration from Nagnath S. Inamdar’s Marathi novel ‘Rau’, which tells the story of Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I (1700-1740 AD). The movie follows the story of Bajirao (Ranveer Singh) and his second wife, Mastani (Deepika Padukone). Bajirao was already married to Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra), and he falls in love with the warrior princess in distress, Mastani, and gets married to her. However, their marriage struggles to gain triumph because of Bajirao’s conservative family.
The movie was announced as early as 2003, but kept on being delayed because of its changing cast. Extensive research was carried out before the shooting of the movie to make the movie as realistic as possible, furthermore Sanjay Leela Bhansali spent additional eleven months to research more after the final announcement. Finally, in the pre-development the twenty-two highly detailed sets were constructed to display the grandiose of the Maratha empire, and it was one of the most expensive sets of Indian Films.
9. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
The mystery action thriller drama Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, directed by Dibakar Banerjee, starred Sushant Singh Rajput in lead role, and is based on the story of fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi created by Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The movie revolves around a common boy named Byomkesh Bakshi, who has just graduated and learns that a chemist named Bhuvan has disappeared. He seeks help from Bhuvan's son to link the case to reach Bhuvan. However, in his investigation, he discovers an unsettling conspiracy that may shake the entire Calcutta.
Set in 1942, Calcutta, the movie depicts the war-torn India while ensuring the vintage touch. The production designer, Vandana Kataria did justice to it and perfected the old city look of Calcutta to depict the 40s era, with ancient buildings, antique cars and vintage decor. With the extensive attention paid to every detail, Vandana Kataria and Dibakar Banerjee succeeded in impressing the audience.
10. Raees (2017)
Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees, directed by Rahul Dholakia is said to be loosely based on the life of criminal Abdul Latif. The movie follows the story of a bootlegger named Raees Alam (Shah Rukh Khan), whose business gets under threat after the arrival of ACP Majumdar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) in his region. ACP Majumdar makes it his mission to teach Raees a lesson and completely shut down his illegal business.
The movie was supposed to be shot at the medieval mosque and tomb complex at Ahmedabad, however, due to the protests in Bhuj and clearance issues in Ahmedabad, the movie couldn’t be shot there. The sets in Mumbai were then completely re-designed to attain a perfect look of 1980s Ahmedabad slums, which boosted the production cost and the budget went up to ₹90 crores.
11. Padmaavat (2018)
The period romantic drama Padmaavat, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, starred Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. The movie revolves around Rani Padmavati, a beautiful wife of Maharawal Ratan Singh, a Rajput king. The two stay happily married until a ruthless sultan, Alauddin Khalji, who hears about Rani’s beauty and is obsessed with her, declares war against Maharawal to get Rani.
Yet another movie by Sanjay Leela Bhansali made its way on the list, which is known for its grandeur and was the highest grosser of the year. The film was supposed to be shot in Chittor Fort, however, due to the protests at the fort, Bhansali decided to complete the shooting of the movie in Mumbai, and created a replica of Chittor Fort at Mumbai sets. With this additional cost of sets the movie’s budget went up to ₹215 crore.
12. Kalank (2019)
The multi-starrer tragic romantic drama Kalank, directed by Abhishek Varman under the Dharma Productions banner, starred Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Dutt, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapoor in the lead roles. Set in pre-independence India, the movie revolves around six enigmatic characters, who find themselves entangled in the midst of love and deceit. They embodied depression, anxiety and yet some hope to be able to unite with their true love.
The movie is the perfect mix of aesthetic and aristocracy. The grand and royal sets, with visually stunning shots and perfect costumes made the movie so magnificent. As the movie is set in the pre-partition era, the war turbulence is captured with the kitsch aesthetic. The grand sets further balanced the messiness of emotions among the lead characters of the movie and with the hint of operatic fantasy in the sets, the movie became a treat for the cine-watchers. The budget of the movie was as high as ₹130 crore.
