After the massive success of Dhurandhar and its sequel, the stylish actor Ranveer Singh’s next feature, Pralay, has landed in hot water. The Maharashtra Government’s Sports Department granted permission for the movie to shoot at Mumbai’s iconic Azad Maidan, sparking severe backlash from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) after scheduled inter-school matches were disrupted.
According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, the Sports Department permitted production house Light Rays to use 5,000 square yards of the ground for six hours on a rental fee of ₹40,000, alongside a ₹40,000 refundable security deposit. Despite rules barring vehicle entry on pitches, digging, or ground damage, the shoot required erecting large sets and laying artificial grass. This marks the first time a commercial film shoot has been allowed at the historic venue.
The ongoing Under-14 and Under-16 interschool cricket tournaments had to be postponed to accommodate the filming, outraging sports administrators. MCA Apex Council member Nadim Memon strongly criticized the decision, emphasizing that Azad Maidan exists to nurture young athletic talent for national and international levels rather than serve as a commercial venue. Memon questioned who would take responsibility for the disruption and financial impact on grass-root sports.
In response to the disruption, the MCA filed a formal protest letter with the Deputy Director of Sports. The permission letter—issued on October 30 by Sports Department Under Secretary Ashok Damayyawar and forwarded on November 2—required the production team to secure necessary clearances from local authorities and obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MCA.
With youth cricket schedules put on hold, the controversy has raised sharp questions over state policies allowing commercial events to take precedence over municipal sports development. Stay tuned to know more about this news and others only with us and you are more than welcome to share your thoughts by commenting below.
