#VOGUEFROMHOME
The culture-soaked former capital of Gujarat has lent character to numerous Bollywood and Hollywood films
While it was in 2017 that the old city of Ahmedabad was declared as India’s first World Heritage City, its rich architecture, packed bazaars and bustling life have been featuring on celluloid for years. Apart from the locales, the traditional blending in with the modern is probably one of the greatest reasons that attract filmmakers to the destination. If you want a sneak peek of the former capital of Gujarat's local culture, nightlife, historical spots and a lot more, we've curated a list of seven movies for you to stream.
In this 2020 action-thriller starring Chris Hemsworth, Ahmedabad’s busy streets stand in for Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sam Hargrave’s directorial debut features the Hollywood actor as a mercenary who must rescue an Indian drug lord’s kidnapped son. Some portions of the intense 11-minute chase sequence were reportedly shot near the Rudra Prayag Flats in Ranip, Ahmedabad. With a sequel in the pipeline, we will have to wait and watch to find out if the crew returns to the city.
Streaming on Netflix
The beautiful monument of Sarkhej Roza in Ahmedabad served as the backdrop for the nikah scene featuring Raees (Shah Rukh Khan) and Aasiya (Mahira Khan) for this Rahul Dholakia directorial. The movie that begins in the mid-1960s depicts Khan as a liquor baron and was rumoured to be based on the life of gangster Abdul Latif.
Streaming on Netflix
Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s debut film was adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s novel, The 3 Mistakes of My Life, and delved into deep friendships that get tarnished due to communal violence. The buddy drama was set in Ahmedabad along with various other parts of Gujarat. With cricket being one of the underlying themes, a match sequence was shot at the Sabarmati Railway Stadium in the city as well.
Streaming on Netflix
Krish (Arjun Kapoor), who is a Punjabi boy, falls in love with Ananya (Alia Bhatt), who belongs to a Tamil-Brahmin family. Their love story begins at IIM Ahmedabad, with the campus forming the beautiful backdrop for this romantic drama. The Abhishek Varman-directorial is perhaps the first movie to be shot inside the famed institute.
Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
The Hindi remake of Mani Ratnam’s Tamil romantic film, O Kadhal Kanmani, starred Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor as Adi and Tara, who fall in love and move in together. While most of the movie has been shot in Mumbai, a one-day work trip takes Tara to Ahmedabad where the lead pair explore the beautifully carved pillars of the Jama Masjid mosque and the tranquil atmosphere of the iconic Sabarmati Ashram.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
The Jackky Bhagnani-starrer gave director Nitin Kakkar the chance to explore the local areas of Ahmedabad, especially the Pol regions where it was extensively shot. The narrow lanes and the busy Manek Chowk area formed some of the primary locations for the romcom, which was a remake of the 2016 Telugu movie, Pelli Choopulu.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
The story of a struggling, but ambitious Gujarati businessman, Raghu (Rajkummar Rao), is a quirky comedy filmed extensively in China, with a major portion set in Ahmedabad’s old city. Filmmaker Mikhil Musale, who also hails from the city, put his knowledge of the narrow lanes and gullies to good use by making these locales the backdrop for Raghu’s ‘jugaadu’ business idea days.
Streaming on Netflix
7 Bollywood movies that capture the true spirit of Mumbai, on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
7 movies that give you a culture-soaked tour of Kolkata, on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more
8 movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more that will take you to the world's best beaches