Kiran Rao shares how ‘Laapataa Ladies’ team shot with live railways tracks, movement of big trains

Mumbai, November 8 – After her movie Laapataa Ladies swept 13 Filmfare awards, filmmaker Kiran Rao talked to about a creative challenge her crew faced: filming on real trains and railway stations.

The film’s story jumps between two key stations in Maharashtra. The crew shot most of the action on a busy main line called Yeola, which the film calls Patila. The station’s long platform and heavy traffic made it look just right for the big scenes featuring the characters Phool and Manjumai. A second, smaller station in Kanegaon – called Moorthi in the story – saw only a handful of shots, mostly around the village station where a crucial reunion takes place.

“Kiran Rao said the team felt both lucky and unlucky,” heard. Lucky because Yeola looked like the ideal station, but unlucky because only one platform was available. Every time a large train arrived, the crew had to get their own train out of the way. That meant shooting had to fit into tight windows – the only time the live tracks were clear.

Safety was the top priority. The crew kept the set shut off from passengers and used strict security checkpoints. “Everyone wore IDs and badges before even stepping onto a commuter train,” Rao explained. Background actors had to ride the train and then exit it while another loco arrived, so timing and coordination were critical.

COVID‑19 restrictions actually helped. With fewer people allowed in a given area, the crew could keep the set tight and well‑monitored. “The pandemic gave us a reason to be extra cautious and plan every stunt carefully,” she added.

The film’s success and its realistic railway scenes show how creative storytelling and practical logistics can blend seamlessly, even on India’s busy rail network.

Source: ianslive


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