The Bollywood Walk Audio Guided Tour, Mumbai

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1

  The fort is called Castella de Aguada. Castella is, actually, a misspelling of the Portuguese word Castelo, which means castle, and aguada means fountain. Before you protest how can a sea-side castle be named a castle of fountain, let me tell you that five hundred years ago, this castle enclosed natural springs... the source of drinking water that was supplied to Portuguese ships cruising up and down this coastline. For thirsty sailors, the fort was a literally life-saving watering hole! The fort, strategically overlooking the Mahim Bay and the Arabian Sea beyond, also served as a watch tower for the Portuguese, who then ruled Bombay. An armed garrison was always stationed here to keep an eye out for enemy and pirate ships. Bandra has been a part of countless Hindi movies, both on and off the screen, and every step of our tour takes you through a piece of movie history. So, as you stroll along, you will soon realise that there’s so much you hadn’t noticed before.Bollywood has changed, actors have come and gone, but the Bandra Fort has stood strong... and its ageless appeal still inspires the occasional film shoot, now with an added highlight to the view.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2

  This is Mumbai’s suburban counterpart of the famous TajMahal hotel, and it is no less iconic when it comes to modern Mumbai, especially Bollywood. Taj Land’s End hosts several filmy events – from film trailer launches to success parties. Many Bollywood biggies choose this place to give interviews and conduct meetings.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3

  This is where lives Shah Rukh Khan... King Khan...the Baadshah of Bollywood. Shah Rukh Khan’s story resonates perfectly with Mumbai as a city of dreams... It is said that he first came to Bombay from Delhi, to pursue his childhood sweetheart, Gauri, and also to become a movie star. With not a dime in his pocket and nowhere to stay, the lad initially slept on park benches and pavements in this city. At the end of this story, Khan went on to marry his childhood sweetheart AND become a legendory actor. Originally called Villa Vienna, this is the mansion that Shahrukh bought in the year 2001 for 13.3 crore rupees, and where he lives till now with his family. He renamed it Mannat, which means a vow or a prayer.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 4

  At the Bandstand Promenade, you can stand for a few seconds and take in the vast sweep of the Arabian Sea. From Wake Up Sid, to Life In A Metro, to JaaneTuYaJaane Na and Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, the Bandstand promenade is a recurrent character in Hindi cinema, with massive waves crashing on the rocks. If you are here during the monsoon, especially during the high-tide, you can experience this little drama first hand.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5

  You will walk down the promenade. Look out on your right for two cafes ... Cafe Coffee Day and Barista. Both of these were once Salman Khan’s favourite spots for his date nights with actor Katrina Kaif during the early days of their romance. You may still catch a glimpse of the superstar who now occasionally comes here for a hot cuppa. Wonder what’s Salman's favourite brew?

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6

  You are looking at the house of perhaps the most enigmatic diva of Bollywood—the reclusive Rekha. Apparently, no one is allowed inside the bungalow, where the lady lives with her secretary and her pet cats and dogs.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 7

  Before we reach to Mudd Spa we will visit Graffiti. You will see a large, expansive mural of Amitabh Bachchan’s Vijay from Deewar. Note how, while he wears the humble uniform of a dock worker, he’s sitting with his feet up with an unmistakable swagger and a look of defiance in his eyes. This is Salim-Javed’s great contribution to Indian cinema. You will see a striking painting on the wall. the actor is Rajesh Khanna. The film, of course, is Andaz. At Mudd Spa it is here that the enigmatic Rekha does her media interviews. It is said that the actress does not entertain journalists at her home, like many of the other stars do.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8

  Before we reach to Galaxy we will visit Sahil Bungalow. A beautiful white bungalow will come into view. It is elegant and understated, and almost entirely anonymous despite being so prominent and eye-catching. Exactly how you can describe its famous resident. This bungalow, called Sahil, is the house of Waheeda Rehman, Bollywood’s graceful diva. No Bollywood fan needs to be told that this is the building where Salman Khan lives. Believe it or not, this superstar lives in an unremarkable, one-bedroom apartment on the first floor just above D- Mart that you will see facing the road. His parents live in an apartment on the second floor. Well, Salman has been living here since the early days of his career. The very sentimental and equally superstitious superstar believes that the house has a great vibe, and so he has stuck to this little place.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 9

  Till 1954, Mumbai’s big studios were located far away. Filmistan was in Goregaon, and Bombay Talkies in Malad. Then, Mehboob Khan constructed his studio in Bandra, which was not too far from where the filmy crowd lived... in Southern and Central Bombay. It was here that Mehboob Khan shot his most critically acclaimedand popular film, Mother India, in 1957.Mother India was the first of the only three Indian films that have been officially nominated in the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 10

  Before we reach to Mount Mary Basilica we will visit Mount Mary steps, Bimal Roy’s house and Balmoral Hall. The Mount Mary Basilica, whose miraculous powers are said to have changed the fortunes of many a Bollywood star. This church is also the focal point of the Bandra Feast and Bandra Fair celebrated in September every year. During the feast, wax figures of Mother Mary and an assortment of candles shaped as various parts of the body are sold at kiosks outside the church. The sick and the suffering choose a candle or wax figure that corresponds to their ailment and light it in church, in the hope that Mother Mary will listen to their pleas. During the corresponding Bandra Fair, this road and the entire locality are decorated with buntings and streamers... and hundreds of pop-up stalls selling religious articles, roasted gram, snacks and sweets. The fair is a great place for kids and youngsters, who can’t get enough of the Ferris wheels and other exciting rides... not to mention the food and clothing stalls that spring up literally everywhere. The Mount Mary’s basilica that we see today is the fourth version of the shrine and is just over a hundred and ten years old. The basilica has featured in quite a few movies.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11

  side. This huge building complex is home to one of Bollywood's most popular and successful filmmakers, SubhashGhai. Can you name Ghai’s memorable blockbusters? Kaalicharan, Karz, Karma, Saudagar, Ram Lakhan, KhalNayak and Pardes... go on! It’s remarkable that these films were made across a period of over 30 years, and yet they captured the imagination of their specific generations.

  1 minute • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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