The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has significantly reduced filming fees to attract filmmakers, dropping charges from ₹75,000 to ₹15,000 for an eight-hour shoot and ₹25,000 plus GST for 24 hours, as part of the Delhi Film Policy 2022. The Public Works Department (PWD) maintains a base rate of ₹10,000, while iconic locations like Dilli Haat (INA) and the Garden of Five Senses are available for ₹80,000 plus GST per day. Filming in the Delhi Metro, a cinematic symbol of the city, ranges from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh based on location and timing.

Despite these efforts, only 39 shoots have utilized the policy’s single-window e-Film Clearance portal in three years, which connects 25 agencies and promises approvals within 15 days—or deems permission granted if delayed. Of 209 applications, 97 have been cleared, with a ₹30 crore Delhi Film Fund offering up to ₹3 crore per film in subsidies. Films must score 20 out of 40 points (44 for foreign films) based on factors like shoot days, local crew usage, and Delhi’s prominence in the narrative. Only 12th Fail has received a subsidy so far, with Mardaani 3 next in line.

Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk remain popular filming spots, but emerging venues like Bharat Mandapam, Bansera Park, and Mehrauli Archaeological Park are gaining attention. A ₹1 lakh annual Delhi Film Card offers discounts on logistics, though many filmmakers bypass the official system for private permissions to avoid paperwork.

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The policy extends beyond subsidies, aiming to nurture talent through scholarships for the Film and Television Institute of India and National School of Drama, alongside support for animation and VFX startups. Plans for new film schools, a Delhi International Film Festival, and Film Excellence Awards are underway, backed by a 77% budget increase to ₹117 crore for 2025-26. OTT projects compliant with central regulations are also eligible for incentives, with measures to combat piracy.

Delhi aims to triple application clearances to 15 in 2025-26, up from five in 2024, and double e-Film Clearance applications to 20. “We hope to compete with Mumbai and Hyderabad as a filmmaking hotspot,” a Delhi Tourism official said, acknowledging challenges but expressing optimism as the system matures.

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