Mughal-e-Azam (1960): A film made in 1960, this film was the most expensive one to have been made in India at that time. It is the story of the love affair between Mughal Prince Salim and Anarkali, a court dancer. It is said to be one of the finest films ever made in India and has gained a cult classic status over time. It became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time, a title that it retained for 15 years! The iconic song ‘Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ was shot in a replica of the Sheesh Mahal in the Lahore Fort. The set was marveled upon for its sheer size and its intricate design accuracy, complete with pieces of Belgian glass. The whole set took two years to be built and cost a whopping amount of Rs 1.5 million.
Devdas (2002): Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas was a visually stunning film that paid extensive attention to detail. Bhansali went to great lengths to ensure that the sets he was creating were accurate in representing Calcutta as it was in the 1930s. A massive figure of Rs 20 crores was spent on the making of the sets. Out of that, 12 crores were spent on creating Chandramukhi’s kotha alone! The kotha was built in a studio around an artificial lake to make it look like it was located in Benares next to the Ganges. Another intricately designed set was Paro’s haveli, decorated with 122,000,008 pieces of stained glass.
Jodha Akbar (2008): A period film like Jodha Akbar is no easy feat to pull off. Its towering forts, large armies, and ancient traditions involving the lavish lifestyles of the Mughal Emperor Akbar set in the 1500s would make filmmakers have second thoughts even today. But Ashutosh Gowariker brought his vision onto the big screen a decade ago, and it was a visual treat in every sense which took us back in time and brought to life the era of the past. Huge sets were created in Karjat to recreate the lifestyle of the Mughal Emperors. Their lavish forts with large and meticulously decorated chambers, along with entire gardens with fountains, were made. Every frame looked grand and visually rich. The sets, designed by Nitin Chandrakant Desai, were so detailed that they have now been opened to tourists!
Bajirao Mastani (2015): The sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani have gone down in history as the best sets ever in a film. The brilliance of his imagination is unparalleled as he brings to life the eras of the past and makes them larger than life. For his magnum opus, Bajirao Mastani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali created the second most expensive set in history. Reportedly he asked the set of ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, which is considered to be one of the most expensive sets to date, to be recreated for his film. The Aena Mahal has become the second most expensive set after ‘Mughal-e-Azam’s. The set was designed by Sujit Sriram and Saloni and took 45 days to be made. Over 20,000 intricately designed mirrors have been used, which were handpicked from Jaipur.
Sawaariya, Bombay Velvet, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum,Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo and the Bahubali Series are a few more in the list.
The Awesome Sets in Dola Re, Devdas: