Mumbai’s real estate landscape witnessed a defining transition in 2025 as some of Bollywood’s most iconic film studios moved closer to redevelopment, reflecting the city’s changing land-use priorities and intensifying demand for luxury housing. Prime studio properties in Goregaon and Mahalaxmi once central to India’s cinematic production are being repurposed into high-rise residential developments, signalling a broader shift in how Mumbai allocates scarce urban land.
At the centre of this transformation is a long-established film studio in Goregaon, founded in the early years of Hindi cinema and instrumental in shaping India’s post-Independence film culture. Spread over several acres in a now high-value residential corridor, the site is slated for a premium housing project by a listed developer, with estimated development potential running into several thousand crore rupees. The proposed plan includes ultra-luxury apartments and penthouses housed within tall residential towers, marking a stark departure from the low-rise studio sheds that once occupied the land. A similar change is underway at a historic studio in Mahalaxmi, operational since the 1940s and known for hosting film shoots, sound recording and post-production for decades. The landowner has entered into a redevelopment partnership with a major real estate group, replacing ageing studio infrastructure with a high-end residential tower offering sea-facing and racecourse-facing homes. Industry observers note that such locations, close to South Mumbai’s employment centres and transport corridors, are among the most valuable residential addresses in the city. According to real estate analysts, the economic rationale behind these transitions is difficult to ignore. “Large studio plots occupy premium locations where land values have outpaced the economic utility of single-storey structures,” said an industry expert.
“High-density residential development allows developers to unlock land value more efficiently while responding to sustained demand for luxury housing.” This trend is not new. A prominent film family sold its suburban studio land several years ago, leading to the development of a mixed-use luxury project that consciously incorporated architectural references to the site’s cinematic legacy. Such projects highlight how developers are attempting to balance heritage recall with modern urban design, even as creative spaces are displaced. Urban planners, however, caution that the gradual erosion of production infrastructure raises questions about cultural sustainability. While film production has increasingly moved to peripheral locations and digital environments, the loss of centrally located creative hubs may reduce opportunities for mixed-use cultural districts within the city. Experts argue that future redevelopment models could better integrate creative workspaces, public realms and energy-efficient housing rather than adopting purely residential outcomes.
From a sustainability lens, the redevelopment of brownfield studio sites offers both opportunity and responsibility. Dense, transit-oriented housing can reduce urban sprawl and commute emissions, but only if paired with green building practices, inclusive access and adequate civic infrastructure. As Mumbai continues to reinvent itself under intense land pressure, the challenge will be to ensure that economic growth does not come at the cost of cultural memory, social equity or environmental resilience.
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Mumbai Studios Transition Into Luxury Living
