Filmmaker's Journey: Shooting in Dhirubhai Ambani's Village House

Every filmmaker selects a location as per the theme of his film and tries to make his film believable by shooting his film at that location. Mehul Kumar never made compromises in doing such work which is why 'ABCL' was produced. He had chosen the Parliament of Switzerland for the filming of Amitabh Bachchan's film 'Mrityudata'. Before this, Mehul Kumar had chosen the present-day famous place for filming his teenage love story Gujarati film 'Manada No More' released in 1991. The ancestral village of Dhirubhai Ambani, father of industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, and his ancestral house in the village were chosen. Dhirubhai Ambani's house is shown in the film as the house of the film's hero Hitu Kanodia.

Dhirubhai's Joy: Filming Bliss in His Village

Hitu Kanodia started his career as a child artist. Hitu Kanodia acted as a child artist in many Gujarati films including 'Dholi', 'Saiba Mora', and Dhola Maru directed by Mehul Kumar. Around 18 after directing successful films, Mehul Kumar decided to make a teenage love story film "Manada No More" with Hitu Kanodia and he chose Ayesha Jhulka as the heroine. He shot this film in a village in Gujarat. Wanted to film. While searching for a beautiful location, Mehul Kumar reached the village of a famous industrialist. He found that village suitable for the story of his film. Now the question was where to show the house of the film's hero i.e. Hitu Kanodia. Mehul Kumar said it would be good if he found a vacant house in the same village. His search was continuing when after two days someone told him about Dhirubhai Ambani's house. When Mehul Kumar went to see that house, he felt that his wish was being fulfilled. He asked the caretaker there if he could shoot his film in that house, and then he permitted him. The entire shooting of the film took place in Dhirubhai Ambani's village and Mehul Kumar completed the film in his house. Then when the film was released, Dhirubhai Ambani was very happy. In those days he was living in Mumbai. Dhirubhai Ambani died on 6 July 2002 in Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai.

Launching Stars: Mehul Kumar's Journey with 'Manada No More'

When we discussed this matter with writer, producer, and director Mehul Kumar, he said - "My Gujarati films were becoming super-duper hits. I produced, wrote, and directed two films 'Meru Malan' and 'Saiba Mora'. Both these films were super-duper hits. Then I thought that now something new should be done in Gujarati. In those days, Hitu Kanodia, son of actor Naresh Kanodia, was working as a child artist. He also did some films under my direction. I saw tremendous acting talent in him. He was also a very good dancer. So I thought that now I would make a teenage love story film 'Manada No More' and I decided to cast Hitu Kanodia as the hero. When I told this to Naresh Kanodia, he said that right now he is working only as a child artist. But I told him that now I will make a film based on a teenage love story with it. He agreed. For the heroine. I cast Ayesha Jhulka. In this way, our film "Manada No More" was the first film with Hitu Kanodia as a hero. From here Hitu Kanodia became a star.

Dhirubhai's Abode: Capturing Cinematic Magic in 'Manada No More'

Discussing the shooting of the film, Mehul Kumar said - "We did some of its shooting in Junagadh. Apart from this, we also shot at Dhirubhai Ambani's ancestral village house 'National Flower' there. We did some shooting for the hero of the film. The House of Canada was told to be the house of Dhirubhai Ambani. We also shot and filmed songs in Dhirubhai Ambani's old village. We were looking for the location. Before that, we had not even seen Dhirubhai Ambani's house. When the people of the village told us about this house. Then we went and saw it and asked the person who was taking care of the house at that time if we could shoot in this house, and he said that we could. Then our search for the location was complete. We shot there comfortably. It was a memorable event for us.

Was any response received from Dhirubhai Ambani on this? On this question, Mehul Kumar said - "Nothing was ever said from his side." When Dhirubhai Ambani came to know that we had shot in his house, he was happy and said - "Okay, it's a Gujarati film." The shooting was done at our house.

-Shantiswarup Tripathi

Tags: Filmmaker's Journey | dhirubhai-ambani | mehul-kumar

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