Deewana, Mr. Lova Lova Teri: Why Bollywood’s Legendary Street Songs Are a Thing of the Past? | Hindi Movie News

Gone are the days when Shah Rukh Khan, along with Nasserudin Shah, shook a leg on the Mumbai streets for a peppy number from their romcom ‘Chamatkar.’. When Shilpa Shetty sizzled on the streets and wowed the public with a masala number ‘Dil ka darwaja khulla hai raja.’. Hardly any 90s actors must not have shot a dance or a scene on the streets of Mumbai. But hardly do we see our current crop of actors dancing on the streets of Mumbai. Street songs in Bollywood have almost vanished over the years. Earlier, it was common to see legendary stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Kapoor, Govinda, Shah Rukh Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, and Juhi Chawla dancing on the bustling streets of Mumbai for their iconic songs. Locations like Marine Drive, Lokhandwala, and Gateway of India were frequently used as vibrant backdrops, adding authenticity and charm to these sequences.However, this practice has faded due to several factors—logistical challenges, increased traffic, and the growing crowd sizes that make it difficult to shoot on real streets. Additionally, filmmakers now prefer foreign locations or controlled environments with VFX for a polished look. The nostalgic charm of Bombay’s streets as cinematic playgrounds has sadly become a thing of the past. In today’s article, we discuss the reasons behind this change and more:
Raj Surani, the dance coordinator, recalled, “I remember shooting with Shah Rukh Khan for the song ‘Gumshuda’ on the streets of Mumbai, and it was hassle-free. And just recently I shot in Byculla for another song. It was tough as the streets have to be locked and locations have to be locked. The biggest enemy in today’s time is the mobile phone that can intrude anywhere, and therefore artists and producers prefer to shoot it on sets rather than on location.”

While choreographer Vijay Ganguly shared his experiences and memories of filming in Mumbai, shedding light on the city’s evolving landscape and the challenges faced by filmmakers today.Recalling his earliest memory, Ganguly said, “My first experience of shooting in Mumbai was for my father’s film ‘Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re.’ We filmed a song sequence at Ballard Pier. I still remember Amit Kapoor and Amrita Singh sitting there and watching the dancers perform. Back then, Bombay’s town area had this unique charm, and thankfully, it has remained largely preserved. But beyond Worli, the city has completely transformed with metro lines and construction—it doesn’t look like Bombay anymore.” He pointed out how the city’s changed appearance has made it challenging to shoot iconic song sequences reminiscent of classics like Rimjhim Gire Saawan, which showcased the streets of Bombay in the rain. Ganguly elaborated on the difficulties of shooting in the city today. “Traffic and crowds have become a major issue. It’s almost impossible to get a daytime location, so we mostly shoot at night. Even permissions are limited to specific time slots, usually on weekends before 8 a.m.,” he said. While fan interference is less frequent in Mumbai compared to smaller cities, crowd control remains a challenge. “In Mumbai, people are used to seeing actors, so they are more composed. But if it’s Mr. Bachchan or Mr. SRK, then you do see people stopping and gathering. With other actors, it’s more casual,” Ganguly shared.Talking about the film ‘Merry Christmas,’ which was set in old Bombay, Ganguly recounted, “We shot near Regal Cinema and Ballard Pier. It was a period film, so we had to ensure there were no modern elements like mobile phones in the frame. We were lucky that Regal Cinema was still there—it’s one of the few remaining single screens. That nostalgia is rare now. The city has changed, but it still holds a special place for filmmakers. However, capturing its essence on screen has become increasingly difficult,” he concluded.
Etimes also contacted producer Ratan Jain, and he reflected upon the challenges filmmakers face while shooting in Mumbai, emphasizing how the city’s evolving infrastructure has made outdoor shoots nearly impossible. “It has become chaotic these days. The streets are full of construction work, and the essence of Mumbai is gone. There is change everywhere—you don’t see Mumbai anymore; you only see Bombay. They talk about a one-window clearance, but that’s a myth. You have to go to the traffic police, the police commissioner’s office, and the BMC separately. Even for indoor shoots, bungalow owners ask for permission from various authorities before renting out their property,” Jain shared.Reflecting on how things have changed, Jain said, “There was a time when we could shoot songs freely on Mumbai’s streets. I remember shooting the popular song from ‘Yes Boss’ featuring Shah Rukh Khan in Bandra-Khar. Today, that’s unimaginable. The roads are dug up, traffic is chaotic, and getting permission is a nightmare. No producer wants to shoot on Mumbai roads anymore. They prefer New Mumbai or other locations outside the city.”Jain also highlighted a decline in Mumbai-centric films, especially in the romance and social genres. “Nowadays, most films aren’t based in Mumbai. People either go abroad or to North India because it’s easier to shoot there. Even if a film is set in Mumbai, having a romantic song on the city’s streets is rare. Producers avoid it due to the hassles,” he explained.Sharing fond memories, Jain recalled shooting for the iconic song from ‘Khiladi.’ “Back then, there were no issues. People were cooperative, and though some asked for money, they supported us. Now, it’s completely different,” he said.
Raj Kapoor shot the famous ‘Kisiki Muskurahaton pe ho Nisaar’ song on the streets of Bandra

Film historian Dilip Thakur added, “Earlier, songs were often shot on the streets. From Amitabh Bachchan to Raj Kapoor and even Shah Rukh Khan, many iconic songs have been filmed in public spaces across Bombay. What were the landmark songs shot on the streets of Bombay? And why aren’t songs filmed on these streets anymore? Dilip Thakur reflects, “Back then, there were fewer complications, such as getting permissions. Over time, filmmakers started shooting songs on foreign roads—starting with movies like ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.’ The subject matter often used to be connected to Mumbai (then Bombay). Take Marine Drive, for example. All three superstars—Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shah Rukh Khan—have memorable songs shot there. Rajesh Khanna’s song from ‘Andaz’ was ‘Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana.’ Amitabh Bachchan’s song from ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ was filmed there, as was Shah Rukh Khan’s song ‘Koi Na Koi Chahiye’ from ‘Deewana.’ Marine Drive was featured in many iconic scenes too. In one film, a mother brings her son to the wall there, and later, when the son grows up, Vijay looks out from the Oberoi Hotel and reminisces about that moment.Similarly, songs were filmed at the Gateway of India, like the famous one from ‘Don.’ Juhu Beach was also popular, with songs like ‘Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli’ from ‘Anand’ and tracks from ‘Seeta Aur Geeta.’Even Worli Seaface saw memorable moments. In ‘Brahmachari,’ a song starts at Worli Seaface and moves to Marine Drive, with Shammi Kapoor singing with children. Dev Anand also had a song shot there—though it wasn’t ‘Kahi Pe Nigahen, Kahi Pe Nishana,’ but another track. Back then, filmmakers frequently used seaside roads like Marine Drive, Gateway of India, and Worli Seaface. Songs were even filmed at Nariman Point, like ‘Jaane Man Jaane Man Tere Do Nayan,’ which was shot on its iconic roads near the Indian Express building. VT Station was also a filming hub, with several songs shot there, including tracks from ‘Patthar Ke Phool.’ Half of such songs used to be filmed on real locations and the rest in studios. So why isn’t this done in Bombay anymore? The crowd in Mumbai has increased tremendously. Shooting a song on the streets now is challenging due to logistical issues. Although compact cameras make it possible to film discreetly, there simply isn’t much demand for street songs in today’s films. Filmmakers now prefer foreign locations, South Indian landscapes, or even VFX settings.”
Ganesh Acharya, who shot the very famous ‘Mr Lova Lova’ song from ‘Ishq’ featuring Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Juhi Chawla, and Kajolon the streets of Mumbai (Lokhandwala), shared, “I’ve done several songs on the streets of Bombay. One was ‘Mr. Lova Lova Teri…’ at Lokhandwala Bridge and Millat Nagar. I’ve been part of many songs, but I don’t know why they don’t shoot them on the streets anymore. Directors and producers conceive the shots—we are just technicians.Do I think it’s crowded now? Not really. If you want to do it, you can get police permissions and shoot. Back then, many films captured Bombay beautifully. ‘Rangeela’ is a great example. If I had to shoot on a street today, I’d choose Marine Drive, Queen’s Necklace—many movies have been shot there, like ‘Chal Mere Bhai’ and ‘Bichhoo.’.”

As street songs become relics of a bygone era, they remain etched in our memories—a reminder of when Bombay’s streets were not just locations but living, breathing characters in Bollywood’s golden tales.