Ashutosh Gowariker is currently shooting for the ambitious war drama, Panipat at the Chitrakoot Ground in Andheri, which features Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon in the lead. Over the past week the makers have been shooting for action sequences using a bunch of horses and their commute is taking over the roads leading to traffic congestion.
A report in Mid-day states the horses make their way back to their stables in Goregaon East every evening leading to a traffic snarl in the process. The fleet of horses is taken through the Western Express Highway by road. Most big budgeted filmmakers tend to transport animals by trucks but here they travel on foot.
A resident in the shooting area spoke to the daily and said, “It feels as if the Battle of Panipat is happening in our area. Veera Desai road is heavily congested in the evenings, to begin with, and the horses bring the traffic almost to a standstill.”
Pappu Varma, who has provided horses told Mid-day, “I will need to check why the horses are being taken by road. We transport them in trucks and tempos, only occasionally they take the road. For a horse to trek three to four kilometres is not a big deal.”
The exploitation of animals in films has long been a matter of debate. When asked if the animal can be transported some other way the film’s spokesperson said, “The entry and exit to the Chitrakoot Ground is from a narrow gate. Add to it the surrounding area that is bustling with traffic 24×7. There is no other route to bring the horses.”
