Railways ensures hassle-free journey for Bollywood

New Delhi, Jun 13 (UNI) Bollywood can breathe easy as its roller-coaster romance with trains that has spawned many a memorable songs and death-defying fight sequences will continue unabated.

Contrary to reports, Indian Railways has not withdrawn permission for film shooting, including song sequences and fight scenes, on rooftops and footboards of speeding trains.

''In effect, celebrated songs like 'Chhaiyan, chhaiyan' from Shah Rukh Khan's blockbuster 'Dil se' and spectacular fight scenes in films like 'Sholay' and 'Train to Pakistan',which are firmly embedded in cinegoers' memories, can still be shot on a moving train, subject to observance of safety guidelines,'' a ministry official told UNI.

Shooting is allowed on any part of a train coach or engine, including footboards and rooftops, if it has been hired specifically for that purpose, as was done in the case of 'Dil Se', 'Parineeta', 'Bunty or Babli', 'Aradhna' and all other films involving locomotives and coaches.

''It is only during the normal run of a train, having bona fide passengers on board, that shooting while travelling on footboards and rooftops is not allowed,'' the official pointed out.

However, shooting inside a coach even during the normal run of a train is allowed, provided inconvenience is not caused to other passengers. Similarly, it is not to be allowed on tracks if there is any movement of a train.

''During the daytime, shooting at crowded railway stations should be avoided to ensure that normal functioning of the railways is not adversely affected and there is no inconvenience to rail users,'' pointed out in the new safety guidelines issued by the Railway Ministry earlier this month.

Following the issuance of new safety guidelines, media reports have been quick to point out that a complete ban has been imposed on enacting dangerous fight scenes or song sequences on rooftops or footboards of running trains.

''We have never put a blanket ban on shooting of such films. By issuing new safety guidelines, we have only consolidated, simplified and rationalised them for the benefit of filmmakers, video photography for personal and commercial use and shooting of documentaries,'' he said.

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