The
Hunt for Shifa Manzil
For
a series like Shaheen to look authentically set, it was essential
to get the right location. The search therefore took time. It
covered several properties in Lucknow and Bhopal, before the team
finally settled on Shifa Manzil which is actually a part of a
Nawab's huge old Palace, in the heart of the city. It was located
with help from some local people.
The entrance was 15 foot high wooden plus metal door which lead
to a huge open corridor with small rooms on both sides (supposedly
for servants). After crossing the passage, you came across a small
door which opened into a small room. And that room lead you to
the main bungalow, which had a lot of open space in the middle
with a small pond and a fountain. The centrum had rooms on all
sides. A staircase led to several more rooms as well as a terrace.
The only problem: the interiors were in terrible shape as it had
not been lived in for several years.
Bhardwaj warmed up to the place. What made him decide on it was
the owner's attitude. He was very open to the idea of giving it
out to the Arvishi crew and had no objections if they made some
structural changes. He took the place on a lease.
Shaheen's art director Deshmukh, who is also from Bhopal, brought
together a crew of 25-30 local help to clean it up, make repairs
and make it functional for filming in a flat period of five days.
The interior was modified to give it a Mughal look. Different
parts were converted into a mardana (drawing room), janana
(Begam Sahiba' room), bahu's room, kitchen, dining
room, guest room etc.
Molded plaster of paris boulders, wooden arches, coloured glass,
wooden colour, carved furniture, chic mat, old decorative lamps,
designed crockery, etc. were used to enhance the Nawabi look.
It helped that Deshmukh was familiar with Mughal period architecture.
Repair costs are estimated to have been anywhere between Rs 350,000
and Rs 400,000.
Further improvements were not possible because of time and budgetary
constraints. As only a part of the haveli has been renovated
for the shoot, the rest of it wears a gloomy look.
Shifa Manzil was everything the crew of Shaheen wanted
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"Viewers are bored with the same bungalows
that are repeatedly used for shooting. So we wanted to give
them something authentic at the same time the story also
demand this kind of place to recreate that old culture,"
says director Parvesh Bhardwaj. "Most of the shooting
takes place in this mansion, but some part is shot in Hotel
Imperial Sabre and its vicinity."
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"Had we settled on a occupied place, we would
have to work within timing constraints. We didn't want to lose
shooting days. And our current location is giving us that kind
of freedom"
Producer Ajay Shah does have more plans for Shifa
Manzil, reveals Bhardwaj. "He will be investing more funds
to renovate the whole thing so that it can be used for other serials
as well. "
Clearly, we have not seen the last of the haveli on the
small screen.
To
read more on The Making of Shaheen click on the links below
