MUMBAI: Following a court order, the Maharashtra government has reopened the Sankraman studios, which it had sealed on 14 February.

In response to a writ petition filed by Sankraman studios, the interim order was given on 17 February. The studio is on lease from the government. The Court, which postponed the hearing to 14 March, asked the government to maintain the statusquo during the interim period.

The government reportedly sealed seven studios of Sankraman Telefilms at Aarey Colony in Mumbai as the lease period of three years got expired. Balaji Studios, which sub-leased four of the studios from Sankraman, has been shooting Kkyunki Saans bhi kabhi bahu thi, Kahani ghar ghar ki, K Street Pali Hill, Kusum, Kavyanjali and Kasauti Zindagi Ke and Kartika at the studios when the sealing took place.

Balaji Telefilms general manager Umesh Yadav claimed that the developments didn't affect Balaji's shooting schedules. "We have other studios at our disposal. We have been shooting the serials in our other studios. Balaji has a godown and two sets near the Sankraman Studio premises. Then we have Balaji Telefilms Studio in Unit No. 2 of Aarey Colony," he said.

Sankraman studio general manager Sanjay Bhatia, who confirmed about the government reopening the studios, said the shooting would resume on 21 February. "All the payments to the government have been up-to-date and still it went ahead and sealed the studios without any prior notice. The honourable Court accepted our argument and allowed us to continue with our work till the next hearing," he added.