Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar shoot for 'Saand Ki Aankh' in Meerut

While Meerut has been a setting for several film over the last few years ('Zero', 'Badhaai Ho' et al), the city has largely been untouched by film shoots with most makers preferring to recreate the city in studios. That changed this week as Bhumi Pednekar and Taapsee Pannu reached Meerut to shoot for their upcoming film 'Saand Ki Aankh'. The sports biopic, based on shooter dadis Chandro and Prakashi Tomar, the two oldest sharpshooters in the world, is being directed by Tushar Hirananadani, and saw the two actresses camp in Meerut for the better part of last week.
The shoot began at Dronacharya Shooting Range in Modipuram’s Palhera Village on April 10, where the two filmed indoor shooting scenes, coached by local shooter Deepak Vihan. “The two actresses worked really hard and tried to get the posture and movements right while holding the gun. The heat did not make it easier as they had to shoot indoors for several hours,” he told us. After shooting at the range for a days, the crew took a break for the Lok Sabha elections before resuming shoot at the Partapur Railway Station on Monday.
Bhumi Pednekar with the real Chandro Tomar
The film’s team reserved one platform for the shoot for three days, with railway authorities diverting trains to other platforms. As word about the shooting spread, a large crowd gathered outside the small station, leading to a jam and police had to request the crowd to leave. Station Master Zafar Zaidi said, “The film’s crew had taken permission from the authorities and also booked a special train for the shoot. Some trains had to be re-routed to other platforms but there were no delays or any inconvenience. Everything went on smoothly.”
Taapsee and Bhumi are playing Prakashi and Chandro respectively in the film. The two Bagpat-based shooters have found fame for being active shooters in their 70s and 80s. The two shooters were also present at the shoot, giving the actresses tips and monitoring the shoot throughout.