At Balaji Telefilms, after the content is finalised the creative team chalks out the look of the serial depending on characters, family background, business profile, etc. "Once the story is finalised Ekta Kapoor and her creative team finalise the look of the serial. And usually two to three months go into creating the sets," reveals a source from Balaji Telefilms. Another interesting development is that today instead of shooting at different locations, serial makers have smartened up and hire studios that can accommodate sets. "Today sets have become more sustainable. Rather than running from one location to another for different scenes with different interiors, it is better to hire a big studio where different settings like office, living room, bedroom, kitchen, police station, etc. can be raised with the help of portable walls, furniture and props. In the olden days there were limited locations so all production houses would invariably end up at the same location. As a result most serials would have the same location with slight modification in the settings. The new trend breaks away from monotony," says Vinta Nanda, the co-producer of Miilee.
Commercially also it is viable to rent a big studio she says, "Usually serials are under contract period of two to three years. So in the long run it is cost effective. It also leads to efficiency, as it eliminates shifting of equipment, saves time and cuts travelling cost." Sources say that most of Balaji Telefilms serials are either shot at Sankraman Studios, Goregaon or Killick Nixon, Saki Naka. Sets for all their serials are put up at these studios and designed as per the show's requirement. Sankraman houses nearly 15 sets and Killick Nixon has sets for Kkavyanjali, Kosmiic Chat, K Street Pali Hill and Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai. A whooping sum of Rs 2.5 crore is spent for K Street Pali Hill and Rs 1.5 crore for Kkavyanjali. The lavish house shown in Kkavyanjali is spread over centrally air-conditioned 15,000 square feet area. It has the dining area, living room, main hall, two bedrooms and a study room. The contemporary designed sets have customised furniture and expensive light fixtures making it no less than an actual house. And depending on the family background the house is created.
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