I have checked 300 chawls: Darlings director Jasmeet K Reen talks about location recce

Jasmeet K Reen, director of the Alia Bhatt-starrer Darlings, says she visited more than 300 chawls (residential buildings) to get the authentic location and look to build the story's world.

Apart from checking 300 chawls, she recced for another 100 chawls and locations with her crew. Jasmeet said, "The aim was to do research, and understand the logistics of the chawls in Mumbai, how the people live there, dress and their attitude and body language.”

The filmmaker noted that while choosing locations, the crew had to make sure that it was shoot-friendly and they could maintain social distance as it was shot during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Once things began to ease out with the lockdowns, we decided to build a set so that we could maintain covid protocols and shoot at the same time. Luckily all our research and photos helped Garima Mathur (production designer) and Anil Mehta (DOP) with the visualisation and thereafter the execution," she said, adding that Byculla has whole old-world contrast -- old buildings with ornate window grills with new furniture. "That is Mumbai- an old 19th-century house and a swanky skyscraper in one frame.

The crime comedy also stars Shefali Shah, Roshan Mathew, and Vijay Varma. Debutante director Jasmeet has also written the script along with Parveez Shaikh. Darlings will stream on Netflix from August 5.