After being denied permission to shoot at the Taj Hotel for his film, based on 26/11, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has spent Rs 2.5 crore to recreate the setting at a suburban hotel in Mumbai.

RGV had also been granted very limited access to the CST railway station to shoot for his ambitious project. However, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel at Colaba, turned down his request.

A source was quoted saying that the reason behind the refusal is that the authorities at the hotel are not willing to revisit the unfortunate incident.

Although Ramu was a bit disappointed over not being given complete permission, he decided to shoot the rest of the shooting scenes on a different set altogether.

The filmmaker has gone ahead and recreated the entire lobbt of the Colaba hotel at another suburban hotel in Juhu, which is currently being rented out for shooting films. Art director Uday Singh has created this set, on which about 2.5 crore rupees have been spent.

Ramu, on his part, was quoted saying that it could be traumatic for many to see the recreation of that horrible tragedy and that for him, in the context of the attacks, a five-star hotel is the symbol of human achievement in terms of splendour.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma will finally start shooting for his film 26/11 from Monday. The director is making sure that the film looks very authentic. The film, based on the tragic incident of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, will have the owner of Leopold Cafe Farzad Jehani playing one of the key roles in the film.

Ram Gopal Varma was quoted saying that the incidents of Leopold, if shown in the context of an eye witness, will be very impactful.

Farzad was quoted saying that since it was his place and his customers and staff that got injured and killed, Varma thought that he was perfect to play the role.