10 Iconic Mumbai Locations You’ve Seen in Movies

Mumbai, the city of dreams, is well-known for many things. From lifestyle, food, nightlife, culture, and many other unique experiences – life in Mumbai is like no other! One of the top things that makes people so hyped about Mumbai is witnessing it through the lens of Bollywood. Many famous, legendary, and award-winning movies of Bollywood have beautiful scenes and portraits of our most loved city Mumbai. Things2do brings you all the iconic locations in Mumbai through the cinematic lens of Bollywood! Read on to tell us how many of these you knew about before. 

1Marine Drive

You don’t have to be a real-life movie star to feel like you’re one at Marine Drive. There is nothing not to like about this iconic destination- from vibes to views, it ticks all the boxes. Marine Drive is Bollywood’s favourite spot too. Every Bollywood fan in the country loves and knows what Marine Drive really looks like, thanks to the numerous times it has been filmed. Right from Wake Up Sid, where Ranbir Kapoor romanced Konkana Sen; Guru, where Mithun Chakraborty goes for long morning walks; or Fashion, where Priyanka Chopra looks through the window at the Queen’s Necklace. Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Deewar, Munnabhai MBBS, and even Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na are bollywood movies with Marine Drive as the backdrop. 

Things2do at Marine Drive – Planning to visit this iconic location in Mumbai? Here are some fun things to do at the Marine Drive. 

-Enjoy the scenic views of the Arabian sea.
-Eat some lip-smacking bhutta, chat, or raw masala mango.
-Have a refreshing cup of Chai or Coffee.
-Must try delicious pizzas at Pizza by the Bay.
-Take a scenic walk or enjoy cycling with your friends.
-Capture Instaworthy Pictures.

There are so many amazing things to do at Marine Drive, to keep exploring them make sure you follow @things2doinmumbai 

2Gateway of India

Gateway of India, a royal and majestic sight is a popular tourist destination in Mumbai. Even today, it feels like a scene from a ’90s movie, and the glory that it holds is timeless. The Gateway of India is well-known throughout the world, because it is so beautiful and represents Mumbai lifestyle so Bollywood will continue to film around it. Films like Ghajini, Bombay, Kalyug, Hero No. 1, Mann, and many other cinematic favourites have been shot near Gateway of India. 

Things2do at Gateway of India – Visit the Gateway of India to experience the sense of old school Bombay as well as some fun at SOBO!  Witness the majestic beauty of the Gateway of India. 

-Stay at the Taj Mahal Palace, for a luxury staycation in Mumbai.
-Take a ferry ride near Gateway of India.
-Go shopping at the Causeway Colaba Market.
-Visit the vintage art galleries and museums in Mumbai.
-Explore Mumbai with an exciting double-decker bus ride.

There are so many things to do near Gateway of India, the list of things is never ending but in Mumbai every day, you can explore something new. Be the first one to find all of them on @things2doinmumbai.

3St. Xavier’s College

This dream college in Mumbai is popular not only because of its educational legacy, but also because so many situations of college romance, fun, and elements of campus life of Mumbai are filmed here. Because of the way St. Xavier’s campus is hyped in Movies, every teenager wishes to be a student here. We still picturized it while listening to the song ‘Kabhi Kabhi…Aditi, don’t we? Not just that, but St. Xavier’s college in CST, Mumbai is also seen in many Television Shows, ad films, etc. and we just can’t stop falling in love with it a little more every time.

Things2do near St.Xavier’s College, CST – This dream college is not just famous for its campus but also for some fun things to do in Mumbai near Xavier’s College, here are a few of them

– Shop at the Fashion Street.
– Visit the beautiful Marine Drive.
– Shop local from the Masjid Bandar market.
– Explore the history with Mumbai CSMT Heritage Tour.
– Watch the live match at Wankhede Stadium.
– Take a unique tour of the Bombay High Court.

Got more exciting Things2do near CST and ST. Xavier’s college? Drop a comment below and add to the list.

4Bandra Fort

This gem is our absolute favourite place to enjoy in Mumbai, any time of the year. More beautiful than an aesthetic movie scene is the real life experience of watching the sea waves dance along as they meet the rocks, then the sparkling drizzles shower all over us as we enjoy a bhutta or a cup of chai. You dont really need bollywood to love Bandra Fort, but it helps! This location may be remembered by the song Kabhi Kabhi Aditi from Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. It was also a favourite hangout spot for Jai and Aditi’s friends in the movie. Scenes from Dil Chahta Hai and Salman Khan’s movie Wanted, were also shot here.

Things2do at Bandra Fort – We’re in love with the vibes of Bandra Fort, and spending time here can be your favourite things to do. These are some of the top things to do near Bandra Fort.

-Enjoy the beautiful view of the Mumbai Sea-link.
-Have a delightful cup of chai or coffee.
-Enjoy the delectable street food seaside.
-Visit the holiest Mount Mary Church.
-Shop from the hottest shopping destinations of Mumbai, The Link Road, and The Hill Road.

Bandra and its iconic fort never fail to amaze the Mumbaikars, you can find all the other best things to do in Bandra @things2doinmubai

5CSMT Station

Mumbai locals have a special connection with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, previously known as Victoria Terminus. It has been renamed many times but its grand vibe remains the same. Being one of Mumbai’s iconic destinations, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a famous tourist attraction. You can also say that it’s Bollywood’s favourite spot for shooting, remember Shah Rukh Khan in Ra.one stopping the railway train, Farhan Akhtar’s live performance in the movie Rock On, and more such interesting movies have shown beautiful sights of it.

 Things2do at CSMT Station – The most legendary tourist attraction in Mumbai, The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a must-visit in Mumbai. Here are some of the amazing things to do at CSMT Station.

-Take a Heritage Tour.
-Explore the British style architecture.
-Take the authentic local train ride in Mumbai.
-Capture photographs of the ancient structure.
-Enjoy the tasty Aram Vada Pav.

Know some of the best things to do when your around CSMT Station follow @things2doinmumbai. 

6Dharavi

Dharavi, made famous by the hit Bollywood film Gully Boy , has served as a location for many Mumbai-based films. You’ll probably wonder why Asia’s biggest slum is such a hit movie location. Beside the narrow lanes and thatched roofs, its the people, especially the talented young people from Dharavi that make it special. There are also many well-known human stories about Dharavi residents. It has also inspired many directors with the local lifestyle of Mumbaikars from the Dharavi area. Remember Slumdog Millionaire? We all had a virtual tour of Asia’s biggest slum in Mumbai in this Oscar nominated film. 

Things2do near Dharavi – The biggest slum area in Mumbai is the Dharavi slums. You might not know but there are many unique things to do near Dharavi. 

-Take an guided Slum Tour.
-Visit the hidden Dharavi Fort.
-Enjoy your time at Maharashtra Nature Park.
-Shop for great quality leather goods.

Dharavi will always hold a special place in the heart of Mumbaikars, as you can always explore a different side of Mumbai here.

7Asiatic Library

We all know how aesthetic Asiatic Library is, the bright white colour and the ancient structure literally feel like a whole different vibe in Mumbai. So, its not really a surprise that it is often seen in movies, TV shows, advertisements, and more!  We believe it’s because of the beautiful flight stairs at the entrance, the Greek architecture, and the pristine white colour. You’ll find it in movies like Ok Janu, Bombay, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Simba, and many others. Every scene with this background looks very impressive and attractive, we know you’ll agree! 

Things2do near Asiatic Library – The beautiful ancient structure just makes Mumbai look like a new city. To enjoy your visit more, here are some best things to do near Asiatic Library. 

-Spend a fun time at the Horniman Circle Garden.
-Visit the unique RBI Coin Museum.
-Enjoy your time with books at the Kitab Khaana.
-Plan a perfect photoshoot.
-Shop books from the Hutatma Chowk.

Make your visit to the Asiatic library unique with these amazing things to do in Mumbai.

8Film City or Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagri

The most preferred choice of Bollywood to shoot any movie, TV serial, or Advertisement, The Film City is like a mini model of Mumbai city. As you know the very famous TV serial ‘Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma’ setup ‘Gokuldham’ is also a part of the Film city. It’s an ideal destination for many movies. But films like ‘Bodyguard’ and ‘Ready’ were shot in Mumbai Film City. 

Things2do at Film City – Explore more about what to do near Film City or Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Mumbai.

-Take a Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Tour.
-Visit the iconic Gokuldham Society.
-Probably bump into a movie star!
-Witness the artificially made cinema complex.
-Capture a lot of pictures.

9Aksa Beach

The song ‘Tujhe Aksa Beach Ghuma du’ itself is very famous to picture the beautiful Aksa beach of Mumbai. As Mumbai beaches have always been tourist attractions, we find many movie scenes, advertisements, and serials shot around them. Everyone loves Mumbai beaches even when they are not a part of any movie but Bollywood can never miss them and always captures some of the other wonderful scenes here. Apart from the movie ‘God Tussi Great Ho’, Aksa beach is also a part of the movie ‘Sagar’.

Things2do at Aksa Beach – Aksa Beach, one of the best beaches in Mumbai, offers us a lot of fun things to do in the city. Let us know what? 

-Visit the holy Global Vipassana Pagoda.
-Spend a fun time at Essel World and the Water Kingdom.
-Explore  Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
-Witness scenic views of the beach.
-Try some tasty street food by the beach.

10Dhobi Ghat

The Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, which is the world’s largest outdoor laundromat, is a popular tourist destination and has been a part of many iconic movies. Right from Munnabhai M.B.B.S where the fun scenes in the movie give you a beautiful virtual tour of Dhobi Ghat. Apart from that, there is an entire movie based on Dhobi Ghat and is also called by the same name. This movie by Kiran Rao is quite an unforgettable piece of cinematic art.   

Things2do near Dhobi Ghat – Witness the authentic sites of Mumbai at the Dhobi Ghat, and find some of the unique things to do here. 

-Capture beautiful raw pictures.
-Visit the ancient Bhau Daji Lad Museum.
-Meet and greet with the locals.

The list of movies in which Mumbai has appeared is endless, and we will never get over it. We’ve listed our favourite iconic Mumbai locations from movies, so the next time you visit one of these, remember its cinematic reference and share some stories with your friends. There is something new to explore in Mumbai every day, if you are in love with the city of dreams and all the unique things to do in Mumbai then you must follow @things2doinmumbai.

by Vaidehi Pakhale

Writer at Things2do