Gangs of Wasseypur writer Zeishan Quadri’s directorial debut Meeruthiya Gangsters may not be a mega-budget movie, but producer Shoeb Ahmed not only ensured that the cast and crew of the film were absolutely comfortable during their month-and-a-half shoot schedule in Meerut, but the filmmaker even made sure that the onlookers who would mill around their shoots in hundreds were well looked after. An insider reveals that since there are hardly any films being shot in Meerut, it was a new experience for the locals, who would come on the sets right from the morning and stay on till the shoot was wrapped which would often be late at night. The source says, “When Shoeb sir saw the crowds, he made sure that when the cast and crew would break for food, the crowds were well-fed too. Obviously that meant food for more than 500 people at one time, which ultimately made the budget shoot up by lakhs, but the filmmakers ensured that all were fed along with the rest of the film unit.” When asked, Ahmed confirms it, saying, “I just felt that there are these people who are out of curiosity and excitement spending so much time on the sets, almost like being a part of our films and none of them were carrying food, so it was only human that we arrange for shades for them and provide food and water. Of course, this only encouraged them and the crowds kept increasing, but we didn’t want them to suffer because of their craze for films.” Well, the Meeruthiya Gangsters certainly look like one generous dilwale gang to us!
