The biggest movie city in the world is allegedly haunted. There are rumors that Ramoji Film City was built on a battlefield soaked in the blood of the senior warriors of the Nizam of the Hyderabad Empire. They are said to haunt the place, sometimes even considered unsafe for the actors and crew.
Ramoji Film City, located in Hyderabad, India, is one of the largest film cities in the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest. It covers an area of over 2,000 acres and has been the backdrop for many hit films such as Bahubali: The Beginning (2015), The Dirty Picture (2011), Ghajini (2008), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006).
Ramoji Film City was founded in 1996 by famed film producer Ramoji Rao, who wanted to have something like Hollywood in India too.
But amidst the glitz and glamor of this sprawling elaborate lies more than just a hub for creativity and entertainment; it is also home to the most blood-curdling legends and ghastly sights, according to senior legends.
Spirit of the Nizam Warriors
It is said that when they built the movie city, the builders kept the area unchanged, not removing a single tree or mountain to preserve the spiritual peace of the place. Even though they didn't cut down any of the trees, it looks like there's something wrong with the place.
The film city is said to have been built on the land where the Nizam of Hyderabad fought and died. It is said that the spirits of soldiers who died in these battles still wander there restlessly.
The Nizam of Huderabad was the ruler of the state of Hyderabad until it became part of the Maratha Confederacy after its defeat in the 18th century.
They also fought in the Anglo-Maratha war, where they came under British rule. Needless to say, there were plenty of wars in those days that the Nizam's warriors got caught up in.
Paranormal experiences of guests and employees
Many guests and employees of Ramoji Film City have reported paranormal phenomena at haunted locations. Some people report seeing ghostly figures, hearing strange noises, and feeling icy breezes. Some even claimed to have spoken to the spirits that supposedly haunted the place.
Reports of hauntings show that an incident in which a chandelier fell from the ceiling is often mentioned. It seems that the alleged haunting in Ramoji Film City has something to do with the lights.
Light workers in the film city say they were pushed from a height and suffered sedate injuries. There are other types of crews who report the same thing and that their clothes were torn by something unseen.
Lights have been known to turn on and off randomly, gates close on their own, and this is the case with the strange writing on the mirror in Urdu. Many scary things center around mirrors, and many actors have been reported to have seen strange things while preparing for shoots and looking in the mirror.
People also heard strange voices and something whispered in Urdu, at least by some tourists staying at the guesthouse.
Scaring a Bollywood superstar
Pink actress Tapsee Pannu has spoken about her haunting experience when she stayed at one of the hotels in the film city.
“First of all, I am very afraid of ghosts and I truly believe that they exist. I personally felt something in my room when I stayed at a hotel in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. I've heard stories about the haunted hotel before.
She shared this in an interview in 2022. She was alone in her room and heard footsteps echoing and approaching. She got scared and instead of finding out what was happening in her room, she forced herself to sleep. She said it herself:
“There was no way I could fight the ghost.”
Ramoji's Haunted Movie Town
Ramoji Film City is not just a hub for creativity and entertainment. It's also home to some of the most chilling legends and spooky sightings told by both the crew behind the camera and the stars in front of them. And if you believe the rumors, ghosts found in the movie city do not necessarily appear only in movies.
Bibliography:
Ramoji Film City – Where ghosts make movies
Tapsee Pannu and the paranormal experience she had in Hyderabad
Is Ramoji Film City really haunted?
Image Source: Pixabay.com
