Bollywood's biggest film sets that offered an extra edge to the larger-than-life dramas

Bollywood has always believed in doing everything in style, from dramatic stories to grand visuals. In recent years, the industry has taken production value to the next level by building massive film sets that rival global cinema. These aren’t just backdrops, they’re full-blown worlds crafted with detail, artistry and enormous budgets. Whether it’s historical palaces or epic war zones, modern Bollywood films are creating cinematic magic from the ground up.

S.S. Rajamouli’s 'Baahubali' films revolutionized Indian cinema with their jaw-dropping production design. The fictional kingdom of Mahishmati was brought to life with gigantic palaces, towering statues, temples, and massive battlefields that were all built from scratch at Ramoji Film City. Covering over 100 acres, the set was constructed by thousands of workers and included everything from waterfalls to ornate throne rooms. The scale was unmatched and set a new standard for big-budget Indian films.

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 'Padmaavat' is a visual feast where every frame exudes richness. The film recreated the grandeur of medieval India with custom-built sets that included a sprawling Chittor Fort, Khilji’s extravagant palace, and a grand royal court. Detailed mirror work, hand-painted murals, and stone-carved corridors added to the authenticity. The set for the “Ghoomar” song alone was constructed over weeks and lit with over 400 lights, making it one of the most opulent scenes ever filmed in Bollywood.

'Brahmastra' brought a blend of mythology and modern fantasy to life with its high-concept sets. Ayan Mukerji’s vision included the ancient Ashram of Brahmansh, recreated with towering temples, glowing relic chambers, and mystical energy fields, all built with advanced VFX-ready infrastructure. The Varanasi scenes and high-octane action set pieces were shot on elaborate constructed sets that seamlessly merged CGI and real-world design. The scale and detailing were unlike anything seen before in a Bollywood fantasy film.

Another masterpiece from S.S. Rajamouli, 'RRR' featured vast and detailed sets that took audiences straight into the heart of colonial India. Custom-built period sets included British mansions, prison yards, vintage streets and even train wreck sites. The action-heavy sequences were choreographed in gigantic outdoor locations designed entirely for the film. Over 300 days of filming were spent on these grand sets, blending authenticity with dramatic storytelling that could only be achieved through such a massive setup.

While 'Adipurush' relied heavily on CGI, it also had one of the largest indoor setups created for motion capture and chroma shooting in India. The production recreated entire mythical cities and battlefields using high-tech LED stages and green screen infrastructure spread across massive soundstages. The scale of the Ramayana-inspired story demanded huge backdrops that would later be digitally enhanced, and the practical builds for scenes like Ravana’s Lanka or Ram’s palace formed the base for this digital epic.