Aram Nagar

During the World War II, this area housed a barrack of the British Indian Army. The Aram Nagar colony was utilized by the British as a training center for anti-submarine operations.^[5] In 1947, the government transformed it into a transit camp to accommodate migrating populations. It provided refuge to people who had returned from Pakistan during the partition.^[1]

Until the year 2000, it remained a typical residential area. After the year 2000, many offices related to films opened here transforming the area into a hub for aspiring individuals in the entertainment or film industry. Over the past two decades, Aram Nagar has gained recognition as a gateway to Bollywood.^[1] Independent filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma, Sudhir Mishra, Anurag Kashyap, and Tigmanshu Dhulia established their careers from Aram Nagar.^[3]

In 2016, it was reported that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertook the demolition of more than 75 unauthorized structures within the Aram Nagar area.^[6]

The area is divided into two parts, Phase-1 and Phase-2, and comprises approximately 900 houses. Around 3,000 individuals striving to establish themselves in the entertainment industry reside here. Aram Nagar is a diverse community, with residents from 10 to 12 different states across India.^[1][7][8]