India has lived through countless eras, each leaving behind its own imprint in the form of forgotten heritage sites. Scattered across the country are palaces overlooked by tourists, havelis hidden in sleepy towns, and forts that once shaped politics but now fade quietly into the background. For filmmakers, these places offer what no studio set can—authenticity, grandeur, atmosphere, and a palpable sense of history. Whether it’s the Italian-Gothic charm of Bhuj’s Prag Mahal or a deserted haveli in Rajasthan, such locations infuse stories with depth and texture, grounding them in a tangible past. In the following six Indian films, long-forgotten architectural gems step out of obscurity and onto the screen, where their very walls become powerful tools of storytelling.

# Lagaan (2001), Vijaya Vilas Palace

Ashutosh Gowariker built Lagaan’s world using real heritage landscapes instead of studio sets. The fictional village of Champaneer was created on the barren farmland near Kunariya in Kutch, its harsh, untouched terrain perfectly capturing the film’s drought-stricken setting. For the British cantonment, the regal red-sandstone Vijaya Vilas Palace in Mandvi offered an elegant and historically rich counterpoint. The Italian-Gothic Prag Mahal in Bhuj stood in as the British headquarters, with its bell tower, arcades, and ornate interiors adding imperial scale and authenticity. These locations do far more than decorate the film—they deepen its emotional and visual impact through real architectural weight.

# Paheli (2005), Hadi Rani Ki Baori

Paheli draws its mystical atmosphere from Rajasthan’s forgotten architectural treasures. The haunting Hadi Rani ki Baori, a 17th-century stepwell in Todaraisingh with sculpted niches and arched corridors, provides the setting for a pivotal supernatural moment. Chand Baori in Abhaneri, one of India’s most iconic stepwells, adds dramatic geometry with its cascading steps and stone reliefs. By filming in these centuries-old structures rather than imagined sets, Paheli roots its folklore in real heritage, allowing stone carvings and shadowed passageways to heighten its magical realism.

# Lootera (2013), Itachuna Rajbari

Lootera’s quiet emotional power comes from locations whose walls echo with history. The 200-year-old Itachuna Rajbari in Hooghly, with its grand courtyards and colonial-era façades, becomes the soul of the film’s 1950s Bengal setting. Scenes filmed in Purulia, especially around the village of Belkuri and the Deulghata Jain temples, anchor the narrative in an untouched rural landscape. The snow-laden forests of Kalatop near Dalhousie amplify the film’s themes of loneliness and longing. Each location shapes the mood, making the spaces as significant as the characters themselves.

# Haider (2014), Martand Sun Temple

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider draws immense power from Kashmir’s architectural heritage. The 8th-century Martand Sun Temple, with its striking stone ruins, transforms the “Bismil” sequence into a theatrical spectacle. Srinagar’s Nishat Bagh, with its Mughal terraces and chinar-lined paths, adds visual grace, while the villages of Kehribal and Mattan lend a raw authenticity impossible to recreate in a studio. The Hazratbal Shrine, Zaina Kadal Bridge, and Sonamarg’s sweeping alpine vistas stitch the film into Kashmir’s cultural and geographic identity. Through these sites, Haider becomes not just a narrative—but an architectural portrait of the region.

# Tumbbad (2018), Purandare Wada

Tumbbad’s unsettling atmosphere is inseparable from Purandare Wada, an 18th-century Maratha residence in Pune. Its decaying beams, moss-laden arches, and soot-darkened walls reflect the film’s themes of greed and ancestral decay. The wada’s collapsing doors, timeworn carvings, and labyrinthine courtyards embody centuries of neglect, functioning almost as another character. Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar uses natural light and architectural imperfections to amplify the horror, transforming real structural ruin into cinematic dread. In Tumbbad, the mansion becomes a symbol carved in stone—grand ambition slowly rotting into darkness.

# Brahmāstra (2022), Ramnagar Fort

Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmāstra grounds its mythology in the regal surroundings of Varanasi’s Ramnagar Fort, an 18th-century structure crafted from creamy Chunar sandstone. Over 20 days of filming, the fort’s carved balconies, layered pavilions, and sweeping courtyards became central to sequences like “Kesariya.” The fort’s river-facing walls, glowing at sunrise, and its ornate Durbar Hall with filigreed arches serve not just as scenic settings but as extensions of the film’s mythic tone. In Brahmāstra, the fort’s historic architecture becomes a living canvas for a modern legend.