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How Lucknow Zoo Hosted Rekha's Iconic Umrao Jaan Song
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News18•05-10-2026, 16:18
How Lucknow Zoo Hosted Rekha's Iconic Umrao Jaan Song
- •The Nageene Wali Baradari inside the Lucknow Zoo served as the actual filming location for Rekha's timeless song In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke in the 1981 film Umrao Jaan.
- •Director Muzaffar Ali chose the 19th-century royal pavilion to capture authentic Awadhi history and avoid artificial Mumbai soundstages.
- •Built by Nawab Nasir-ud-Din Haider as a summer pavilion, the structure was preserved when the estate was converted into a zoo in the 1920s.
- •The pavilion's 12 open archways allowed cinematographer Pravin Bhatt to utilize natural daylight and create stunning 360-degree tracking shots.
- •The film's success earned Rekha a National Film Award for Best Actress, cementing the zoo's historic Baradari in Indian cinematic history.
Key Questions Answered
The song was filmed under the soaring arches of the Nageene Wali Baradari, a twelve-arched open pavilion located inside the Lucknow Zoo (Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Prani Udyan).
Director Muzaffar Ali wanted to avoid artificial Mumbai soundstages and capture the real texture of Awadhi history, selecting the 19th-century royal pavilion for its authentic architectural lines.
The 12 open archways allowed the cinematographer to flood the central hall with soft, natural daylight filtered through tree canopies, while the symmetrical design enabled continuous 360-degree tracking shots.
