RRR and Kyiv

We watched RRR over the weekend, and beyond how awesome it was, one moment was the most surprising. During the big dance number, my husband said. “Hmm, it looks like Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv.” I expressed my doubt – the great Indian blockbuster and Kyiv? A huge Bolliwood dancce number in front of the residence of the Ukrainian president? Seems unlikely. But this is the age when unlikely stuff happens. Especially when Ukraine is concerned. And my husband, who was born and raised in Kyiv, was right – it was indeed filmed in front of Mariinsky Palace.

The reason for this unexpected filming location was COVID and related travel restrictions. It was being filmed in 2021, and Indian actors couldn’t go to UK, while UK actor couldn’t go to India, so the production team started looking for middle ground, and found it in Ukraine. As Mariinsky Palace is the official residence of the Ukrainian president, it was not considered as a filming location, but the director fell in love with it, and eventually, the arrangements were made.

So lots of non-Indian dancers and extras you see there are not British, but Ukrainian. The movie also used other filming locations and movie studio in Ukraine, but they are not as instantly recognizable.

the full story: https://www.the-village.com.ua/village/city/eng/332343-rrr-ukraine-kyiv-eng-2022

more about Mariinsky Palace: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/7091
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariinskyi_Palace