Noida Film City: Phase 1 Construction Begins in Sector 21

The long-awaited Noida International Film City is finally moving from paper to ground. The Noida Film City project, announced six years ago by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is awaiting financial closure before construction can begin, with YEIDA confirming that land issues and developer selection are complete while the first phase, planned across 230 acres near Noida International Airport, is estimated to cost ₹1,510 crore. According to the latest update from the authority, it expects to complete the financial closure within a week and begin construction by the end of August.

The project sits in Sector 21 of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area. The film city is planned across nearly 1,000 acres in Sector 21 of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area, close to the Noida International Airport. It is being executed by a joint venture between Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor and the Bhutani Group. The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated land to Bayview Projects, a firm backed by filmmaker Boney Kapoor and developer Bhutani Infra, for the construction of the Noida International Film City, with the project set to span 1,000 acres and the initial phase covering 230 acres in Sector 21 on Yamuna Expressway, estimated to cost Rs 1,510 crore and expected to be completed in eight years.

The path to this stage has not been smooth. The issue centered on approximately 150 acres of land belonging to a farmer, which fell within the 1,000-acre Film City project area, with the farmer demanding an industrial plot in exchange for the land. That dispute was resolved late last year, clearing the way forward. YEIDA had already approved the map for the first phase in June, with this phase to be developed on 230 acres for which a 90-year licence has been granted to Bayview Bhutani Film City Pvt. Ltd, a joint company of film producer-director Boney Kapoor and the Bhutani Group.

Interestingly, limited production activity has already begun on-site even before full infrastructure is ready. In a landmark moment for Uttar Pradesh's ambitious Film City project, the shooting of Mom 2 officially commenced at Bayview Bhutani International Film City in Greater Noida, becoming the first project to go on floors at the site even as construction work continues in phases, with the land allotted on February 27, 2025 and set construction beginning within a year. Producer Boney Kapoor called it a proud milestone for the state. "I am thankful to Yogi ji, I am thankful to Modi ji, that they gave me this opportunity" he said at the inauguration.

Once full-scale Phase 1 construction is underway, the facility will house serious film-making infrastructure. The first phase of the Film City will span 230 acres and involve an investment of Rs 900 million to Rs 1.51 billion, featuring essential film-making infrastructure such as 13–14 sound stages, a film and television institute, permanent outdoor sets, actor residences, an underwater shooting studio, a film museum, and a convention centre. Beyond the studios, the state government sees this as an economic engine. Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, Minister for Industrial Development, remarked that the Film City near Jewar Airport is poised to significantly boost Uttar Pradesh's industrial growth, potentially generating 5-7 lakh jobs directly and indirectly.

For homebuyers and investors along the Yamuna Expressway corridor, this is more than entertainment-industry news. There's a second, less-talked-about catalyst sitting right next to the Jewar airport that will contribute materially to property appreciation along the corridor: the Noida Film City at YEIDA Sector 21, which explains what it is, who's building it, and why it matters for nearby buyers. Industry voices agree the impact will extend well beyond the studio boundary. Ashish Bhutani, Chief Executive Officer of Bhutani Infra, said the aim is to create an integrated ecosystem rather than a standalone studio complex. Real estate analysts covering the region point to comparable growth stories elsewhere. When a 1,000-acre employment hub sits next door to a limited-supply premium residential sector, the outcome is predictable — residential prices compress upward, the same dynamic that played out around HITEC City in Hyderabad, Devanahalli IT Park in Bengaluru, and Whitefield earlier.

Connectivity plans are also taking shape alongside the studio build. The film city is planned to be connected through 130-metre, 100-metre and 75-metre-wide roads, with links to the Yamuna Expressway and the Noida International Airport. With the airport itself nearing completion and the film city's ground-breaking now confirmed, Sector 21 and the surrounding YEIDA sectors are set to see a wave of end-user and investor interest through the rest of 2026 and beyond.