Live Like A Star: 5 Of Bollywood’s Most Iconic Palace Stays In Rajasthan

What makes a mise-en-scène? The characters, the production, the silent eloquence of the backdrop—or an equal portion of all three? While the votes remain divided, we can agree on this much: certain overlooked backdrops transcend their role as mere settings—they become imperceptible protagonists, conjuring a magnificent and nostalgic ambience. These palaces, steeped in grandeur, are a nod to the rich tapestry of history, with roots interwoven into one’s cultural and regional identity. With their towering turrets, ornate frescoes, copious spaces, and sprawling courtyards, palaces have long conquered the lens of a camera. These assemblies tell tales of power, love, and intrigue—whether a royal fort in Rajasthan serves as the background for a courtesan’s Mujra dance, or an ancient Wada in Maharashtra is portrayed as a dilapidated haveli in a thriller. DP crosses the storied thresholds of India’s magnificent palaces to uncover what renders them irresistible to the filmmaker’s eye.

1. Ahilya By The Sea In Gehraiyaan (2022)

For a film exploring the intricacies of generational trauma and modern relationships, Ahilya by the Sea—with its serene, oceanfront setting—becomes a poignant backdrop. With themes of betrayal, emotions, and trauma in Gehraiyaan (2022), the property serves as a perfect contrast to Deepika Padukone’s character, Alisha Khanna and Siddhant Chaturvedi’s character, Zain, highlighting the tension between outward calm and inner turmoil. Reposing in a tranquil susegad corner of North Goa, Ahilya by the Sea engages in a hide-and-seek game with nature, blending old-world charm with tropical opulence. Originally conceived as a series of Portuguese-style villas, it dates back to the mid-20th century and was inherited by Indian-born philanthropist and heritage hotelier Mary Leela Rao Ellis. Transformed into a refined boutique retreat by the Holkar family—descendants of the revered queen Maratha Ahilyabai Holkar—in 2013, Ahilya by the Sea is an extension of Ahilya Fort.

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Sprawling across three villas, namely Sunrise, Sunset, and Leela, this nine-key family-run boutique retreat was designed by New York-based designer Olympian Leela Ellis in collaboration with Belgian designer Isla Maria ‘Loulou’ van Damme. With red laterite walls hand-carved by local artisans, lofty ceilings, French windows, sloping roofs, and wraparound verandahs, it melds seamlessly with the lush forest close by. Drawing references from the Holkars, a mosaic of cultures collected over a lifetime of travel, this property weaves nostalgia into the interiors. Layered with Moroccan porcelain, African tribal chairs, Grecian artefacts, and Indian artworks, notably by Goan artist Subodh Kerkar, every nook is a celebration of a global palette. Within the suites, from hand-painted plates from Marrakech to Barcos (Portuguese for ‘ship’)—every petite trinket is a nod to the sea, with pieces from Gujarat, Greece, and East Africa. Monikered and marked by a miniature painting of Antonio Xavier Trindade, Ellis’ grandfather and master illusionist, every room tells tales of personal heritage and of the film’s characters—layered, conflicted, and shaped by inherited memory.

2. Oberoi Udaivilas In Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

A big, fat Indian wedding demands a traditional backdrop that echoes its rich heritage. So, when Kalki Koechlin’s boisterous character Aditi in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) finally decides to get married, The Oberoi Udaivilas is the perfect location, echoing an old-school glamour. Subsequently, on the serene banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, amidst the towering domes, pointed arches, exquisite jharokhas (balconies), and intricate jallis (screens) that illustrate a traditional Mewar style, this property unfolds. Built on the 200-year-old hunting grounds of the Maharana of Mewar—a land that once hosted royal hunting parties—this hotel opened back in 2002.

Also Read: Legendary Bill Bensley Tells Us About Exotic Travel, Conservation & Designing in India

Designed by architects Parul Jhaveri and Nimish Patel, the hotel rekindles its regal legacy, once a host to royal gatherings, by setting the stage for the opulent Indian wedding spectacle in the film. Drawing from the Mewar style of architecture, this hotel, with ghutai-finished (plaster unique to the region) hand-carved stone columns, domes, sun-drenched courtyards and balconies, all bear witness to the film’s impish and heartfelt scenes. Rooted in the region’s rich architectural past, the rooms at The Oberoi Udaivilas blend heritage with comfort through marble bathrooms, bay windows, private courtyards and semi-private infinity pools. The ‘Kohinoor Suite,’ with its grand bedrooms and a pool overlooking the City Palace, sets the stage for a heartfelt tête-à-tête between the characters. While the spa and restored relics like Bada Mahal and Chhota Mahal whisper tales of the past, Suryamahal and Udaimahal take things sky-high—literally—with domes that play dress-up as day and night. Outside, a lush landscape curated by American landscape designer Bill Bensley draws inspiration from the revered Mewari-style gardens, with an ethereal labyrinth of verdure bearing witness to Aditi’s wedding rituals.

3. Hotel Narain Niwas In Paheli (2005)

For a movie recounting a Rajasthani folk tale, Narain Niwas Palace serves as an exquisitely fitting setting. In Paheli (2005)—a film rooted in ardour, fantasy, and feminism—the song, ‘Kangana Re,’ where Rani Mukherjee’s character Lachchi revels in her connubial bliss, unfolds within the storied assembly halls of Narain Niwas. In Jaipur, a city influenced by Rajput and Mughal architectural styles, where pink-hued buildings and ornate palaces rise like mirages from the desert, this heritage property is tucked away in its vibrant heart. Conceived in the late 1920s by General Amar Singh as a whimsical country escape for the Thakur of Kanota, this storied sanctuary is a confluence of Anglo-Indian charm with Rajput grandeur.

While the film’s archetypal theme is magical realism, the palace’s scalloped arches, intricately detailed jaali-work windows, and towering chhatris lining the façade set an ethereal stage. The hand-painted floral frescoes on the ceilings, antique teakwood finishes, expansive courtyards, and flamboyant palette in the interiors hint at the influence of multiple eras, serving as a stage for the film’s classic plotline. Crystal chandeliers adorning the arched corridors cast a soft glimmer on the heritage artworks leading to approximately 52 resplendent chambers, including 16 opulent suites and a collection of rooms. With traditional upholstered furniture, vintage tiled flooring and colossal French windows that open onto breezy verandahs and sun-dappled courtyards, each room offers sweeping views of clipped verdure famed by arched colonnades. Boasting lush greenery, this 10-acre property is punctuated with boutique shops featuring the outlet of Jaipur Rugs, a tranquil spa, and dining venues, like the Shikaar Bagh restaurant. Among the palace’s multifarious gastronomic venues, the iconic indigo-tinted bar Palladio—immortalised in the Netflix show ‘Mismatched’—becomes a melding point of contemporary allure and old-world grandeur, the frame feels plucked from the reel of a timeless film.

4. Neemrana Fort Palace In Dil Se… (1998)

In a movie where characters veil their true identity with a constant emotional chiaroscuro, Neemrana Fort Palace’s labyrinthine corridors and tiered architecture offer an uncanny spatial metaphor. Set against political turbulence and unrequited desire, Dil Se… (1998) unfurls as a haunting contemplation on love, loss, and longing, shifting between Shah Rukh Khan’s character Amar’s urban life and moments of retreat at his home, Neemrana Fort-Palace. Among the legion of revered temples, forts, and palaces, Neemrana Fort-Palace, conspicuously cut into the Aravalli ranges, narrates a folk tale carved into sandstone. Originally built over 561 years ago by Raja Rajdev Singh, a descendant of the king of the Chauhan dynasty, this 15th-century fort has been meticulously restored to a sanctuary of experiential hospitality.

Cascading down 14 levels with over 82 rooms and suites, this fort displays an allure for Rajputana elements. Transformed from a dilapidated relic in 1986 to an award-winning ‘non-hotel,’ by architectural restorer Aman Nath and his visionary cohort—pioneers of India’s adaptive reuse—this palace draws inspiration from both the ubiquitous Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. With stepped gardens mirroring the traditional stepwells, protruding balconies, and an open-to-sky amphitheatre, this property unfurls as a theatrical, beguiling maze for the movie’s characters to play their game of hide and seek. Spanning nine palace wings, connected through voluptuous stone pathways that meander through secret courtyards, pointed arches, domes, and intricately carved window screens—a quintessential element in the Rajasthani design. Punctuated with antique trinkets, Mughal-style frescoes, embroidered upholstery reminiscent of regal indulgence, an epicurean duo of swimming pools at different levels overlooking the Neemrana village and a wellness centre rooted in Ayurveda, it inhabits stories of place, worn by time. The fort’s theatrical levels, shaded alcoves, and unexpected apertures open onto sweeping vistas akin to the movie’s climactic moments.

5. RAAS Devigarh In Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007)

With the themes of secrecy, succession and crumbling codes of loyalty, ‘Eklavya: The Royal Guard’ (2007) finds the perfect backdrop in RAAS Devigarh. Set against the imposing beauty of this 18th-century fort palace in the Aravalli hills, the story follows Amitabh Bachchan’s character Eklavya, a devoted royal guard bound by duty and tradition. A citadel of stone with pointed archways and revered corridors, RAAS Devigarh’s layered history mirrors the internal world of its protagonist, torn between loyalty and legacy, honour and disillusionment. Originally opened to the public in 1999, after a major restoration, the palace was distinguished by its minimalist interiors, standing in stark contrast to the ornate embellishments typically associated with royal architecture. Transformed in 2016, RAAS Devigarh entered a new chapter when its custodians commissioned Studio Lotus to reimagine the storied fort.

Its original restoration was helmed by architects Gautam Bhatia and Navin Gupta, with Mumbai-based designer Rajiv Saini reimagining the interiors in a strikingly minimalist palette while Studio Lotus was brought on board to revive the public areas, crafting spatial connections through a contemporary lens. Eminent for their sensitive interventions at heritage sites, the designers of Studio Lotus revived spatial narratives by seamlessly crafting a metal staircase that now stitches together the previously fragmented public wing into a seamless architectural narrative. The ‘Durbar Hall,’ once dormant, was revived through sandblasting that unearthed layers of red and grey stone, while pendant lights, vintage game tables, and baithaks intricately carved into niches lend texture and intimacy. 

With 39 individually styled suites opening onto alfresco terraces and angular stone corridors, RAAS Devigarh perfectly blends two worlds of contemporary comfort and timeless grandeur. While the ‘Garden Suites’ provide serene seclusion, the ‘Palace’ and ‘Aravalli Suites’ channel Rajasthani splendour with frescoes and panoramic valley views courtesy of the outdoor connection. For ultimate privacy, the ‘Devigarh Suite’ with a private pool feels almost ethereal with decks shaded by timber louvres catching the golden light and mountain breeze. Above the sunken suites, a once-forgotten terrace now flourishes as a herb and flower garden designed with Edible Routes, reviving the lost culture of foraging.