when Oscar nominees visited the city

JAIPUR: Oscar-winning director John Madden and Slumdog Millionaire’ actor Dev Patel reached Fortis-Escort Hospital on Sunday around 7.30 am to shoot a few scenes for their upcoming movie –The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.Initially no one recognised them, however, when they started rehearsals a few patients recognised Patel. The shooting took place in two schedules at the reception and the gallery adjacent to the main lobby. Twenty persons from the hospital staff were also a part of the movie. This group assisted and counselled Patel, when he entered the hospital with actress Maggie Smith on a wheelchair. Virendra Pareek, spokesperson, Fortis-Escort hospital was instrumental in assisting Smith and Patel.Though, the crew did not divulge any information on the plot but in one scene Smith, who played key roles in James Bond and Harry Potter movies, said the medical facilities here are much better than the National Health Mission in UK. This scene was okayed after a few takes.Both the shooting schedules went off peacefully. The hospital staff and crew took precautions to not disturb the patients and their relatives. Even the scene in which Patel came running towards the glass window was shot in absolute silence. Thereafter, the crew went to another venue behind the under-construction World Trade Centre (WTC). Within 30 minutes of their last schedule at the hospital, the team had set-up all the equipment for the next scene. They had called over 50 labourers from a nearby slum to act in the scene. The scene okayed after 2-3 takes. The crew was lucky not to be disturbed by the crowd. In fact, those who came as spectators left disappointed when they didn’t recognise any actor.However, the crew still faced some hard time requesting the passers-by to keep their cell phones on silent mode. Oscar-winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty was spotted setting up his equipment with his team. He placed boomer at several places to even record the chirping of the birds on the nearby trees.The team is here till December 2. They will be shooting all the scenes in Jaipur and Udaipur.